The construction of the 400 kV Straseni–Gutinas overhead power line and the modernization of the Straseni 330 kV power station are set to be declared works of public utility of national interest. The draft law was prepared by the Ministry of Energy and is to be approved by the Government. According to the explanatory note, the new power line will have an estimated length of about 70 kilometers on the territory of the Republic of Moldova and will ensure a direct connection between the Straseni station and the transport network in Romania, through the Gutinas station, reports IPN.

The line will cross 25 localities from the districts of Straseni, Calarasi, Nisporeni and Hancesti. According to the explanatory note, the project is considered strategic for energy security and the integration of the Republic of Moldova into the European energy system. The new interconnection is expected to diversify the routes of electricity transport and increase the reliability of the system. The works are planned to be completed by 2032.

Declaring the project as a national public utility objective would allow the application of special procedures for the expropriation of lands. The owners of the permanently affected lands are to be compensated at the market price, but not less than the value established by evaluation. The note indicates an average estimate of about 2,100 lei for a permanently affected hectare and approximately 200 lei per year for a temporarily affected hectare.

The United States Government announced, a year ago, its commitment to fund the construction of the line with 130 million dollars. The financing structure, costs, and implementation stages are to be determined in negotiations with partners from the United States and Romania.

The project will also require an environmental impact assessment. The beneficiary will need to develop the assessment study and obtain the Environmental Agreement, and the route should be established so as to avoid, as much as possible, areas of high ecological value and protected natural areas. In the case of areas with archaeological heritage, work can begin after the necessary procedures have been carried out.

For the preparation of the project, the Government established in 2025 a Preliminary Research Commission, which found the existence of elements necessary for declaring public utility of national interest. The project went through legal and anti-corruption expertise in September 2026, and after the completion of government procedures, it is to be submitted to the Parliament.

Disclaimer: This material is produced by the IPN Press Agency. The project – Europe Close: Information, dialogue and cooperation – is funded by the Department for Relations with the Republic of Moldova and implemented by the IPN Press Agency. The content of this material does not represent the official position of the Department for Relations with the Republic of Moldova.