Moldovan Energy Ministry denies fake news on construction of Vulcanesti-Chisinau Overhead Power Line: Works to be finished in 2025

The Energy Ministry and the Consolidated Unit for the Implementation and Monitoring of Projects in Energy Sector (UCIPE) today rejected fake news and manipulations on the present stage of the construction of the Vulcanesti-Chisinau Overhead Power Line (OPL). The ministry noted that the works were carried out continuously and were to be finished in the end of this year.  

According to the authorities, the works of construction of OPL are carried out on the segment of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia and Taraclia. The works are carried out in line with the working plan elaborated by the contractor and agreed upon by the competent institutions. The progress of the works is of about 190 foundations and about 90 pillars set and the construction site stretches on a distance of about 65 km.   

The works are fulfilled in continuous pace. During winter, another 50 pillars are to be assembled. Nevertheless, the pace of the work is conditioned by the weather conditions. The planning of the works and working teams on the ground is made in line with the working plan agreed upon, according to which OPL will be made available for use in the end of the 2025 year.  

The Energy Ministry noted that the entrepreneur chosen for the carrying out of the works had been selected at an international tender, in accordance with the rigours of the Financier. Ten bidding companies, with experience and capacity to carry out such works, including from Romania and Europe, participated in this tender.  

As for the statements on the taking down of certain pillars, the authorities specified that the information was false. ‘’Works of disassembling or any other works nearby the Vulcanesti station have not been carried out on the last period. At the same time, the information provided by the state enterprise Moldelectrica shows that no teams of workers from Romania are involved on the spot. Respectively, the statements are fake, manipulating and groundless,’’ UCIPE said.      

As for the project on interconnection Moldova-Romania 

The project on interconnection Moldova-Romania stipulates, in the first stage, the construction of the Back-to-Back station in Vulcanesti and the Electric Energy System Development Project (PDSE), which implies the construction of the OPL Vulcanesti-Chisinau and the modernization/extension of the power stations related. 

Yet, once the electric energy system of Moldova connected to ENTSO-E, the need of synchronization through the Back-to-Back station is no longer valid. Hence, only the PDSE remained in force and the budget for the construction of OPL and the modernization/extension of the stations related is of about 50 million euros, UCIPE added.