Romanian state-controlled energy holding company Complexul EnergeticOltenia will lay off 2,133 employees this year and will implementrestructuring measures aimed at boosting its efficiency,the government said in a statement on Wednesday.
The government has earmarked 12.6 million lei ($3.1 million/2.8 million euro) to severance pay to employees of the holding company, the cabinet's press office said in a statement. The funds will complement the monthly unemployment benefits to which they are entitled.
Complexul Energetic Oltenia employed 18,424 at the time the collective layoff plan was drafted.
Last year, Romania's economy ministry said Oltenia plannedto invest 1.9 billion leiover a period of 15 yearsin the Jilt coal mine, which is expected to produce 8.5 million tonnes of coal per year, and 608.5 million lei over 72monthsin Rosia mine, which will have a capacity of 8.0 million tonnes per year.The two coal mines are located in the southwestern county of Gorj.
Oltenia holding company, set up in 2012, includes state-run mining company SNLO and the Craiova, Turceni and Rovinari thermal power generation complexes.
Romania's economy ministry holds a 77.17% stake in Oltenia and blue-chip investment fund Fondul Proprietatea owns 21.54%.