The Romanian Government will give this year a EUR 32.2 million state aid to close the uncompetitive coal mines in the Jiu Valley, southwestern Romania.

Of the seven coal production units the National Coal Company (CNH) Petrosani owns, the state deemed three uncompetitive, namely Petrila, Paroseni, and Uricani, reports local Mediafax.The deadline to close them is 2018.

A new company called Complexul Energetic Hunedoara includes the other four coal mines, together with the Deva and Petrosani power plants.

An institution founded in 2012, called the National Society for Coal Mines Closures Valea Jiului SA, will manage the state aid.

Of the entire amount, EUR 5.7 million will go to compensatory payments. The state didn’t’ allocate funds for the employees’ professional reconversion.

editor@romania-insider.com