Minister of Energy calls for mobilization of efforts to ensure conditions needed for start of commercial operation of Vulcănești–Chișinău Line

Minister of Energy Dorin Junghietu took part this morning in a working meeting at the Chișinău Electric Substation, during which all aspects on which the completion of the substation and the commissioning of the entire project depend were analyzed, so that it becomes possible to start the commercial operation of the 400 kV Vulcănești–Chișinău Power Line.

The official announced that he requested the mobilization of efforts to ensure the technical conditions necessary for the start of commercial operation of the Vulcănești–Chișinău Power Line.


“I have asked the acting director of UCIPE, Ruslan Surugiu, and the general director of Moldelectrica, Sergiu Carmanschi, to make every effort to ensure the technical conditions necessary for the start of commercial operation of the Vulcănești–Chișinău Power Line,” said Dorin Junghietu.


At this stage of the project, five teams are involved, a total of approximately 55 people, who are working to complete the final interventions, with some works being carried out in two shifts.

According to the Minister of Energy, the contractor has given assurances that it will make every effort to ensure that the testing and energization of the autotransformers, as well as the works on the related infrastructure and other auxiliary components, are completed within the required timeframe.


“The main installation works have been completed, and the protection, automation and remote-control systems, which are practically the ‘heart of the substation’, are in the process of configuration and will then be tested. I would emphasize that the 400 kV Vulcănești–Chișinău Overhead Power Line has already been energized up to the Chișinău Electric Substation. The next stage is the completion of all works at the substation and the commissioning of the entire project,” stated Minister Dorin Junghietu.


The official noted that the Line of Energy Independence is the most important investment in the electricity transmission infrastructure of the Republic of Moldova in recent decades.


“This large-scale project will help us transport more than 50% of the country’s electricity consumption and will allow the import of electricity from Romania and from the European market without transiting the energy node at the Cuciurgan Thermal Power Plant,” the minister underlined.


Dorin Junghietu mentioned that he will continue to directly monitor the progress of the works so that they are completed within the agreed deadlines, to the benefit of citizens.


“I will continue to directly monitor the progress of the works and will make sure that all parties involved honor their commitments, so that we complete the project on time and can benefit as soon as possible from the capacity of this line, through the first kilowatts of energy transported commercially to consumers in the Republic of Moldova,” the minister concluded.


The construction works on the Vulcănești–Chișinău OHL (Overhead Line) effectively began in April 2024 and are part of the Power System Development Project financed by the World Bank Group. Its value is 61 million euros, of which about 27 million euros are allocated for the construction of the Line.

The Line has a total length of 157 km, crosses 35 localities in eight districts, and connects the 400 kV Vulcănești Electric Substation with the 330 kV Chișinău Electric Substation. It will be able to transport up to 630 MVA of power, equivalent to more than 50% of the country’s required consumption during peak periods.

The construction of the Vulcănești–Chișinău Power Line is a project of strategic importance for our country’s energy security. The new power line will enable the transmission of electricity from Romania or other European markets to Chișinău without passing through the Moldovan Power Plant located in the Transnistrian region.