Moldova has officially launched a new high-voltage power line connecting its national grid to Romania, marking a critical step in the country’s effort to break its long-standing dependency on Russian energy supplies. The 400-kilowatt, extra-high-voltage transmission line extends from Vulcanesti to the capital, Chisinau, and is intended to significantly reduce reliance on the Cuciurgan thermal power plant located in the separatist, pro-Moscow region of Transnistria. Moldova, a country of 2.6 million people wedged between Romania and Ukraine, received most of its gas from Russia via its pro-Moscow separatist region of Transnistria and pipelines running through Ukraine.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony in Chisinau on Sunday, President Maia Sandu described the project as a major advancement for national energy security. She stated that the connection strengthens the country’s transmission capacity, improves supply diversification, and integrates the Republic of Moldova into the broader European energy system. During her speech, the president also announced that two additional power lines connecting to Romania are currently in development.
Reflecting on the geopolitical context, President Sandu noted on X that for decades, Moscow has utilized energy as a tool for political blackmail, often threatening to cut electricity whenever Moldova moved toward a non-Russian agenda. She declared that the nation now purchases zero Russian gas, asserting a newfound independence. European Commissioner for Energy Marta Kos, who attended the launch event, added that the new infrastructure allows Moldova to procure energy from the most cost-effective sources available. According to “Every time Moldova dares to choose something other than what Moscow wants, they threaten to cut our electricity,”, Sandu.
The project, commonly referred to as the energy independence line, reached completion two years behind the initial schedule set by local authorities. The shift in energy strategy comes as Moldova navigates a difficult economic landscape; just last month, the national parliament approved a government-requested state of emergency lasting until November 20 to manage gas shortages and volatile global energy prices.
Broader regional tensions in the Black Sea have further complicated the energy picture.
European officials have accused Moscow of withholding supplies to exert pressure on the continent, contributing to skyrocketing costs.
Meanwhile, security concerns are mounting as Ukraine, Romania, and Bulgaria have requested that NATO expedite surveillance capabilities to protect commercial maritime traffic. These nations report escalating hostilities, including incidents such as a drone strike last month that sank a cargo vessel off the Romanian coast, resulting in one fatality and multiple missing crew members. In response, NATO has committed to deploying additional maritime patrol aircraft, radar systems, and drones to the Black Sea region to bolster security. According to european-aligned, In the Black Sea region say they are experiencing renewed attacks allegedly carried out by Russia.
