The energization of the new Vulcanesti–Chisinau high-voltage transmission line marked one of the final stages of Moldova’s largest energy infrastructure project in recent decades. Following the completion of testing, the 400-kV power line is scheduled to enter commercial operation at the end of August.
The total cost of the power system development project is 61 million euros, of which approximately 27 million euros went directly toward the construction of the 157-kilometer-long line. The project is financed with support from the World Bank Group and also includes the modernization of the Chisinau and Vulcanesti substations, as well as the development of dispatch control and electricity metering systems.
The main significance of the new line lies in changing the physical architecture of power supply. Until now, electricity supplied to southern Moldova from Romania was transmitted to the central part of the country via a route passing through the Moldovan State Power Plant (GRES) energy hub in the Transnistrian region. The new power line will allow electricity to be transported from Vulcanesti directly to Chisinau, bypassing this section of the grid.
In this way, Moldova gains an alternative electricity transmission route and mitigates one of its most significant infrastructure risks. However, it is still too early to speak of a complete end to energy dependence. The country remains a major importer of electricity, and its cost will depend on prices in external markets, the structure of procurement, available cross-border capacity, and the condition of the domestic grid.
The new infrastructure has a transmission capacity of 630 MVA. According to the Ministry of Energy’s estimates, this is equivalent to more than half of the country’s total consumption during peak load periods. This does not mean a guaranteed supply of a specific volume of cheap electricity, but rather the technical capability to transmit significant power directly to central Moldova.
Therefore, the launch of the line does not in itself mean an automatic reduction in rates. The power line does not generate electricity and does not determine its purchase price. It expands the range of choices for suppliers and transmission routes, increases the reliability of the system, and potentially allows for the purchase of electricity on more competitive terms. The final cost to consumers will depend on how effectively Energocom and other market participants are able to utilize these opportunities.
The economic impact of the project should be assessed primarily in terms of risk reduction. An additional transmission route reduces the likelihood that political, technical, or commercial issues in one section of the grid will restrict electricity supplies to the country’s central regions. For businesses, this means a more resilient infrastructure and less dependence on a single direction of power transmission.
However, the Vulcănești–Chișinău line does not solve all the problems of the national power system. To further increase cross-border transmission capacity and create several independent routes, Moldova plans to build two more 400-kV lines—Bălți–Suceava and Strășeni–Gutinash. Their implementation should strengthen the connection with the Romanian grid and the European ENTSO-E system.
The new power line, therefore, does not mark the completion of energy reform but rather the creation of its basic infrastructure. Moldova gains a more secure supply route and greater opportunities to operate in the European market, but it remains subject to price fluctuations and import dependence.
The main outcome of the project will not be a guaranteed supply of cheap electricity, but rather the ability to choose among a large number of suppliers and routes. The extent to which this technical independence translates into an economic advantage will depend not on the transmission line itself, but on the quality of procurement policy, the development of competition, and the further modernization of the power system. // July 24, 2026 – InfoMarket.