In 2025, Romania became the main source of electricity supply for the Republic of Moldova, which covered 60% of its consumption from imports. The next threshold is infrastructure, explains Dorin Junghietu, Minister of Energy of the Republic of Moldova, in an exclusive interview with Energynomics. The objective is to increase import capacity to ~600 MW at peak times and accelerate strategic interconnections (Bălți–Suceava, Strășeni–Gutinaș), based on 250 million euros in European support for the energy crisis and the 1.9 billion euros Growth Plan 2025–2027.
How did Romania help the Republic of Moldova in 2025 and what should Romania do to continue supporting the Republic of Moldova, to ensure its independence and security of energy supply?
After the system operators stopped purchasing electricity from the Moldavian Thermal Power Plant (MGRES), located in the Transnistrian region, at the beginning of 2025, producers, electricity suppliers, as well as the Romanian electricity exchange became the main sources of ensuring the electricity consumption of consumers on the right bank of the Dniester River. That support was provided including through the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of energy security.
The state-owned company SA “Energocom” is the supplier that ensures, based on the public service obligation, the purchases of electricity intended for the needs of universal service providers, providers of last resort and system operators.
Starting from January 1, 2025, most of the electricity – 60% – was imported from Romania under bilateral contracts and from energy exchanges.
In order to ensure continuous electricity supply, multiple actions were taken at different levels to increase the net transmission capacity (NTC) at the border with Romania, so that it would be possible to transport electricity purchased from Romania on a commercial basis. In this context, through the joint effort of the transmission system operators from Romania and the Republic of Moldova, the operationalization of the 110 kV interconnection lines between the two countries was achieved, allowing their use in exceptional situations.
In order to ensure the security of the Republic of Moldova’s electricity supply, an import NTC of approximately 600 MW is needed, especially for peak hours with maximum consumption. We note that during the cold period, given the low temperatures, as well as the consequences of military attacks on the energy infrastructure in Ukraine, the NTC capacities available for reallocation for the next day to the RO-MD borders during peak hours were almost equal to 0 MW. This led to the application of the breakdown contracts concluded with CNTEE “Transelectrica” and/or the FSkar mechanism (unintended flows).
For this reason, accelerating the processes of implementing the 400 kV Bălți–Suceava Overhead Power Line project and completing the project by December 2027 in both states is considered a priority, as well as advancing the implementation of the 400 kV Strășeni–Gutinaș OHL.
These projects are also provided for by the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of Romania on the implementation of the projects necessary for the interconnection of the natural gas and electricity networks in Romania and the Republic of Moldova, signed in 2023.
What was the help received from the European Union?
In the context of the situation regarding the supply of energy resources in the 2024-2025 heating season, on February 4, 2025, the Letter of Intent was signed between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the European Commission on the implementation of a reform agenda, the aim of which is to improve energy resilience and security through investments and reforms in the energy sector and by completely eliminating any form of dependence on the supply of energy resources. Through this letter, it was possible to access non-reimbursable financial support worth 250 million euros to overcome the energy crisis.
Additionally, 60 million euros are still available to the inhabitants of the Transnistrian region of Moldova, for the purchase of natural gas, support conditional on the adoption of measures regarding the respect of fundamental freedoms and human rights in the Transnistrian region.
Additionally, the Reform Agenda related to the Growth Plan of the Republic of Moldova for the years 2025-2027 was developed and approved. The Reform Agenda is the basis of the Growth Plan and provides financial support worth 1.9 billion euros from the European Union. One of the pillars of the Reform Agenda refers to energy security and efficiency, through diversification of sources, increasing efficiency and alignment with European standards.
What are the interconnection plans of the Republic of Moldova with Romania and Ukraine?
The interconnection plans of the Republic of Moldova with Romania and Ukraine represent the central pillar of the strategy for strengthening energy security and integration into the European energy market. After the energy crises of recent years, a priority is to accelerate projects that allow direct energy transport on secure routes, reducing historical dependencies.
In relation to Romania, the priority is the completion and operationalization of the 400 kV Vulcănești–Chișinău power line, which will allow direct transmission of electricity from Romania to the center of the Republic of Moldova. This is complemented by the Bălți–Suceava project, which will strengthen supply in the north of the country and increase cross-border exchange capacity. In the medium term, the Strășeni–Gutinaș line will add a third high-voltage interconnection. These three interconnections will allow Moldova to import energy directly from the European market, via Romania, and to gradually participate in market coupling mechanisms.
In parallel, cooperation with Ukraine remains important, both from a technical and regional perspective. Projects for 330 kV and 400 kV lines are being analyzed and promoted, including connections such as the second circuit on the 330 kV Bălți–Dnestrovsk OHL and the 400 kV Vulcănești–Artsyz OHL, respectively, which would diversify transmission routes and strengthen the stability of the power system.
Overall, Moldova’s strategy aims to create a dense network of regional connections, capable of ensuring alternative energy flows, reducing the risk of disruptions and supporting full integration into the European energy market.
How did interconnection evolve in 2025 and how will it evolve this year?
In 2025 and early 2026, the Republic of Moldova made significant progress in the development of energy infrastructure, with a focus on strengthening interconnections with Romania, essential for the country’s energy independence and security.
The main project implemented was the 400 kV Vulcănești–Chișinău overhead power line (OHL), part of the Power System Development Project (PSDP). The power line was completed in December 2025, and in January 2026, electrical tests and the application of voltage to the conductors were carried out.
