On Sunday, the Republic of Moldova inaugurated a new high-voltage power line for electricity imports from its EU neighbor, Romania—a move intended to reduce its energy dependence on Russia. “For decades, Moscow has used energy to blackmail us,” Moldova’s pro-European president, Maia Sandu, wrote on the online platform X, adding: “That is now at an end.”
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At a ceremony in the capital Chisinau, Sandu said: “Every time Moldova dares to choose something other than what Moscow wants, they threaten to cut off our power.” With the new power line, the country will strengthen its electricity transmission capacities, diversify its supply routes and “strengthen the connection of the Republic of Moldova to the European energy system”.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos was also present at the ceremony in Chisinau. Moldova can now “buy energy where it is cheapest,” she said. Moldova has had EU candidate status since June 2022.
The high-voltage power line that has now come into operation was launched two years later than originally announced by the Moldovan authorities. Two additional lines between Romania and Moldova are planned.
With this “energy independence line”—connecting Vulcănești, located near the Romanian border, to the Moldovan capital, Chișinău—Moldova is reducing its reliance on the Cuciurgan power plant. The plant, which runs partly on gas, is situated in the breakaway, predominantly Russian-speaking region of Transnistria.
On X, Sandu also stated that Moldova is purchasing “zero Russian gas.” Before the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Moldova received the majority of its natural gas from the Russian energy company Gazprom.
Author: AFP – mm/se
Sources: AFP Press Portal