Former minister Virgil Popescu states that energy from coal is the most expensive and that reopening the power plants would lead to an increase in bills.

Virgil Popescu, former Minister of Energy, emphasizes that reopening coal-fired power plants would significantly increase bills for consumers and businesses, considering the high costs of energy from coal compared to alternative sources. He mentions that Romania cannot afford to produce energy from coal in the long term and that the future must shift towards cheaper and less polluting sources, such as nuclear, hydro, and renewable energy. The current minister, Bogdan Ivan, has requested an extension of the operational period for the lignite power plants in Oltenia, warning about the risks of blackouts.