An energy system stable in harsh winter

The National Energy Command convened on Monday to make sure Romania would handle the latest wave of cold weather properly

Roxana Vasile, 13.01.2026, 14:00

Romania’s Energy Minister, Bogdan Ivan again convened the National Energy Command on Monday against the cold wave that hit Romania of late. Since the end of last week, Romania has been facing a wave of cold weather with lows going down to almost minus 20 degrees Celsius.  According to meteorologists, this period of cold weather is likely to continue in the following period as well. Authorities have given assurances though the Romanians aren’t going to face any problems in terms of gas supply or energy output as the country’s storage capabilities are filled 65%, a higher level than in the same period last year. Romania’s energy producers, including its coal-fired power stations are also functioning at their highest capacity and the energy output is sufficient to allow the Romanians to pass the winter without any difficulties whatsoever. Here is Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan.

Bogdan Ivan: ʺWe are ready, in the context in which, our storage capabilities are 65% full, 11% higher than the EU average and 6% higher than in the same period last year. It is important that Romania is today ready to overcome this period in a perfect synchronization both between energy producers and transporters.”

According to Minister Ivan, from a structural viewpoint, 24% out of Romania’s energy production is based on hydrocarbons, mainly gas, 24% relies on hydro-power, 16% of it is nuclear and 14% runs on coal. But hadn’t Bucharest negotiated with the European Commission to continue to keep its coal-fired facilities, Romania would have had a huge problem in terms of energy production. Also during this period, a good energy output has been reported by wind-powered stations and solar farms.

Unfortunately in spite of the huge energy production and storage, there were households left without electricity or heat. Thus, 95 thousand consumers from central Romania had experienced power outages caused by the blizzard and heavy snowfalls. Special teams intervened in due time and the aforementioned households were reconnected to the power grid. However, thousands of buildings in Bucharest still do not enjoy heat and hot water at the right parameters. Some hospitals have also been affected. These problems have been caused by a faulty distribution network, which still relies on 40 years old pipelines. Here is again Minister Bogdan Ivan

Bogdan Ivan: ʺIt is unacceptable that in 2026, in the Romanian capital, which is a European city, hundreds of thousands, including sick people, older people, little children be left without heat and hot water. Some upgrades have been done in recent years, but there is still more to be done.“

The cold wave that has had Romania in its grip for a couple of days is expected to last until the middle of this week and the weather will improve, although winter is far from being over yet. Fresh snowfalls are expected in the country’s north and in the mountains.

(bill)