Moldova fast-tracks US-funded high-voltage power link to Romania
The Moldovan government granted national public utility status to the planned Straseni–Gutinas high-voltage power line, fast-tracking construction on a strategic energy link with Romania, officials announced on Wednesday.
The decision allows authorities to expedite land expropriation and administrative procedures for the 70-kilometre line, designated the "Trump Liberty Line." The project will establish a direct 400-kilovolt connection between the Straseni substation in central Moldova and Romania's Gutinas transmission hub.
Strategic integration with the European energy grid
The United States government will finance the construction with $130 million in funding, a sum equivalent to roughly 0.7% of Moldova's gross domestic product. The cross-border line will pass through 25 communities across the Straseni, Calarasi, Nisporeni, and Hancesti districts.
“The project will enable the necessary expropriation procedures and streamline administrative steps so work proceeds on schedule,” said Andrei Gritco, secretary general of the Ministry of Energy. He noted that the interconnection will expand cross-border trading capacity and diversify supply routes, shielding consumers from deficits.
Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tofan highlighted that the link forms part of a three-corridor interconnection program with Romania. The southern Vulcanesti–Chisinau line is approaching completion, while joint work continues on the northern Balti–Suceava line.
Surging renewable generation prompts grid expansion
“Since January 1, 2025, we have practically doubled our renewable capacity to over one gigawatt,” said Tofan. “During certain hours we could even become power exporters, but doing so requires these interconnections.”
The special public utility designation bypasses standard administrative bottlenecks through four legislative exemptions. Expropriations can proceed directly by operation of law, while requirements for initial urban planning permits, road placement authorisations, and archaeological discharge certificates have been streamlined, except in confirmed heritage zones.
Farmland and forestry reclassifications will also occur automatically. Land survey operations will be centralized under the State Land Planning Institute.
Consumer bills shielded from land compensation costs
Affected property owners—predominantly holding arable land, vineyards, orchards, and pastures—will receive state compensation. Provisional estimates indicate average payments of about 2,100 Moldovan lei (approx. €107) per hundred square meters for permanent use and roughly 200 lei (approx. €10.2) annually for temporary occupation.
The state budget will fully finance the compensations and survey expenditures. Expropriation costs will not be factored into regulated consumer electricity rates approved by the national energy regulator (ANRE), preventing household price hikes.
A pre-feasibility study confirmed that the line will stabilize power systems in Southeast Europe and integrate Moldova deeper into the continental ENTSO-E market. The project is slated for completion by 2032 under Moldova's European Union accession plan.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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