National Transmission System Operator Transelectrica is starting the construction of two 400 kV overhead power lines that complete the transmission mainline in the north of the country and strengthen Romania's interconnection with the Republic of Moldova, the company announced on Tuesday, stating that the first command meeting took place on October 21 in Suceava for the start on the Romanian side of the two major investments: the 400 kV Gadalin - Suceava Overhead Power Line, and the 400 kV Suceava (RO) - Balti (MD) Interconnection Overhead Power Line.

President of Transelectrica's Board of Directors and company CEO Stefanita Munteanu, together with the company's technical investment team, led the kick-off meeting with representatives of Electromontaj SA, the leader of the association of contractors responsible for the execution of the two strategic investments, the cited source said.

'Transelectrica is committed to carrying out Romania's flagship investments in the energy sector. These are two large-scale projects with a historic impact, and the responsibility for completing them under the pledged conditions and on time falls on us, and the strategic importance of the two investments obliges us to act with top professionalism. Closing Romania's 400 kV ring in the northern area and a new interconnection with the Republic of Moldova represent two of Romania's goals and at the same time create an opportunity for economic development in the northeast of the country,' said CEO Stefanita Munteanu.

The 260 km long Gadalin - Suceava overhead power line is Romania's longest high-voltage power line, that will connect Transylvania to Moldavia across the mountains, running through three counties.

The contract for the design and execution of the construction works of the 400 kV Gadalin - Suceava Overhead Power Line (single circuit), including the interconnection to the National Power System (SEN), was signed in August 2025 following a public tender procedure, with the winning association Electromontaj SA - ELM Electromontaj Cluj SA (leader Electromontaj SA).

The value of the contract is RON 688.3 million, VAT excluded, with an execution period of 69 months.

The 400 kV single-circuit Gadalin - Suceava Overhead Power Line, including the interconnection to the SEN, is an investment objective of public utility and national interest, one of the 11 investment projects with financing from the Modernization Fund, with an aggregate amount of RON 492.45 million. It will facilitate the integration of wind farms planned in the regions of Moldavia and Dobrogea, creating a new transmission corridor for electricity toward northwestern Romania and neighboring countries to the west. This will reinforce the stability of the National Power System (SEN) while supporting local development by improving electricity supply to currently underpowered areas in northern Transylvania and Moldavia.

The new interconnection with the Republic of Moldova - specifically the 400 kV Suceava - Balti line, expands Romania's energy infrastructure, including Botosani County on the national map of the Electric Transmission Network

'The contract for the design and execution of the 400 kV Overhead Interconnection Power Line Suceava (RO) - Republic of Moldova (MD) for the Romanian segment was signed in March 2025 following a public tender. The RON 133.4 million worth of works (VAT excluded) will be carried out by the association Electromontaj SA - ELM Electromontaj Cluj SA (with Electromontaj SA as leader), over a period of 52 months,' the company specifies.

The 400 kV Suceava - Balti project represents a strategic investment aimed at facilitating cross-border electricity exchange and speeding up the integration of renewable energy sources in northeastern Romania.

'Its strategic importance extends beyond the two national energy systems, contributing to the stability of the European energy network, which faces increasing pressure under current international conditions. The project enhances Moldova's energy security by diversifying supply sources and paves the way for its integration into the European single energy market, expressing the shared political commitment to develop long-term electricity exchange projects between Romania and the Republic of Moldova,' the document states.

The main objective of the project is to establish a 400 kV interconnection line between the Romanian and Moldovan power grids, linking Moldova to the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E).

According to the cited source, the new 400 kV Suceava - Balti overhead power line will cover a distance of approximately 93 kilometers, crossing 17 localities in Suceava and Botosani counties. With 302 high-voltage poles, this project will complete a strategic axis Gadalin - Suceava - Balti, creating an energy bridge between Transylvania, Moldavia and the Republic of Moldova.

'For Botosani County, the investment has an additional significance, as this is the first time that high-voltage energy infrastructure will be located within its boundaries. In correlation with the construction of the 400 kV Suceava - Balti overhead power line, Transelectrica and Delgaz Grid (the electricity distribution operator in the area) are considering the construction of a 400/110 kV power station in Botosani County, which will be connected to the Romanian Electricity Transmission Network, thus opening new opportunities for the county's economic and social development,' the cited document concludes. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Nicoleta Banciulea; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)