Progress of works on Vulcănești–Chișinău power line assessed by European Commission delegation

The status of construction works on the 400 kV Vulcănești–Chișinău overhead power line and the 330 kV Chișinău electrical substation was evaluated during a working visit to the site by a delegation of the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission (DG NEAR), which was in Chișinău to review progress in implementing the Reform Agenda under the Growth Plan for the Republic of Moldova.

The visit was attended by the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Energy, Carolina Novac, representatives of DG NEAR, the Director General of the state-owned enterprise Moldelectrica, and members of the Energy Projects Implementation Unit (UCIPE).

During the field visit, participants were informed about the current stage of the works, the estimated deadlines for completion of the project and commissioning of the power line, as well as about plans for the development and expansion of electricity transmission infrastructure in the Republic of Moldova.

According to the Ministry of Energy, discussions with the European Commission delegation focused on the implementation of the Economic Growth Plan of the Republic of Moldova, financed by the European Union with 1.9 billion euros. Within this framework, the measures envisaged for the energy sector were examined, including the construction of the Vulcănești–Chișinău power line, the liberalisation of the natural gas market, and energy efficiency programmes implemented at national level.

The Vulcănești–Chișinău overhead line, also known as the "Energy Independence Line", was completed in December, while the Chișinău and Vulcănești substations will be finalised in the near future.

Construction works on the Vulcănești–Chișinău line effectively started in April 2024 and are part of the Power System Development Project financed by the World Bank Group. Its total value is 61 million euros, of which about 27 million euros are allocated for the construction of the line.

The line has a total length of 157 km and crosses 35 localities in eight districts, connecting the 400 kV Vulcănești Electrical Substation with the 330 kV Chișinău Electrical Substation. It will be able to transmit up to 630 MVA of power, equivalent to more than 50% of the country’s required consumption during peak periods.

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