Romania seeks EU support to manage electricity shortage and extend coal power use

12 August 2026 Romania has asked the European Commission and the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) to provide support as the country prepares to shut down Cernavoda's second reactor, while also seeking permission to keep several coal-fired units operating beyond their planned shutdown deadline of August 31. Secretary of State at the Ministry of Energy Cristian Bușoi said Romania activated the "early warning" mechanism on August 7 and notified the next level, a "crisis situation", on August 10 under Article 14(2) of Regulation 941/2019, according to Agerpres. Bușoi raised the issue at the European Commission's Electricity Coordination Group meeting on August 11, presenting Romania's electricity situation, the imminent shutdown of Cernavoda Unit 2 an