The key facts
- The power line, about 158 km long, connects the Vulcanesti substation (400 kV) with the Chisinau substation (330 kV)
- The launch reduces dependence on the energy hub in Cuciurgan on the territory of Transnistria
- According to authorities' estimates, the line will be able to transmit up to half of the electricity consumed in the country during peak load hours
Official launch of the line
Moldova has officially put into operation the Vulcanesti — Chisinau high-voltage power line, through which electricity from Romania can be supplied to the country's capital bypassing Transnistria. The launch was announced by the country's Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu at the opening ceremony on November 8, reports Life.ru.
Project parameters and the ceremony
The new power line, about 158 kilometers long, connects the Vulcanesti substation rated at 400 kV with the Chisinau substation rated at 330 kV. According to the minister, its launch will reduce dependence on the energy hub in Cuciurgan, located on the territory of Transnistria, and increase the reliability of the country's electricity supply. Electricity will flow along the new route from Romania, with which Moldova is already connected by the Isaccea — Vulcanesti line, giving Chisinau the ability to receive electricity without transmission through the Moldovan Power Plant infrastructure. The opening ceremony was attended by President Maia Sandu, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, and representatives of the World Bank, which provided financing for the project.
Launch delays and the role of the new line
Construction of the line was completed back in November 2025, but its launch was repeatedly postponed: the delays were caused by technical problems and the need for additional work at the Chisinau substation. According to Moldovan authorities' estimates, the new infrastructure will be able to transmit up to half of the electricity consumed in the country during peak load hours; at the same time, the power line is an additional supply route, not a new source of generation.
Context: abandoning supplies from the Moldovan Power Plant
Previously, Moldova received most of its imported electricity from the Moldovan Power Plant in Transnistria, but purchases from that plant ceased at the beginning of 2025, and the republic began importing electricity from Romania more actively. As Life.ru reported, due to the shortage of Russian gas, the plant in Transnistria stopped operating in its previous mode, and the Moldovan state company Energocom stated at the time that imports from Romania should cover up to 62% of the republic's electricity needs. Thus, the commissioned line consolidates the supply shift that has already taken place: instead of transit through Transnistrian infrastructure, Chisinau receives a direct route from Romania.
