The works to build the Vulcănești-Chisinau high voltage power line will be completed in 2025, assured secretary of state of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development Constantin Borosan. According to the official, in parallel with the building of this line, the Moldovan authorities plan to construct the Balti-Suceava power line. Energy experts said that if the government’s projects are implemented successfully, Moldova will become part of the ENTSO-E system separately from Ukraine, IPN reports.
Recently, as a result of a World Bank study, it was reached the conclusion that the works to build the 600 MW Back-to-Back Station in Vulcănești are no longer justified from technical and economic viewpoints. Constantin Borosan said they agreed with the development partners to redirect the money earmarked for building the Back-to-Back Station to the construction of the Balti-Suceava overhead power line.
“The construction of the Chisinau-Vulcănești power line is a priority for us as we aim to reduce technical dependence. Today, the Isaccea-Vulcănești power lines goes through MGRES before reaching Chisinau. By 2025, this line will be ready. We plan to ensure 20% progress this year. The implementation project will be designed by the end of February. In parallel, resistance tests were conducted for all the types of poles. We are optimistic about the possibility of completing the project as planned. We yet realize that we need to increase interconnection with Romania. The feasibility study for the Bălți-Suceava line has been already completed. We are having discussions with the financing partners, the EBRD, the EIB and the EU, so as to redirect the resources that were intended for the Back- to-Back Station to this line. The sum totals €40 million,” Constantin Borosan stated in the program “Emphasis on Today” on TVR Moldova channel.
Energy expert Victor Parlicov said that together with the enhancement of interconnectivity with Romania, Moldova will become part of the European Network of Transmission System Operators ENTSO-E separately from Ukraine.
“Currently, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova are regarded by ENTSO-E as a single unit because the Republic of Moldova alone does not have the necessary interconnections to form part of ENTSO-E, separately from Ukraine. The Balri-Suceava line is a relatively simple one and its building and the modernization of the related transformers are works not of a very high volume. About five such lines can be built instead of a Back-to-Back Station. But the question is if we can take one more step. If we have three lines, we will be able to integrate into the Romanian market independently of Ukraine,” explained Victor Parlicov.
The 400 kV Vulcănești-Chisinau power line will consist of 158 km high-voltage power lines and approximately 511 electric power poles. The building works are performed in the framework of the €260 million project “Moldova Romania Power Interconnection Phase I”.
