Romania’s 1.7 GW Mintia gas-fired power project has reached first turbine ignition as commissioning begins on a €1.2 billion investment moving toward grid connection. The first gas turbine was fired on October 8 at the site of the former Mintia coal-fired power station. The project is developed by Mass Global Energy Rom.
The private investment exceeds €1.2 billion. Two gas turbines are expected to provide approximately 1.1 GW, while the completed combined-cycle configuration is designed to reach around 1.7 GW. First ignition does not indicate commercial operation, with further testing, grid synchronisation and initial electricity deliveries still required before market availability.
Romanian system conditions during commissioning
The commissioning milestone comes during a period described as particularly difficult for Romania’s electricity system. Both Cernavodă nuclear reactors have been unavailable, removing approximately 1.36 GW of baseload generation. Romania has therefore relied heavily on electricity imports, with day-ahead prices repeatedly above €200/MWh and evening prices climbing above €300/MWh.
Once operational, Mintia is expected to provide dispatchable generation that can respond to demand peaks and compensate for periods of weaker wind, solar or hydropower output. The combined-cycle configuration is also described as offering higher efficiency than older gas-fired and coal units. The project is positioned as adding modern domestic flexibility alongside existing generation.
Natural gas demand and market implications
Mintia is also expected to create significant additional demand for natural gas. That increases the relevance of Romania’s domestic gas resources, including the Neptun Deep Black Sea project, which is expected to begin production in 2027. The interaction between new domestic supply and modern gas-fired generation is linked to changes in exposure to regional electricity imports.
For lenders and electricity traders, Mintia’s commercial value is described as depending on gas prices, carbon costs, plant efficiency and the number of profitable operating hours. The plant is expected to operate in a market shaped by cheap midday solar and expensive evening electricity, making flexible dispatch central to its economics rather than continuous baseload operation. Mintia has not yet added electricity to the grid, but first turbine ignition brings it closer to replacing part of lost firm generation with a modern asset affecting regional electricity prices.