Romanian Brazi power plant resumes operations after state-triggered shut down (updated)

OMV Petrom SA

05/12/2025 11:44

Adds details, updates throughout

BUCHAREST, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Romanian energy group OMV Petrom ROSNP.BX, majority controlled by Austria's OMV OMVV.VI, said on Friday its 860 MW gas-fired Brazi power plant has resumed operations after water restrictions at the state-operated Paltinu dam on which it relies forced it to shut.

The Brazi power plant, which supplies roughly 10% of the country's electricity, is expected to be back at full capacity soon, the company said.

The energy ministry said 300 MW of capacity had been reconnected to the national grid, with the rest to return gradually.

The power plant functioned at reduced capacity from November 30 and was completely shut down on Tuesday, forcing the energy ministry to find alternative power sources, mainly from hydroelectric and lignite-fuelled plants.

But the country was a net exporter of electricity on Friday, benefiting from increased production from hydro and wind turbines.

Meanwhile, roughly 100,000 people across two counties were without drinkable water after Romanian state agencies cut off the Paltinu dam due to water quality issues.

Water levels in the dam were lowered so that critical repairs could be done, but rainfall clogged up remaining reserves making it impossible to filter and purify the water.

Officials have estimated the dam will resume operations next week, and households and institutions were being supplied with water rations in the meantime.

The dam problems have reignited tensions in the broad four-party ruling coalition.

Environment Minister Diana Buzoianu has said the Romanian national water agency and the local water treatment company it controls have failed to warn the ministry and the population of the risks to supply even though they were aware of them.

(Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)

((luiza.ilie@thomsonreuters.com; +4021 527 0312; https://www.reuters.com/journalists/luiza-ilie;))