The mining redevelopment project in the Jiu Valley has been launched, with 5,000 miners trained to become employed in the production of wind energy and electricity distribution.

The project aims to create an Academy (Professional Training and Reconversion Academy for Renewable Sources and Distribution of Electricity) with training points at Tg. Jiu and Craiova.

Practically, around 500 technicians will be trained in these centers for 10 years. These will add to 3,000 specialists in power distribution.

Miners certification within the Academy will enable them to work in the installation, operation and maintenance of renewable projects. “Europe’s energy transition must be done at a pace that does not affect either the energy security of states or the lives of those involved in the production of coal-based energy. We are responsible for the future of those who depend on mining today. The Jiu Valley is one of the areas included in the Carboniferous Regions Platform in Transition, and I think miners’ abilities are easy to transfer to the renewable energy sector. The program will prepare advanced specialists in electrical, mechanical and hydraulic fields. This is perhaps one of the most extensive professional reconversion programs with immediate results: post-graduate employment. The program is designed in such a way that any miner can work in one of the wind farms in Romania in maximum 6 months of training,” said the Energy Minister, Anton Anton.

For the establishment of the Academy, the Ministry of Energy, together with the Romanian Wind Energy Association (RWEA), Monsson Operations, Distribuție Energie Oltenia (CEZ Romania) and Petrosani University, signed a cooperation protocol in May this year.

The project aims to be financed through the Modernization Fund, article d., To which Romania has joined with other Member States.