The contract for the design, equipment supply and construction of the 400 kV Bălți–Suceava Overhead Power Line (OHL) between S.A. Moldelectrica and the Turkish company SA-RA, the winner of the international tender, was signed today.

During the same ceremony, the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Moldova, S.A. Moldelectrica and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) signed the Grant Agreement for the implementation of the “Interconnection of the Electricity Networks between the Republic of Moldova and Romania, Phase II” Project, which includes the construction of the Bălți–Suceava OHL. The document was signed by Dorin Junghietu, Minister of Energy of the Republic of Moldova, Sergiu Carmanschi, Director General of S.A. Moldelectrica, and Giuseppe Grimaldi, Associate Director, Banking: Head of Moldova, EBRD.

“We are building three lines that will fundamentally reshape the energy map of the Republic of Moldova. If Vulcănești–Chișinău is the Energy Independence Line, and Strășeni–Gutinaș will be the Freedom Line, today we are taking another step forward with the Bălți–Suceava project, which we have named the Resilience Line. It completes the network of interconnections with the European Union and is not just about infrastructure, but about greater security, more competition in the market, and more options for citizens and the economy,” said Minister of Energy Dorin Junghietu.

The new 400 kV overhead power line will be approximately 45 km long on the territory of the Republic of Moldova and will cross 12 rural localities in the districts of Glodeni, Fălești, Bălți and Rîșcani. The energy infrastructure to be built will be an essential component of the future electricity transmission connection between the Republic of Moldova and Romania, contributing to increased cross-border electricity exchange capacity and strengthening the operational security of the National Power System.

“The European Union is proud to support this project of national importance. With an EU grant of €15.4 million, together with the EBRD and the EIB, we are investing in tangible benefits for people’s lives. This is about people, stability and a shared future. Every new connection to the European energy market means greater security, more opportunities for businesses and less vulnerability to external pressures,” said Iwona Piórko, EU Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova.

The contract is worth €17.5 million, with an implementation period of 24 months. The project will involve the construction of infrastructure associated with a 400 kV electricity transmission line, including tower foundations, steel structures, conductors, insulators, protection and grounding systems, as well as the integration of the new infrastructure into the operational architecture of the transmission network operated by S.A. Moldelectrica. At the same time, all activities necessary to ensure compliance with the applicable technical, environmental and safety requirements for strategically important energy infrastructure projects will be carried out.

The 400 kV Bălți–Suceava OHL is a key element in the development and modernization of the Republic of Moldova’s electricity transmission network. Once completed, it will contribute to increasing the level of interconnection with the Continental European Power System (ENTSO-E), enhance the operational flexibility of the network, and create additional opportunities for the development of electricity trade on the regional market.

The project will also help reduce vulnerabilities associated with dependence on a limited number of energy sources and supply routes, providing the national power system with greater capacity to adapt to emergency situations.

By developing this infrastructure, the Republic of Moldova is strengthening its position in the process of European energy integration and continuing its alignment with European standards and practices for the operation and development of electricity transmission networks.

“The signing of the contract for the construction of the 400 kV Bălți–Suceava Overhead Power Line marks a milestone for the electricity sector of the Republic of Moldova. The new interconnection will contribute to increasing the reliability of the National Power System, expanding cross-border electricity exchange opportunities, and deepening the Republic of Moldova’s integration into the European energy market. At the same time, the project will enhance the resilience of the transmission network and its capacity to respond to the challenges arising from the ongoing transformations in the regional energy sector,” said Sergiu Carmanschi, Director General of S.A. Moldelectrica.

The “Interconnection of the Electricity Networks between the Republic of Moldova and Romania, Phase II” Project is implemented by the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Moldova through S.A. Moldelectrica and is financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the European Union’s Neighbourhood Investment Platform (EU Neighbourhood Investment Platform).

The total value of the project is approximately €77 million, including a €15.4 million EU grant, which covers the construction of the 400 kV Bălți–Suceava overhead power line and the modernization of the Bălți substation.