Corina Popescu has won the contest organised by the Moldovan Ministry of Energy for the Board of Directors of Moldelectrica, the national operator of the electricity transmission network. In her new position, Corina Popescu will be directly involved in investments of more than €420 million in modernising and expanding the electricity transmission grid, as well as in the adoption of a common grid model with system operators in neighbouring countries, mainly Romania.
In addition to Corina Popescu, the competition committee selected three other candidates, including Bogdan Toncescu, former Chairman of the Transelectrica Board of Directors from June to December 2021 and member of the company’s Board of Directors from April 2022 to October 2024. The four experts will complete Moldelectrica’s Board of Directors for a two-year term.
Just a few days earlier, Moldelectrica launched for public debate the 10-year Transmission Grid Development Plan. TYNDP 2025-2034 is a strategic planning document aimed at bringing the Moldovan power system in line with European standards and objectives, especially in the context of progressive integration into the ENTSO-E continental grid and increased interconnections with Romania and Ukraine. The more than 8 billion Moldovan Lei will be channelled to projects mainly aimed at strengthening the transport infrastructure, increasing system flexibility and accelerating the integration of renewable energy sources, in particular wind and solar.
Among the most important initiatives mentioned in the plan are the construction of new interconnection lines, such as the 400 kV Vulcănești-Smârdan (Romania) and 400 kV Vulcănești-Artsyz (Ukraine), as well as the installation of a phase-regulating transformer on the Vulcănești-Isaccea line. These are considered essential to eliminate congestion in the southern grid of Moldova and to ensure national energy security in the context of volatility in the region.
The role of the new Board of Directors is to ensure the good governance of the company, but also to accompany the implementation of these investments with rigorous oversight, emphasising transparency, efficiency and results-orientation. In this respect, Corina Popescu’s experience in leading large Romanian companies such as Transelectrica and Electrica, as well as her in-depth knowledge of European mechanisms, recommend her as a key player in this transformation process. In terms of corporate governance, the appointment of independent members from outside the public administration through a competitive process is a relevant first for strengthening Moldelectrica’s institutional capacity.
TYNDP 2025-2034 marks not only an infrastructure investment plan, but also a strategic choice of Moldova to anchor itself more firmly in the European energy market through interoperability, digitalization and sustainability. This requires not only political will, but also managerial vision, technical expertise and regional negotiating skills – skills that experts such as Corina Popescu can bring to the table after many years of helping Moldova to get closer to the European energy system.
For the regional energy market, this may mark the beginning of a new phase of positive interdependence, with Moldova’s investments directly contributing to the stability of the common energy system of South-East Europe. Finally, for Romania, the strengthening of the energy partnership with Chisinau can turn into an opportunity for business, know-how and increased strategic influence in the region.