Minister of Energy, Dorin Junghietu, met with representatives of the U.S. Embassy in Chișinău to discuss preparations for the construction of the 400 kV Strășeni–Gutinaș power line. The meeting was also attended by representatives of Black & Veatch, the company that will provide consultancy on the bidding and construction procedures. Their expertise covers the entire infrastructure lifecycle, from design and advisory services to operation and maintenance, TRIBUNA reports.

Fully financed by the United States through a $130 million grant, the Strășeni–Gutinaș power line is a key component of the National Plan for Strengthening Energy Security. It is a strategic priority aimed at increasing energy independence by reducing reliance on a single route or geopolitically unstable regions, minimizing grid losses, and improving the reliability of the electricity sector.

A major benefit of the Strășeni–Gutinaș line will be the increase in Net Transfer Capacity (NTC) between the Republic of Moldova and the ENTSO-E network. This expanded interconnection capacity will allow Moldova to participate more actively in regional energy trade, import and export electricity under favorable conditions, and access cheaper and more diversified energy resources.

With a total length of 190 km—70 km on Moldovan territory and 120 km in Romania—the Strășeni–Gutinaș line will be the third 400 kV overhead transmission line between Moldova and Romania.

Currently, the only operational 400 kV line, Isaccea–Vulcănești, passes through the Moldovan Power Plant (MGRES) located in the Transnistrian region, which is not under constitutional control. A new line is being built from Vulcănești to Chișinău, bypassing Transnistria to ensure secure energy supply. This project is financed by the World Bank, with a total value of €61 million, of which approximately €27 million are allocated for the line’s construction.

Another 400 kV line will be built between Bălți and Suceava, financed by the European Union with €77 million. Of this amount, €15.4 million is a grant from the EU, €30.8 million is a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and €30.8 million is a loan from the European Investment Bank.