Moldova remains dependent on electricity transit through the left bank of the Dniester River, as power purchased from the European Union currently flows through the separatist-controlled region via the Cuciurgan node. At present, there are no technical alternatives to bypass this route.
The Russian company RAO ES unlawfully took over the Moldovan Power Plant (MGRES), in the Transnistrian region. Powered by gas and coal, the plant supplied electricity to Chisinau until January 2025. Revenues from these sales contributed significantly to the separatist administration’s budget, amounting to hundreds of millions of euros, according to local leader Vadim Krasnoselski.
If the Cuciurgan power station halts operations, Moldova could face widespread blackouts—even when buying electricity from European markets—due to the lack of a direct transmission route. To mitigate this risk, the government is accelerating the construction of the Chisinau–Vulcanesti high-voltage power line, scheduled for completion by the end of 2025.
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Construction began in April 2024 after the technical design received approval. The 158-kilometer transmission line, supported by approximately 508 poles, is part of the €61 million Electric Power System Development Project. Of this amount, €27 million is allocated specifically for building the line, while the remainder funds the modernization of the Chisinau Power Station and expansion of the Vulcanesti substation.
Prime Minister Dorin Recean emphasized that the new line will provide a direct, secure, and stable interconnection between Moldova and the European Union. This will allow electricity imports from the EU without relying on transit through Transnistria. The project significantly reduces the risk of supply disruptions from instability in Ukraine or political interference by the Kremlin.