However, the full operation of this line depends on the completion of the modernization works of the Chișinău 330 kV Power Station and the expansion of the Vulcănești 400 kV Power Station, which are still under execution, with an implementation degree of 80% and 60%, respectively.
The completion of this line will allow the transmission of electricity by avoiding vulnerabilities to external damage, as demonstrated by the incident in January 2026, when a faulty conductor on the territory of Ukraine caused partial disconnections in the power system of the Republic of Moldova.
Another major project is the 400 kV Bălți–Suceava OHL, known as Phase II of the interconnection with Romania. The project is financed by loans provided by the EBRD and the EIB, as well as by a grant provided by the EU.
So far, the tenders for the design and construction are underway, with the designation of the winners scheduled for the next period. This project will strengthen the import capacity and flexibility of the power system in the north of the country.
In the long term, the 400 kV Strășeni–Gutinaș OHL project, the third interconnection with Romania, will add stability to the operation of the power system, reducing the risk of disconnections and increasing integration into the European energy market. The project benefits from financial support from the USA, worth 130 million USD, and the estimated implementation deadline is 2032.
Overall, these three projects will fundamentally transform the power system by allowing direct import from Romania, reducing dependence on vulnerable infrastructure and increasing national resilience.
It is worth noting that the Energy Strategy of the Republic of Moldova 2050 provides for the structural transformation of the energy system and the realization of five electricity interconnections by 2050.
The energy strategy has as its central objective the consolidation of energy independence, full integration into the European market and the development of a resilient infrastructure, capable of operating in an interconnected regional system. In this context, Romania has an essential role in supporting the interconnection component, with two additional connections to be developed by 2050 to ensure full flexibility of energy flows.
What are the main actions that the Government of Moldova took in 2025 and is considering for 2026 to stimulate and facilitate new energy investments, made with European funds, both in the field of green energy and in distribution and transport?
We note that the exploitation of the full potential of renewable sources as well as storage batteries directly depends on a favorable legislative framework that facilitates the development of these technologies. In this regard, the Government has promoted and the Parliament has adopted a series of facilities that have contributed to the fact that electricity from renewable sources is currently the cheapest source of electricity:
- Installed capacities using renewable sources for electricity production reached 980 MW at the end of 2025 (in 2021 they were 120.5 MW, an increase of almost 9 times), including: 710 MW solar and 246 MW wind power plants;
- The government allocated quotas for the “fixed tariff” support scheme (+120 MW solar photovoltaic) that allow investors to benefit from fixed tariffs guaranteed for 15 years, which ensures financial stability and increases the attractiveness of the sector;
- The net metering and billing programs have facilitated the emergence of over 8,739 prosumers (enterprises, public institutions and citizens) who produce electricity for their own consumption and the surplus is purchased by electricity suppliers, without being taxed for the income obtained;
- The first auction for 165 MW of renewable energy (105 MW wind and 60 MW solar) was successfully organized, an auction that will generate investments estimated between 180 and 190 million euros;
- A new round of auctions was launched for 170 MW wind, provided that investors install at least 22 MW / 44 MWh of storage facilities;
- Over 20 MWh of electricity storage capacity have been put into operation in the last 3 months;
- According to the information available on the system operator’s platform, connection permits are currently valid for 80 MW of storage facilities and over 600 MW of generation capacity equipped with storage, respectively 200 MWh that are to be put into operation by the summer of this year;
- We have introduced a mechanism for making connection permit holders accountable, which facilitates investments in new generation capacity;
- The amendments to the Land Code have facilitated the procedure for the construction of renewable power plants and storage batteries on agricultural land.
It should be noted that the Development Plan for the Electric Transmission Networks for the years 2025-2034 provides for the development of new overhead power lines for interconnection with Romania, such as the 400 kV Vulcănești–Smârdan OHL and the 400 kV Comrat–Smârdan OHL.
How is the Action Plan on Strengthening the Energy Independence of the Republic of Moldova evolving and how has the organized electricity market evolved in 2025?
In 2025–2026, the Action Plan on Strengthening the Energy Independence of the Republic of Moldova evolved significantly, moving from a reactive strategy to a systematic one, oriented towards European integration and sustainable modernization.
An essential element of the plan was the adoption and updating of sectoral legislation, including the transposition of the Electricity Integration Package into national legislation and the approval of the Network Codes, which creates the legal and technical basis for the functioning of an organized energy market system and for the future connection to the single European market. The full transposition of these rules allows to increase the transparency, efficiency and competitiveness of the sector, being a major step towards full integration into European market structures.
In December 2025, the day-ahead market and the intraday market, managed by SRL “Operatorul Pieței de Energie M” (OPEM), were officially launched with the first commercial transactions, offering participants the opportunity to trade energy in real time and adjust purchase and sale positions close to the time of delivery. This creates the conditions for a more flexible and efficient market, aligned with European practices.
In the coming period, the authorities will make sustained efforts to create and strengthen liquidity in these market segments. This involves stimulating the active participation of producers, suppliers and traders, encouraging transparent trading on centralized platforms and reducing the share of non-transparent or dominant contracts. Increasing liquidity is essential for forming a fair market price, reducing volatility and attracting new investments.
Therefore, the implementation of the Energy Independence Action Plan reflects the shift from reactive consolidation in the face of crises to a strategic approach, supported by legislative reforms, the development of the organized energy market and gradual integration into the European energy market structures. These advances increase the security and efficiency of the energy system of the Republic of Moldova and strengthen the prospects for real independence in the long term.
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The interview first appeared in the printed edition of Energynomics Magazine in late March 2026.
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