Former industrial heartland Hunedoara bets on energy revival with massive investments

Hunedoara County, once a powerhouse of Romanian industry, is poised to re-emerge as a significant energy center through ambitious new investments. Projects at Mintia, Retezat, and Paroșeni aim to modernize the region's energy infrastructure, signaling a strategic shift towards cleaner energy production.

Historically, Hunedoara was a hub for heavy industry, employing nearly 100,000 people in coal mines, steelworks, and metal factories by the early 1990s. Energy production, primarily coal-fired thermal power plants like Mintia and Paroșeni, and the Retezat hydroelectric facility, developed to support this industrial base. However, the decline of heavy industry since the 1980s led to reduced energy production, with capacity falling to just over 700 MW by 2024, mainly from hydroelectric sources.

The new investments, spearheaded by the modernization of the Mintia and Paroșeni thermal plants and the Retezat hydroelectric plant, signal a revitalization effort. These projects, which aim to phase out coal usage, are expected to add nearly 2,500 MW of production capacity to Romania's National Energy System. The Mintia thermal power plant, acquired by Mass Group Holding and undergoing renovation since 2024, is slated for completion in 2026 with an installed capacity exceeding 1.7 GW.

By leveraging its existing energy infrastructure, Hunedoara County seeks to reclaim its position among Romania's leading energy producers. The success of these modernization and retehnologization efforts could significantly boost the region's economy and contribute substantially to the national energy supply, building upon its industrial past.