Moldova commissions strategic power line for electricity imports from Romania

CHISINAU. Nov 9 (Interfax) - Moldova has commissioned the 400 kV Vulcanesti-Chisinau overhead power transmission line and the associated power stations, the Moldovan Energy Ministry said.

The project envisaged the construction of a single-circuit overhead line, the modernization of Chisinau Power Station (330/110/35 kV) and the expansion of Vulcanesti Power Station (400/110/35 kV).

It was previously reported that the Moldovan authorities call the Vulcanesti-Chisinau line an "energy independence" line, since it allows electricity to be transported from Romania or other European markets to Chisinau, bypassing the MoldGRES power plant in Transdniestria.

The line is 157 km, crossing 35 settlements eight districts and connecting the Vulcanesti 400 kV substation, located 35 km from the border with Romania, with the Chisinau 330 kV substation. It will be able to transmit up to 630 MVA of power, equivalent to over 50% of the country's consumption during peak periods.

Moldova started to build the Vulcanesti-Chisinau line in April 2024. It is part of the project to develop the country's energy system, financed by World Bank Group. Its total cost is 61 million euros, of which around 27 million euros was allocated for this line. Moldova previously planned to commission the line in December 2024 but this was later put back several times.

Before the commissioning of the Vulcanesti-Chisinau overhead line, external electricity supply to right-bank Moldova was provided only via the 330 kV Podolsk-Rybnitsa overhead power line, which is classified as an inter-system line between the energy systems of Moldova and Ukraine. This power line passes through the territory of Transdniestria, which according to Moldovan authorities makes the system vulnerable to technical failures or a sudden increase in demand from Ukraine.