The Republic of Moldova is going through a critical stage in the transformation of its energy system, on the eve of the September 28 parliamentary elections. The stakes are twofold: national security and European integration. In a new episode of EnergynomicsTalks, we spoke to Mihai Melintei, energy policy analyst and specialist, founder of Energy Analytical Studies, about how Moldova can strengthen its energy resilience and what are the key steps to take.
From the outset, Melintei emphasized the strategic dimension of the moment: “energy priorities must be approached from a national security and European integration perspective“. In his opinion, regardless of the outcome of the elections, the energy course should remain firmly oriented in four fundamental directions: diversification of energy sources, strengthening interconnections with Romania and the European ENTSO-E network, modernization of critical infrastructure and development of human capital through education and research. These are priorities that stem from today’s technical and geopolitical realities and cannot be postponed without cost.
Source diversification is the foundation of energy security
The first direction identified by Mihai Melintei is the diversification of supply sources. The Republic of Moldova has long depended on imports from the East, and the conflict in Ukraine has clearly shown the risks associated with this dependence. “The starting point of energy security is the diversification of energy supply and sources”, the guest recalled.
For Moldova, diversification means not just access to more import contracts, but real integration into a regional energy market with multiple supply options and more competitive prices. Interconnections with Romania play a central role here, as does boosting domestic production from renewable sources. The emergence of new local generation capacity can reduce vulnerability to geopolitical shocks and international price volatility.
At the same time, diversification is a guarantee for investors. A more stable market, connected to a diverse mix of resources, becomes more attractive to foreign capital and international financial partners. For Melintei, this is a mandatory step if Moldova wants to move from being a captive consumer to an active player in the region.
Interconnections with Romania and integration in ENTSO-E
The second priority is to strengthen the interconnections with Romania and thus with the European ENTSO-E network. The March 2022 emergency synchronization was a historic moment, but remains incomplete. Moldova still depends on a single high-voltage line – Vulcănești-Isaccea – and power plants outside the control of the constitutional authorities.
Extending the interconnection network is essential for system stability. Work on the Vulcanesti-Chisinau line is advanced and could be completed by the end of this year. Two other projects – Balti-Suceava and Strășeni-Gutinaș – are in the pipeline and should give Moldova much more robust access to the European energy market. Once operational, these investments will relieve pressure on existing infrastructure and provide critical redundancies for balancing the grid.
Besides the technical aspect, interconnections also have a political and geopolitical dimension. They mark Moldova’s irreversible anchoring in the European market and significantly reduce the risk that decisions from Tiraspol or Moscow will affect Chisinau’s energy security. Melintei summed up the stakes clearly: “The continuity of a chosen course is much more important than the resources themselves“.
Modernizing infrastructure and regulatory framework
The third direction is to modernize the national energy system, both technically and institutionally. Official data show that “about 70% of critical infrastructure is more than 30 years old”. These are lines, substations and equipment that no longer meet current requirements and limit the grid’s ability to integrate renewables or react quickly to imbalances.
Modernization is not only about physical works, but also about digitizing the grid and introducing smart grid solutions. These technologies allow finer control of energy flows, reduce losses and increase system flexibility. In addition, adapting the regulatory framework to European standards is equally important: from balancing market mechanisms to ancillary services, everything needs to be aligned with ENTSO-E.
For Melintei, this effort needs stable political support and substantial financial resources. Administrative delays or bottlenecks only prolong vulnerabilities. “Delaying or politicizing them can amplify current vulnerabilities, while their consistent implementation can transform Moldova from a dependent and fragile system into a more secure and integrated energy actor at European level,” he explained.
Investing in human capital – education, research and innovation
The fourth direction, often neglected, is investment in education, research and innovation. The energy transition cannot be achieved without a human resource prepared to manage the technical and regulatory complexity of this process. Specialists trained in Romania, Europe or the United States and returned to Chisinau are an example of the value that an educated diaspora can bring. But the domestic training system must be capable of producing generations of engineers, economists and public policy experts in the long term.
The role of universities and research institutes is crucial. Upgrading curricula, moving from Soviet to European standards, partnerships with Western institutions and companies – these are all mandatory steps. Beyond technical training, a culture of resilience and energy security needs to be formed, enabling Moldova to underpin its policies with competent human resources.
But the education dimension does not stop at the specialist level. Communicating with the general public, explaining the benefits and costs of the transition, and creating a climate of trust are equally important. Without social acceptance, reforms risk being challenged and slowed down. Melintei emphasized the need for constant communication, not just in times of crisis, so that people perceive the benefits and support the transformation.
At the intersection of vulnerability and opportunity, the Republic of Moldova is at a turning point. The elections on September 28 will not change the technical or geopolitical facts, but they may influence the pace and consistency of the implementation of the necessary transformation of the power system. What matters, emphasized Mihai Melintei, is consistency: only by staying the European course and implementing reforms in the four fundamental directions can Moldova turn today’s fragility into a long-term strategic advantage.
The whole conversation with Mihai Melintei (in Romanian) can be watched on the Energynomics YouTube channel, as part of the EnergynomicsTalks series: ETalks Mihai Melintei – Republic of Moldova and the energy transition.
