Moldovan energy minister demands compliance with completion deadline for works at Chisinau Electric Substation

Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu today paid a working visit to the Chisinau Electric Substation and demanded compliance with the works completion deadline, so that the Vulcanesti–Chisinau power line can be put into operation. According to the Energy Ministry, if the contractual deadlines are not observed, there is a risk that penalties provided for in the contract will be applied, amounting to 10 per cent of the contract’s value.

At the construction site, the minister checked the progress of the works and compliance with the deadlines assumed by the contractor.

During discussions with those responsible for implementation, the minister reiterated the need to complete, by the end of May, the critical elements that allow the substation to be energized, and to finalize the other works by the end of next June.

Minister Dorin Junghietu emphasized that the Chisinau Electric Substation was one of the essential facilities for putting into operation the Vulcanesti–Chisinau Energy Independence Line, and that delays in the works affect the official launch of the project.

According to company’s representatives, at the Chisinau Electric Substation, work continues on arranging cable ducts and underground crossings, as well as on finalizing the assembly of the container.

At the same time, at the Vulcanesti Electric Substation, all major equipment has already been installed and the primary circuits have been connected, while in the coming period, the secondary circuits are to be connected to the protection equipment.

The Vulcanesti–Chisinau power line has a length of approximately 157 km and connects the Vulcanesti 400 kV Electric Substation with the Chisinau 330 kV Electric Substation. The transmission capacity of the line is up to 630 MVA, which will allow covering more than 50 per cent of Moldova’s consumption during peak periods. The Vulcanesti–Chisinau OHL is part of the Power System Development Project of Moldova, financed by the World Bank Group. The total value of the project is approximately 61 million euros, of which about 27 million euros is allocated for the construction of the power line.

The project is implemented by Moldova’s government, through the Energy Ministry and UCIPE – the Energy Projects Implementation Unit, and the direct beneficiary is the state enterprise Moldelectrica.