Moldova launches Vulcănești–Chișinău power line and declares full energy independence from Russia
Moldova launched the Vulcănești–Chișinău transmission line, linking the country more closely to the European power system and reducing reliance on Russian-linked infrastructure. The country has stopped buying Russian gas and is negotiating gas purchases from Ukraine, while additional links to Romania are planned.
Key points
- The Vulcănești–Chișinău line is about 157 km long and operates at 400 kV.
- It connects the Vulcănești and Chișinău substations.
- The line is expected to cover more than 50% of Moldova’s electricity consumption during peak-load hours.
- The World Bank-financed project cost approximately €61 million.
- Moldova has stopped buying Russian gas and began negotiations to import gas from Ukraine.
- The country may purchase 10–50 million cubic metres of gas from Ukraine.
- The United States announced plans in early October to invest $130 million in the Strășeni–Gutinaș project, known as the Trump Liberty Line.
Why it matters
The new transmission line reduces Moldova’s dependence on Russian-linked infrastructure and strengthens its connection to the European power system. Ending Russian gas purchases and adding links to Ukraine and Romania could further improve the country’s energy security and diversify its supplies.
What happened
Moldova launched the Vulcănești–Chișinău transmission line and declared full energy independence from Russia. The 400 kV line connects the Vulcănești and Chișinău substations and is expected to cover more than half of the country’s electricity consumption during peak-load hours. The World Bank-financed project cost about €61 million, with roughly €27 million spent on construction. The line is intended to replace a worn transmission route to the Moldovan power plant in Transnistria that has strategic vulnerabilities. Moldova has stopped purchasing Russian gas, bought its first gas from Ukrainian private companies in late October, and is considering imports of 10–50 million cubic metres from Ukraine. President Maia Sandu also said two more transmission lines to Romania would soon be launched.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian media emphasize the disruption caused by Russian strikes in southern Ukraine, which disconnected a key transmission line in March and led Moldova to import electricity from Ukraine. They also frame Moldova’s gas purchases from Ukrainian private companies as a new channel of bilateral cooperation.
Background
A key transmission line was disconnected in March following Russian strikes in southern Ukraine, after which Moldova began importing electricity from Ukraine. In early October, the United States announced plans to invest $130 million in the Strășeni–Gutinaș line, also called the Trump Liberty Line, which is intended to become another connection between Moldova and Romania.