A malfunction has been identified in one of the current transformers at the Chisinau Electrical Substation, part of the Vulcanesti-Chisinau Power Line project. As a result, the line’s commercial operation will be postponed until the issue is repaired and testing is completed, Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu announced.
The faulty equipment has been sent to the manufacturer’s factory in Spain for inspection and repairs. According to the minister, the process is expected to take several weeks.
The malfunction does not affect the substation’s core infrastructure. However, the transformer provides the connection to the 330 kV grid, meaning that without it, the line cannot be fully energized and placed into commercial operation.
“Failure to meet the commitments and deadlines for commissioning the project communicated by the contractor is unacceptable,” Junghietu said.
The minister called on the contractor to accelerate the work and resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
The Vulcanesti-Chisinau power line is 157 kilometers long and crosses 35 localities in eight districts. It will have a capacity of up to 630 MVA, allowing Moldova to import electricity from Romania and other European markets without transiting the Transnistrian region.
The project is financed by the World Bank Group and has a total value of EUR 61 million, with approximately EUR 27 million allocated to the construction of the power line.
According to statements previously made by Prime Minister Vasile Tofan, the line was scheduled to be commissioned on August 27, Moldova’s Independence Day.