The mayor of Craiova, Lia Olguța Vasilescu, launched a harsh attack on Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, during a press conference, accusing him that, by refusing to finance the necessary repairs at Electrocentrale Craiova, he left thousands of people and the Ford company without heat.
Lia Olguța Vasilescu launched serious accusations against Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. Photo by George Călin
“This power plant belongs to the Government of Romania, and not to the City Hall of Craiova. Only the Government of Romania can make investments in this plant. A few months ago, the Minister of Energy requested, through a memorandum, the Romanian Government for the sum of 350 million lei to make repairs to the energy groups. Mr. Ilie Bolojan considered that this company is not important, he considered that it is a black hole in which he no longer has to invest, although this company introduces 100 Megawatts into the band every year, this company ensures the heating of the city of Craiova. This company also provides the necessary energy for the Ford manufacturer, which is the second manufacturer in Romania and the second taxpayer in Romania”said Olguţa Vasilescu, according to Agerpres.
The mayor claims that the refusal to offer the sum of 350 million, for the first time in the last 30 years, led to the failure to carry out repairs at Electrocentrale Craiova.
“Repairs were not made to the energy groups and because of this we had several situations this winter, about five, in which the population of Craiova was simply left without heating for a period of 24 hours or better and also the Ford company had to interrupt its production“, she pointed out.
Lia Olguța Vasilescu requested, through the Ministry of Energy, a new sum of 50 million lei for the installation of three boilers: “These would ensure the heating of Craiova and also the production for Ford for a period of at least three years from now without any kind of breakdowns. We hope that Mr. Ilie Bolojan will pay this money, because Craiova City Hall cannot invest in a company that belongs to him”.
The mayor wanted to point out the fact that the town hall cannot intervene because it cannot legally invest money in a company that belongs to the Government. Also, Lia Olguța Vasilescu claims that the situation at Electrocentrale Craiova is also the state's fault, because the state forced the companies that produced coal-based energy to pay exorbitant amounts of carbon certificates, which they could not afford.
The municipality wanted to buy the heating assets
In July 2025, the City Hall of Craiova sent a letter of intent for the purchase from Electrocentrale of the assets necessary for the production of the thermal agent: the land, constructions and technological installations related to the transportation system of the thermal agent currently owned by the company.
A year ago, the current management of Electrocentrale Craiova abolished the position of production director, and the panelists – operators in the control room (boiler and turbine) – resigned en masse.
The general director of Electrocentrale Craiova, Lorena Voican, declared then that a change was made in the organization chart as a result of the ordinance and the address of the ministry of reorganization at the company level.
Insolvency at Electrocentrale Craiova
Electrocentrale Craiova was making a loss, like all coal-fired power plants, because more than 50% of the costs go to CO2 certificates, and the Oltenia Energy Complex was making a profit because it received state aid of over one billion euros in three years. Electrocentrale Craiova SA officially entered the general insolvency procedure. The decision was taken by the Dolj Court, which admitted the request made by the company. The next court date was set for March 2026.
Electrocentrale Craiova SA was established on September 30, 2022, following an outsourcing of the energy production activity within the Oltenia Energy Complex (CE Oltenia). The division was part of a restructuring and decarbonization plan, aimed at making the activity of the thermal power plant more efficient and facilitating the attraction of European funds (e.g. PNRR) for modernization. At the time of separation, the company took over the plant's assets and operational infrastructure, related personnel and a significant portion of the liabilities resulting from CET's historical operations.
Electrocentrale Craiova produces electricity for the national energy system and thermal energy for the centralized heating system of the municipality of Craiova. The company provides heating and hot water for more than 46,000 apartments, public institutions, schools, hospitals, economic agents and technological steam for the Ford Otosan plant.
The company operates under the authority of the Ministry of Energy as a state entity and plays a strategic role in the energy and heating system of the region.
