ENERGY

Romania will have energy independence and security, Romania’s Energy Minister, Virgil Popescu, wrote on Saturday on Facebook. The Romanian official explained Romania will be producing coal-based electricity at full capacity over the coming years in order to overcome the current energy crisis. Minister Popescu recalled the authorities’ decision to invest in a new power plant that will produce electricity using Romanian gas. The energy crisis has forced a number of European states to reopen coal-based power plants, despite environmental concerns. European governments are thus seeking to curb their dependency on Russian energy imports. In recent months, Moscow has significantly reduced its exports to Europe, fueling fears it might cut off the supply altogether.