OMV Petrom: 100 mining technicians will become specialists in green trades through RenewAcad

RenewAcad, the Professional Training and Counseling Academy for Renewable Energy Sources, and OMV Petrom, the largest energy company in Southeast Europe, have joined forces to establish a training center in Targu Jiu (Gorj County), with the aim of supporting the professional conversion of mining technicians. In this center, starting from December 4, 2023, the first course of the RenewAcad – Targu Jiu project will take place, through which 100 people from mining will obtain the specialization of Installer for solar photovoltaic systems.

Specifically, the project that started on Monday, December 4, 2023, is financed by OMV Petrom and is also implemented with the support of the Sanse Egale Foundation and the RESS – Renewable Energy School of Skills, the largest network of training centers for renewable sources in Romania .

“The transition to the green economy cannot be achieved without specialists who master the latest technologies in the field. Through our strategy for the year 2030, we will invest approximately 3.7 billion euros to ensure cleaner energy, for a better life. We are in the process of developing an installed photovoltaic capacity of over 1 GW, representing over 10% of the estimated solar capacity of Romania. By collaborating with CE Oltenia, we will build photovoltaic parks with a total capacity of approximately 450 MW. We thus contribute to the reduction of emissions and to the creation of a new, more sustainable industry in Oltenia.” declared Ionut-Cristian Ciubotaru, Vice-President, Business Development, Downstream Gas & Power within OMV Petrom.

“RenewAcad is a long-term project, implemented in several phases, the first of which is the one presented today, which represents a bridge between education and professional training in the field of renewable energy sources for more than 100 employees of CE Oltenia. Programs like this give us the certainty that Romania is ready for the transition to a greener future”, said Sebastian-Petre Enache, director of RESS – Renewable Energy School of Skills.

The professional reconversion initiative of the miners from Valea Jiului to the renewables area, carried out by RenewAcad, will continue in 2024, with another 100 people. From 2019 until now, RenewAcad has been involved in the introduction of new Occupational and Trade Standards and in the training of over 10,000 professionals for the energy transition.