In 2014,  Oltenia Energy Complex (OEC), revealed that plans had been put on hold, just days after an agreement for the joint venture to implement the project had been concluded.

Reports cited questions over the profitability of the proposed venture, and whether it would even be possible to recover the one billion Euro investment and production costs.

Analysts say that given current plans it is conceivable that up to 3.5 GW of coal plant capacity could go online in southeast Europe with Chinese financial support in the coming years.

Consider that the massive Rovinari project, which could supply up to five percent of Romania's energy needs, will have a lifespan of up to 40 years, and will not begin sending electricity to the grid until at the earliest 2023.

The lignite would be supplied from the nearby open-pit mines – Tismana I and II, Rosia, Pinoasa, all owned by the same Oltenia Energy Complex – which would require expansion of production capacity.

In 2016 there were 326 cases of bronchitis, 14.989 asthma attacks in children, 504 hospital admissions, 170793 lost working days, 1.9 millions EUR health costs.