Moldovan energy minister inspects works at Chisinau Electrical Substation: faults detected in auxiliary equipment may cause delays

Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu today inspected the works at the Chisinau Electrical Substation, part of the construction project of the Vulcanesti–Chisinau Line. The official said that, during the installation of the auxiliary equipment, a fault had been identified in one of the current transformers, and additional checks had been ordered, which may cause delays in the commissioning of the Line.

The energy minister noted that the equipment in which the fault had been detected was not part of the core infrastructure of the substation; however, without it, full energization of the line and the commercial operation of the project are impossible.

“I have earlier previously informed that I would strictly monitor the progress of the works on the Vulcanesti–Chișinău Energy Independence Line project. During the today’s visit to the Chisinau Electrical Substation, part of the Vulcanesti–Chisinau 400 kV Energy Independence Line project, I discussed with the contractor the situation of the substation’s auxiliary equipment and the measures to be taken to remedy the faults identified in one of the transformers that ensures the connection to the 330 kV network. During the installation of the auxiliary equipment, a fault was identified in one of the current transformers. It is not part of the core infrastructure of the substation, such as autotransformers, protection, automation and control systems, which practically represent the core of the substation, but it ensures the connection to the 330 kV network and, without it, full energization of the line and the commercial operation of the project are impossible,” the official said.

According to him, the faulty equipment was sent back to the manufacturer’s factory in Spain for repairs. During disassembly, the manufacturer ruled to carry out additional checks, which will last a few weeks, together with the repair works, the minister said.

“Due to these delays, the commissioning of the Vulcanesti–Chisinau power line is postponed until the defects are remedied and all procedures for the acceptance of works and equipment testing are completed,” the energy minister emphasized.

Dorin Junghietu underlined that the failure to meet the assumed commitments and the deadlines for commissioning the project, as communicated by the contractor, was inadmissible, but at the same time, “any technical problem identified must be solved with maximum responsibility, in the shortest possible time, and the party at fault must be sanctioned.”

Under these conditions, the energy minister asked the contractor responsible for the works at the Chisinau Electrical Substation to speed up all actions to remedy the fault and complete the testing of the auxiliary equipment.

The works of construction of the Vulcanesti–Chisinau overhead power line effectively started 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 is allocated for the construction of the Line.

The infrastructure of the line itself was completed as early as November last year, ahead of schedule, and was also energized up to the Chisinau Substation. However, the commercial commissioning of the entire project requires the completion of all works at the Chisinau Substation, including the testing and energization of the auxiliary equipment.

The line has a total length of 157 km, crossing 35 localities of eight districts, connecting the Vulcanesti 400 kV Electrical Substation with the Chisinau 330 kV Electrical Substation. It will be able to transport up to 630 MVA of power, equivalent to more than 50 per cent of the country’s required consumption during peak periods.

The construction of the Vulcanesti–Chisinau power line is a project of strategic importance for the energy security of the country. The new power line will allow the transmission of electricity from Romania or other European markets to Chisinau without passing through the Moldovan Power Plant located in the Transnistrian region.