Chisinau Power Plant Begins Installing First Equipment

At the Chisinau power plant, construction work is underway on the foundations and metal structures for the 400 kV and 330 kV equipment. At the same time, the final stage of concreting the autotransformer foundation is in progress, and work crews have begun installing the first equipment – disconnectors for the 400 kV and 330 kV lines, moldpres.md reports. Minister of Energy Dorin Junghietu visited the construction site to inspect the progress of the work. He noted that construction is advancing at a steady pace despite the recent unfavorable weather conditions. “This project demonstrates our determination to strengthen the energy security of the Republic of Moldova. We are nearing the completion of the Vulcanesti-Chisinau transmission line – a strategic objective for our energy independence,” said Junghietu. At the same time, on the other end of the line, at the Vulcanesti power station, design work is in full swing, and preparatory activities for setting up the construction site have already begun. The Ministry of Energy has announced that construction work will commence in June. The modernization of the Chisinau power station, together with the expansion of the Vulcanesti power station, will enable the integration of the Vulcanesti-Chisinau overhead transmission line into the energy infrastructure of the southern and central regions of the country, including the municipality of Chisinau. Regarding the construction work on the Vulcanesti-Chisinau energy independence line, Ruslan Surugiu, Director of the Unified Implementation and Monitoring Unit for Energy Projects (UCIPE), reported that workers have reached the Hincesti district on one end, and areas near Vulcanesti on the other. Thus, the construction site now stretches over more than 130 kilometers in both directions – toward Vulcanesti and toward the capital. A total of 177 transmission towers and 384 foundations have been installed. Currently, several work crews with up to 200 personnel are involved in the project. At the same time, the contracting company plans to deploy several additional crews in the near future. The 400 kV transmission line will span 157 kilometers. In total, more than 500 towers and 1,500 kilometers of conductors will establish a strategic connection between the south and the center of the country, crossing eight districts and 35 localities. Construction work on the Vulcanesti-Chisinau transmission line officially began in April 2024 and is part of the Power System Development Project, financed by the World Bank Group. The project’s total cost amounts to €61 million, with approximately €27 million allocated specifically for the construction of the transmission line.