The first pillars of the Vulcănești – Chisinau Overhead Power Line (OPL), which will cross eight districts and 34 localities, were installed. Of the total 503 planned bases, 150 were already completed. The works are being carried out simultaneously on a number of building sites, IPN reports.

According to the Ministry of Energy, the Vulcănești – Chisinau OPL could meet over 50% of the energy consumption needs during the peak hours. "Integrating the energy market of the Republic of Moldova into the European energy market is the main purpose of the project," Minister of Energy Victor Parlicov stated during a press tour at one of the building sites, in Congaz village of ATU Gagauzia.

"We are making a lot of effort as regards the expropriation process so that the people who are temporarily or permanently affected are compensated. In the districts where the works are carried out, over 76% of the people received compensation," said the director of the Consolidated Unit for the Implementation and Monitoring of Projects in the Field of Energy Ruslan Surugiu.

Sergiu Karmanski, deputy director general of the state-owned enterprise Moldelectrica, stressed that both the specialists of the enterprise and the locals from the areas where the works are carried out are involved in all the stages of the construction of the power line. The works are due to be completed in mid-2025.

The project is part of the urgent measures of the Government and the Ministry of Energy, aimed at ensuring the country's energy security. The OPL will facilitate the transmission of electricity both from Romania and from other European markets to Chisinau, without passing through the Kuchurgan Power Plant located in the Transnistrian region.

The value of the World Bank-funded Power System Development Project is €61 million, of which about €27 million is intended for the construction of the line.