The third high-voltage power line that will interconnect Moldova’s energy system with Romania’s will start to be built at the end of 2025. It is a 400 kV line that will connect Straseni (Moldova) and Gutinas (Romania) power stations, with a length of 190 kilometers. The agreement for the construction of the Moldovan portion was signed today in Straseni by the Ministry of Energy and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), IPN reports.
In the coming years, investments of $220 million are planned to be made to improve the stability of the electricity system and increase opportunities for domestic generation using cost-competitive renewable energy resources. Financial resources for the construction are provided in the form of a grant by the U.S. through USAID.
Minister of Energy Victor Parlicov noted that only three years ago, Moldova was 100% dependent on Russian gas and the electrical infrastructure was dependent on the infrastructure of the left bank of the Nistru. The three interconnection lines with the Romanian energy system will bring the Republic of Moldova, expectedly in 2028, in a situation where it will be able to integrate as a country into the European energy market, through the Romanian market, before Moldova officially joins the EU.
U.S. Ambassador to Moldova Kent D. Logsdon noted that Russia’s war in Ukraine demonstrated how dependence on Russian energy resources threatens Moldova’s national security and economic stability. The U.S. strongly supports the efforts to integrate Moldova into the EU, and the Straseni-Gutinas high-voltage line will provide the Moldovan citizens with sufficient energy to cope with the periods of peak demand, enhancing energy security and reliability. The line will also help Moldova procure electricity at affordable prices and sell on the EU market in the future. The U.S. will invest $220 million through USAID in the construction of this transmission line and in projects that enhance stability and investment in domestic power generation.
USAID Deputy Administrator Isobel Colman, who is visiting Moldova, says that the reforms under implementation are not easy and take time, but they will benefit the Moldovans. The new high-voltage power line will increase Moldova’s independence and resilience and enable it to procure electricity at affordable prices. This is another example through which Moldova integrates into the EU. The memorandum reflects confidence in the Moldovan people and aims to achieve the future they deserve.
The two other overhead power lines that are being built and connect the energy systems of the Republic of Moldova and Romania are Balti-Suceava and Vulcanesti-Chisinau (bypassing the Transnistrian region).
