The two large companies in the energy sector in Gorj cannot obtain financing from the Just Transition Fund – GorjOnline

Two large companies from Gorj active in the energy field cannot obtain financing from the Just Transition Fund. However, among the funding axes is one dedicated to the decontamination of polluted sites. The total budget for this chapter within the Just Transition Fund is over 60 million euros. Most of the contaminated land is owned by Complexul Energetic Oltenia and OMV Petrom. According to European regulations, companies cannot submit projects to obtain funding. Only public authorities can do this.

According to the law, companies that pollute are obliged to restore contaminated areas and even pay certain pollution taxes. This is the case of the Oltenia Energy Complex, which by law is obliged to restore the areas affected by the mining quarries and even pays millions of CO2 certificates, in accordance with the noxes issued by the power plant branches.

Therefore, the county authorities are considering redirecting the budget established for the decontamination of polluted sites to other funding axes, such as those dedicated to small and medium-sized enterprises and micro-enterprises.
The Oltenia Energy Complex has a Restructuring and Decarbonization Plan under implementation. Following the decarbonization process, mining quarries and energy groups will be closed. The energy groups will be decommissioned at some point. Also, the closed mining quarries will have to be greened, and the lands will be returned to the economic circuit.