PHOTO // Moldova's energy minister pays unannounced visit to Vulcanesti substation

Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu today paid an unannounced visit to the Vulcanesti Electrical Substation, part of the 400 kV Vulcanesti–Chisinau Overhead Power Line (OHL). The official stressed that field teams must step up the pace of work and make up for any possible delays.

The minister inspected the progress of the construction works and discussed with the substation’s representatives. He emphasized the need to meet the agreed deadlines and speed up the works, given that the project has a direct impact on the energy security of Moldova.

“For us, it is essential that the substations are completed on time and fully equipped. Field teams must intensify the pace of work and recover any potential delays. We will not allow major delays; we monitor progress on all construction sites on a daily basis,” the minister said.

According to the Energy Ministry, the work teams reported progress at the Vulcanesti Substation: the busbar conductors have recently been installed, in order to connect most of the primary equipment, and all relay protection cabinets have been mounted in the control room.

In parallel, at the Chisinau Electrical Substation, work continues on installing the busbar conductors on the 330 kV side, which have already been placed above the autotransformers. Assembly of the protection container has also started, and in the coming period the cable trenches are to be set.

The construction works on the Vulcanesti–Chisinau OHL, also known as the Energy Independence Line, were completed in November 2025, and in last January, line testing was carried out under difficult weather conditions.

The construction of the Line effectively began in April 2024, with the works being part of the Power System Development Project financed by the World Bank Group. The total value of the project is 61 million euros, of which around 27 million euros is allocated for the construction of the Line.

The Line has a total length of 157 km, crossing 35 localities in eight districts, connecting the 400 kV Vulcanesti Electrical Substation to the 330 kV Chisinau Electrical Substation. It will be able to transport up to 630 MVA of power, equivalent to over 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 Moldova’s energy security. The new power line will make it possible to transport electricity from Romania or other European markets to Chisinau without passing through the Moldovan power plant located in the Transnistrian region.