On January 31, strong wind gusts caused the Vulcanesti–Mgres power line to trip automatically, partially separating Moldovas power system from the ENTSO-E block, Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu said. He explained that Moldovas electricity system operates as part of the ENTSO-E network together with Ukraine and Romania, and that fluctuations in neighboring grids can affect the national system.
Speaking on Jurnal TV on the program The Shadow Cabinet, the minister said that at 10:42 a.m. the Vulcanesti–Mgres line tripped automatically and simultaneously disconnected the Isaccea–Vulcanesti line. At the same time, several high-voltage lines in Ukraine also tripped, which led to a partial separation of Moldovas system from the ENTSO-E block and caused a drop in grid frequency.
In practice, the system disconnected from the ENTSO-E block, and the lack of power caused the frequency to decrease, Dorin Junghietu said.
The authorities noted that initial information was sometimes contradictory because it is difficult to determine the exact causes of such incidents in the first minutes after they occur.
We must investigate the cause to provide clear information. It is very difficult to have a clear picture in the first five or six minutes, which is why contradictory information appeared, the minister explained.
Despite the incident, Moldova avoided a full blackout because the grid also connects to the Romanian National Power System through three 110 kV lines. Engineers later reconnected a fourth and fifth line, which allowed electricity supply to continue in most regions, including Chisinau and Balti, without major outages.
A few minutes later, at around 11:37 a.m., the Isaccea–Vulcanesti line was also reconnected, and the Vulcanesti substation formed a fifth island. As a result, the western part of the country, including the northwest, west, and south, was less affected. Regionally, Chisinau and Balti did not experience disconnections because our facilities continued to operate, the minister added.
Specialists said the teams carried out the reconnection process gradually and with capacity limitations, but the measures prevented major problems and large-scale power outages.