Government simplifies procedures for construction of Strășeni–Gutinaș power line

The construction works for 400 kV Strășeni–Gutinaș overhead power line and the modernization and expansion of Strășeni 330 kV substation will be declared to be of public utility in the national interest. The Government approved the draft law, which will allow the procedures required to implement the strategic investment to be expedited.

To ensure that the works can move forward without delays, the draft simplifies a number of procedures required for the construction of the line, including those related to land expropriation and the authorization of the works.

According to the draft, owners of the land on which the power line will be built will receive compensation for expropriation. At the same time, in areas with archaeological heritage, the works may begin only after the necessary archaeological surveys have been carried out.

The new power line will be approximately 70 kilometers long within the territory of the Republic of Moldova and will provide a direct connection between the Strășeni substation and Romania’s transmission network through Gutinaș substation. The route will cross 25 localities in Strășeni, Călărași, Nisporeni and Hîncești districts.

The construction of the line will contribute to diversifying electricity transmission routes, increasing system reliability, and reducing the risk of interruptions in electricity supply. As part of the project, Strășeni 330 kV substation will also be modernized and expanded to integrate the new line into the transmission network.

“This line is very important. In the summer, at certain times, we had a local energy deficit of 450 MWh, while the existing interconnections with Romania allow us to import 350 MWh, so a deficit remains—even if there were surplus energy in Romania, we could not import it. That is why it is important to have these interconnections. We have Vulcănești–Chișinău Line, which will soon be commissioned. We are working on Bălți–Suceava Line, which will cover the northern part, while in the central part we will have Strășeni–Gutinaș Line. If we continue to expand renewable energy and storage capacity at the current rate—since January 1, 2025, we have practically doubled renewable capacity to more than 1 GW—we could become net energy exporters during certain hours. We are grateful to the U.S. administration for supporting this project,” Prime Minister Tofan said.

The construction of Strășeni–Gutinaș power line is supported by $130 million in financial assistance from the Government of the United States. Recently, the Ministry of Energy, Moldelectrica, Black & Veatch and the U.S. Embassy in Chișinău launched the working group for Strășeni–Gutinaș “Trump Liberty Line.” Completion of the works is planned for 2032.