By Kontur and AFP | 2024-04-09

CONGAZ, Moldova -- Moldova has begun work on a new power line linking the capital Chisinau to neighboring Romania, as the former Soviet republic seeks greater energy independence from Russia.

Once the new power line is in place, Moldova will no longer be dependent on a power plant in the breakaway region of Transnistria, where Russian troops are stationed.

In the southern village of Congaz, workers and excavators, bulldozers and cranes have been mobilized to start digging the foundations for the first pillars of the new power line, AFP reported April 9.

By the end of 2025, Moldova wants to finish all 500 pillars and the rest of the 400kV power line, set to stretch 158km from Chisinau to Vulcanesti in Gagauzia in the south.

A connection from Vulcanesti to Isaccea across the border in European Union (EU) member Romania is already in place.

Dependent on separatist Transnistria

Currently, about 70% of electricity consumed in Moldova comes from Transnistria, and Russian-backed separatists have cut deliveries to Chisinau in the past.

Chisinau's contract with the power plant in Transnistria is set to expire at the end of 2024.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu called the new €27 million ($29 million) power line "one of the most important infrastructure projects" since independence in 1991.

"The new electricity line will help enhance our energy resilience and protect us from any energy blackmail," she said on X, announcing the start of the project on March 29.

Chisinau in 2019 approved the long-delayed project, which has received financing from the World Bank.

Racing to beat 2025 deadline

The government is pushing ahead to try to finish construction even before the late 2025 deadline, according to Ministry of Energy senior official Constantin Borosan.

Besides the 70% of electricity Moldova receives from Transnistria, the rest used to largely come from Ukraine.

But Kyiv stopped exports after Russian strikes on its energy infrastructure, triggering an energy crisis in Moldova that saw towns turn off streetlights and households limit consumption in 2022.

Today 20% of electricity demand is met by domestic production.

Consumption has also decreased as electricity prices have risen.

Since 2022, Moldova has also occasionally bought electricity from Romania, but the existing connections limit the amount it can import.

Moldova plans to have two more interconnection lines with Romania to achieve "full, complete integration into the European energy market," Borosan told AFP.

The country of 2.6 million that lies between Ukraine and Romania applied to join the EU shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Member states agreed in December to start accession talks for Ukraine and Moldova, one of the poorest nations in Europe.