At its meeting yesterday, April 23, 2026, the Romanian government approved the initiation of expropriation procedures for the construction of the 400-kV overhead power lines (OPL) connecting Romania and the Republic of Moldova: Suceava-Bălți and Gădălin-Suceava. Both are designated as projects of national importance in the field of electricity transmission and pave the way for obtaining construction permits and the actual execution of the works. Transelectrica signed the design and construction contracts for these two major infrastructure projects as early as 2025; these investments will directly contribute to closing the 400 kV loop in northern Romania.
93 kilometers
The contract for the design and construction of the 400-kV Suceava (RO)–Republic of Moldova (MD) interconnection power line for the section located on Romanian territory was signed in March 2025, following a public procurement procedure. The contract (works and equipment) is valued at 133.4 million lei excluding VAT and has a duration of 52 months, with the works to be carried out by the consortium Electromontaj SA (consortium leader) – ELM Electromontaj Cluj SA.
The new 400 kV Suceava-Bălți transmission line will span a distance of approximately 93 kilometers, crossing 17 localities in Suceava and Botoșani counties. With 302 high-voltage towers, this project will complete a strategic Gădălin-Suceava-Bălți corridor, creating an energy bridge between Transylvania, Moldova, and the Republic of Moldova.
For Botoșani County, the investment holds additional significance: this marks the first time high-voltage energy infrastructure will be installed within its territory. In conjunction with the construction of the 400 kV Suceava–Bălți overhead power line, Transelectrica and Delgaz Grid (the local electricity distribution operator) are planning to build a 400/110 kV substation in the Botoșani County area. This will connect the county to Romania’s Electricity Transmission Network, opening new opportunities for economic and social development by facilitating the connection of new generation capacity and attracting investors from the industrial and energy sectors.
260 kilometers
The 400 kV Gădălin-Suceava transmission line will complete the 400 kV power grid in the northern part of the country; it is one of the most complex national energy infrastructure projects, traversing extremely challenging mountainous terrain and representing one of the longest crossings of the Eastern Carpathians. At the same time, the 400 kV Gădălin–Suceava transmission line will be the longest in Romania, spanning 260 kilometers, with the project calling for 988 high-voltage towers (of which 967 will be newly constructed) and will connect Transylvania and Moldavia across three counties (Cluj, Bistrița-Năsăud, and Suceava) and 40 localities.
The contract was signed in August 2025 with the consortium Electromontaj SA (consortium leader) – ELM Electromontaj Cluj SA, following a public procurement procedure. The contract value is 688.3 million lei, excluding VAT, with a duration of 69 months, and will be carried out in several phases: design, obtaining/updating the necessary documentation for permits and approvals, obtaining permits and approvals, and construction.
The OHL is one of 11 investment projects receiving non-reimbursable funding through the Modernization Fund, in the amount of 492.45 million lei.
The new 400 kV Gădălin-Suceava transmission line will facilitate the integration of power from wind farms to be built in Moldova and Dobrogea, thereby creating a new transmission corridor for electricity to northwestern Romania as well as to neighboring countries to the west of Romania, thus strengthening the proper functioning of the National Power System (SEN).
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