Although the maintenance measure was scheduled since the beginning of the year, the temporary shutdown of activity brings an unexpected breath of air to the national energy system, saving approximately 200 MW.
Car production in Romania has been temporarily halted. The two major car manufacturers present on the local market, Dacia and Ford, have stopped the assembly line at their plants in Mioveni and Craiova. The measure, traditionally applied at each mid-summer, will keep production suspended until August 19.
In a recent press conference at Victoria Palace, Romania's interim Prime Minister, Ilie Bolojan, sought to clarify the context of this decision. With Romania and several neighboring countries facing an energy crisis, the shutdown of the two industrial giants has raised questions in the public space.
The chief executive, however, stressed that the overlap between the technical overhaul of the plants and the problems in the energy sector is a simple coincidence. The measure to enter into maintenance and current repairs was planned and announced at the beginning of this year.
Even if the production shutdown was not caused by the energy crisis, its beneficial effect on the distribution system is undeniable. Being among the largest industrial consumers in the country, the interruption of activity in Mioveni and Craiova releases a significant amount of energy.
Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan highlighted this aspect in his statements:
"One of the measures that some companies have put into practice these days is entering into maintenance and repairs. Two important companies, large energy consumers, Dacia and Ford, are starting today with production stopped until [August] 19, which means a saving of approximately 200 MW. Other companies will also take this decision, so that we have a voluntary reduction in energy consumption in the evening hours."
● Equipment maintenance: Technical teams will perform the annual inspections necessary to maintain production standards.
● Energy pressure reduction: The temporary withdrawal of the two major consumers helps stabilize the national grid during peak periods.
● Resumption date: Regular activity and machine production will resume at normal capacity starting August 20.
The government hopes that other large companies in the industrial sector will also streamline or voluntarily adapt their work schedules in the coming period, thus contributing to reducing consumption during critical evening hours.