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EcoMin Borc: Oltenia Energy Complex will not shut down
The Oltenia Energy Complex (CEO) will not close down and there has never been talk of closing it down, Economy Minister Costin Borc told protesting miners in Victoriei Square in Bucharest, who welcomed him to applause only to boo him in the end.
"I have a great respect for your protest. I have talked with your colleagues, the trade unions leaders. The Oltenia Energy Complex will not shut down, and there has never been talk of closing it. I discussed with the trade union leaders to meet every other two weeks to tick off what we agreed so that the Oltenia Energy Complex may become the standard bearer of energy," said Borc.
The protesters asked him a question, but he declined to answer and left, at which the protesters shouted they want patriot ministers and "out from the country with the thieves."
Borc had previously met trade union leaders to tell them that restructurings and layoffs will be performed in the energy system.
"I believe that was an important alarm they sounded over the situation of the energy system, which is not so recent, but is the result of years of neglecting the problems facing the large energy companies. (..) There will be restructurings and layoffs, but when they are performed they should show the due respect to people. The Oltenia Energy Complex will not close down," Borc said after meeting leaders of the protesting miners.
In his turn, Chairman of the National Quarries and Energy trade union federation Dumitru Parvulescu said the protest march of the CEO miners and energy workers was designed to warn about what is happening on the energy market.
"The next parliament will have to regulate the legal framework for the energy market for Romanians and not against them. The oversight bodies must do their duties through and through (...). The restructuring programme does not mean layoffs. If people are to be made redundant, they will have to get protected," said Parvulescu.
Some several hundred miners and energy workers protested on Monday in the Victoria Square, in front of the government palace. They were carrying banners reading "ANRE, why shut down the Gorj mine? Country's energy security in danger," "To the IMF: It's us, Romanians, forever reigning supreme here," "Romania's green certificates drive Gorj into poverty." The protesters were also wearing vests with the message: "Green certificates, Romanians' money spent for renewables subsidies."
Members of the National Quarries and Energy (FNME) trade union federation set off on Monday, April 11 in a march of 320 kilometers from Targu Jiu to Bucharest, to protest the dire situation of the Oltenia Energy Complex and of the country's energy system in general.
The Oltenia Energy Complex (CEO) decided mid-March to reduce or even halt the activity at each of its branches/subunits in the energy as well as mining sectors throughout June, which entails the laying off of 670 employees of its two Craiova-based branches SE Craiova II and SE Isalnita.
CEO said the decision came as a result of falling demand for coal-based energy.
CEO ended last year with losses of 895 million lei, by 30 percent more than the 693 million lei worth of losses in 2014.