The US Government has approved support to the Straseni-Gutinas transmission line project, a USD130m initiative that will increase commercial capacity for electricity transfer between Moldova and the ENTSO-E network. The project includes constructing a 400 kV overhead power line along the Straseni–Gutinas route, approximately 70 km long, and modernizing the Straseni 330 kV substation by adding a 400 kV section. It will be the third direct connection between Moldova and Romania. The project is expected to start construction in late 2025 at the earliest and to be completed in 2029.
The construction of the Straseni-Gutinas high voltage power line is part of the MoldovaConnected programme, which is a broader USAID effort to strengthen Moldovan energy security and autonomy by linking local and European energy infrastructure. Investments of US$220m are planned in the coming years to improve the stability of the country’s electricity grid and increase opportunities for domestic generation using renewable energy resources.
Moldova’s transmission network is currently connected to Ukraine (1.25–1.5 GW of import capacity) and Romania (150-200 MW in island mode because of two different systems).