PHOTO // Minister: Testing and energization of Vulcănești–Chișinău Power Line set to begin at end of this month

Testing and energization of the 400 kV Vulcănești–Chișinău Overhead Power Line (OHL) are set to begin at the end of this month. The announcement was made by Minister of Energy Dorin Junghietu, who emphasized that “this stage represents a decisive moment before the commissioning of the power line”.

The official visited the construction site of the Chișinău Electrical Substation yesterday to check the status of the works carried out.

“This is one of the most important energy infrastructure projects in the history of the Republic of Moldova. I discussed with representatives of the contractor and the implementation team about the pace of the works and the upcoming stages. I requested that all remaining activities be carried out without any compromise in terms of quality and adherence to deadlines. The contractor’s representatives presented the overall situation and assured me that the works will be completed according to schedule. Thus, by the end of this month, testing and energization of the 400 kV Vulcănești–Chișinău Overhead Power Line are to begin – a decisive moment before the commissioning of this strategic investment,” stated Dorin Junghietu.

The minister stressed that he will continue to closely monitor the progress of the works until the successful completion of the project.

“Every stage matters, and honoring the commitments made is essential,” added Dorin Junghietu.

Construction works on the Vulcănești–Chișinău OHL effectively began in April 2024 and are part of the Power System Development Project, financed by the World Bank Group. The project is valued at 61 million euros, of which around 27 million euros are allocated for the construction of the line itself.

The construction of the overhead power line was completed ahead of schedule, in November, and at the beginning of this year complex tests were carried out, including under difficult weather conditions, to verify the functionality and resilience of the infrastructure.

The line has a total length of 157 km, crosses 35 localities in eight districts, and connects the 400 kV Vulcănești Electrical Substation with the 330 kV Chișinău Electrical 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.

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 Moldavskaya GRES power plant, located in the Transnistrian region.