Romania has begun testing the gas turbines at the “Mintia” power plant, a project representing an investment of over 1.2 billion euros

The new “Mintia” gas-fired power plant in Romania has moved on to one of the key stages prior to its commissioning. On October 8, 2026, the first ignition of gas turbine No. 1 took place, following the start of testing earlier this year on the electrical equipment for grid connection. The plant is being built on the site of a former coal-fired thermal power plant in Hunedoara County, with an investment exceeding 1.2 billion euros. Upon completion of the entire complex, the installed capacity will reach approximately 1,700 MW, BalkanEngineer.com learned from information provided by the Romanian news agency Agerpres.

The project is being implemented by Mass Global Energy Rom, part of Mass Group Holding, which acquired the former coal-fired power plant in 2022. The new facility will operate on natural gas using combined-cycle technology, in which heat from the exhaust gases of the gas turbines is used to generate steam and additional electricity. Two gas turbines with a combined capacity of approximately 1,100 MW are planned, and upon completion of the steam section, the total capacity will reach approximately 1,700 MW. According to the Romanian government, this will make “Mintia” the largest single-site gas-fired power plant in the European Union.

Work on connecting the plant to the power transmission grid progressed in June, when the equipment for connecting the first turbine to the grid was energized. This was followed by technical inspections of the electrical installations, and the successful first startup of the turbine in October confirmed the transition to testing with natural gas. Additional tests, synchronization with the national power system, and the first deliveries of generated electricity are still to come.

“Mintia” is among the largest private investments in Romania’s energy sector. Along with the 430 MW “Iernut” gas-fired power plant project, the new facility will increase the country’s generation capacity in the coming years. To ensure its full utilization, sufficient natural gas supplies will be required, as well as the completion of the relevant power transmission interconnections.

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