New power line strengthens Moldova’s energy security
Moldova inaugurated the 157-kilometre Vulcănești–Chișinău power line on Sunday, November 8, opening a new electricity route from Romania, strengthening energy security and expanding access to the European market.
A strategic link to European electricity networks
The 400 kV overhead transmission line connects the Vulcănești Substation in southern Moldova with the Chișinău Substation, bypassing the Cuciurgan power hub on the left bank of the Dniester.
With a transmission capacity of up to 630 MVA, the infrastructure can carry electricity equivalent to more than 50% of Moldova’s consumption during peak demand periods. It provides an additional route for electricity imports from Romania and the wider European market through the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E).
President Maia Sandu said the project would reduce Moldova’s vulnerability to external pressure and the risk of electricity supply disruptions.
“Nobody can blackmail us anymore, cut off our electricity or shut off our heating,” Sandu said at the inauguration ceremony.
She noted that Moldova had invested too little in energy interconnections during its first three decades of independence, leaving the country dependent on a limited number of supply sources and routes.
“Whenever Moldova dared to choose something other than what Moscow wanted, we were threatened with being left without electricity and heating. And there were periods when we were disconnected from the power supply. The last time this happened was in the autumn of 2021,” the president said.
A project delayed by technical and logistical setbacks
Sandu acknowledged that the project had been completed later than originally planned. The line was initially scheduled to become operational in August 2024, but successive delays pushed back its commissioning.
Russia’s war against Ukraine also affected equipment availability and deliveries. Construction of the transmission line itself was completed in November 2025, while technical testing and the modernization of the substations continued afterwards.
The total project cost amounts to approximately €61 million (approx. 1.23 billion MDL), including around €27 million (approx. 542.9 million MDL) allocated specifically to the construction of the power line.
Sandu compared its strategic importance to that of the Iași–Ungheni–Chișinău gas pipeline, which gave Moldova an alternative supply route after Russian energy giant Gazprom halted gas deliveries.
“Just as the gas pipeline provided us with an alternative for gas supplies, this power line gives us an additional route for electricity transmission and reduces the risk of supply disruptions,” she said.
The president added that energy independence meant being able to choose suppliers without being exposed to external pressure.
EU: Moldova's dependence on Russian energy has ended
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said the new infrastructure marked a turning point in Moldova’s efforts to overcome its dependence on Russian energy.
Kos recalled that her first visit to Moldova took place in February 2025, during the energy crisis, when the European Union provided emergency assistance to help households maintain heating supplies.
“Today, we can say that the Republic of Moldova’s dependence on Russian energy has truly come to an end. No country has the right, or will be able, to use energy supplies to dictate anything to Moldova,” Kos said.
She added that the new transmission line would give Moldova more options for purchasing electricity and accessing potentially more favourable prices.
The commissioner also acknowledged that energy costs remained a significant burden for many Moldovan households, reaffirming the EU’s continued support for the country.
“We know that energy prices and costs remain a burden for many Moldovan families. Nevertheless, you can continue to count on Europe's full solidarity,” she said.
Reducing reliance on the Cuciurgan power hub
Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu said the new transmission line would reduce Moldova’s reliance on the Cuciurgan power hub, controlled by the separatist authorities in Tiraspol, while strengthening connections with Romania and the European electricity market.
“For the Republic of Moldova, energy security means electricity in homes, businesses operating and public services functioning. But it also means the freedom to make decisions without fearing that someone will use energy to impose their will,” Junghietu said.
The minister described the project as the result of several years of work across different administrations and challenging circumstances, including disruptions caused by the war in neighbouring Ukraine.
“The new infrastructure provides us with a transmission route that reduces our dependence on the Cuciurgan power hub and strengthens the security of the entire system, not just nationally but regionally as well,” he said.
Junghietu added that the project represented another step towards Moldova’s integration into the European Union.
Two more interconnections planned with Romania
Moldova is preparing two additional 400 kV interconnection projects with Romania: Bălți–Suceava and Strășeni–Gutinaș.
The Bălți–Suceava project, also known as the Resilience Line, is valued at approximately €77 million (approx. 1.55 billion MDL). Its financing includes a €15.4 million EU grant, alongside support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank.
The contract for the design, equipment supply and construction of the Moldovan section was signed on June 26, 2026, between state-owned transmission operator Moldelectrica and Turkish company SA-RA. Construction on both sides of the Prut River is expected to begin in 2027.
The second project, Strășeni–Gutinaș, also referred to as the Trump Liberty Line, will connect the Strășeni substation in Moldova with the Gutinaș substation in Romania. The line will extend approximately 72 kilometres across Moldovan territory and will also require the modernization of the Strășeni electrical substation.
The United States has approved $130 million (approx. 2.33 billion MDL) in funding for the project. On November 5, 2026, Moldova’s Parliament granted the construction and modernization works national public-utility status, facilitating administrative procedures and the acquisition of the land required for the project.
Completion is scheduled for 2032.
Together, the three interconnections are expected to diversify Moldova’s electricity import routes, reduce vulnerabilities in its national power system and strengthen its integration into the European electricity market.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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