Moldova risks losing 15 million euros on the Vulcănești–Chișinău line deadline
The Republic of Moldova risks losing 15 million euros from the European Union’s Growth Plan if the Vulcănești–Chișinău power line is not put into operation by the end of the year. Energizing this infrastructure is one of the conditions the authorities committed to meeting in order to access European funding, and the additional time granted to fulfill this requirement expires in December 2026.
For a reform to be considered complete, finishing the construction of the power line is not enough; it must also be energized so that it can effectively transmit electricity. The project is in its final stage, and the Ministry of Energy has assured that it will complete the necessary work on time, Lilia Dabija, Deputy Secretary General of the Government, said during the program " EU si Uniunea Europeana" broadcast on October 21 on Moldova 1 TV.
"We are in the final stretch; our colleagues at the Ministry of Energy have assured us that we will complete this measure on time. The deadline is in December of this year—the grace period expires this year. This measure is tied to 15 million euros in funding, which serves as support for our state budget," stated the Deputy Secretary General of the Government.
European funding depends on implementing reforms agreed with the European Commission. If measures are not completed by the deadline, the corresponding funds may be temporarily withheld, and the authorities are granted an additional 12-month period to address the outstanding requirements. If the conditions are still not met within this timeframe, funding may be permanently reduced.
The Vulcănești–Chișinău power line—also known as the "Energy Independence Line"—spans 157 kilometers and will enable the transmission of electricity from Romania to Chișinău, bypassing the energy hub at MGRES in the Transnistrian region. Construction of the line was completed in November 2025; however, commissioning the entire system also required the modernization of the electrical substations at both ends.
According to information previously provided by the authorities, the Vulcănești electrical substation is ready, and a transformer—repaired in Spain—has been installed at the Chișinău substation. The project is currently undergoing the tests and verifications necessary for full energization.
The 15 million euros represent European funding contingent upon the fulfillment of this specific measure within the reform agenda; it does not cover the cost of constructing the power line itself. The World Bank finances the energy project separately.
The European Union’s Growth Plan for the Republic of Moldova, totaling 1.9 billion euros, provides for the phased disbursement of financial support based on the implementation of reforms. To date, the Republic of Moldova has received 661 million euros—including a most recent tranche of 157 million euros, granted following the completion of 18 out of the 20 measures scheduled for the first half of 2026.
