Moldova launches new power line to Romania to cut reliance on Russia
Moldova on Sunday inaugurated a new high-voltage power line in Chisinau linking it to Romania and the European grid. President Maia Sandu said it reduces Moscow's ability to use energy as leverage.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu on Sunday officially inaugurated a new electricity transmission line in the capital, Chisinau, connecting Moldova with neighbouring Romania and the European energy system. The project is meant to reduce the country's dependence on Russian energy, which matters as Moldova struggles with gas shortages and high energy prices.
Dubbed the "energy independence line", it is a 400-kilovolt extra-high-voltage link running from Vulcanesti to Chisinau. It lets Moldova rely less on the Cuciurgan thermal power plant in Transnistria, a pro-Moscow separatist region. The line opened two years later than Moldovan authorities originally promised.
Sandu said Moscow had used energy to blackmail Moldova for decades. In her words, each time the country chooses something other than what Moscow wants, it is threatened with a power cut. She also declared that Moldova now buys no Russian gas, and said two more power lines to Romania are on the way. European Commissioner for Energy Marta Kos, who attended the ceremony, said Moldova could now buy energy where it is cheapest.
Background
Moldova, home to 2.6 million people and located between Romania and Ukraine, previously received most of its gas from Russia via Transnistria and pipelines crossing Ukraine. Last month, Moldova's parliament approved a government-requested state of emergency until November 20 to ease gas shortages amid soaring world energy prices. Some in Europe blame Moscow for the price spike, accusing it of withholding extra supplies.
European-aligned states in the Black Sea region report renewed attacks allegedly carried out by Russia. Romania blamed Russia for a drone strike that sank a cargo ship off its coast, killing one crew member and leaving three missing. NATO has said it will send more maritime patrol aircraft, radar systems and drones to the Black Sea.
