Mintia gas plant runs its first turbine on natural gas

On the site of the Mintia coal-fired plant, shut in 2021, Mass Global Energy Rom, the Romanian arm of Jordanian businessman Ahmad Ismail Saleh's Mass Group Holding, is investing more than €1.2bn in what it calls the EU's largest gas-fired power plant on a single site. According to Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, the first gas turbine ran on natural gas for the first time on 8 October 2026; testing, grid synchronisation and the first deliveries to the grid come next. The two gas turbines total about 1,100 MW, due to produce commercially by the end of 2026, and the combined cycle with the steam turbine about 1,700 MW; the grid connection contract with Transelectrica sets 30 June 2027 as the deadline for the full 1,677 MW, with an extension to 31 December 2027 approved for 190 MW. The date is this contractual deadline for full operation. Announced on 8 Oct 2026 (milestone; profit.ro, 8 Oct 2026; second source on investment and capacity: Economica.net, 14 Jun 2026).