Romania’s transmission system operator Transelectrica has commissioned a new 400 kV transformer station in Reșița, in Caraș-Severin County. The upgrade also included modernization of an existing 220/110 kV substation at the same site. The commissioning follows completion of a major infrastructure project in the western part of the country.
The project is valued at €35.4 million excluding VAT and was financed from Transelectrica’s own resources. Construction was delivered by a consortium led by Siemens Energy, with Electrogrup and Retrasib as partners. The works were supported by subcontractors Energotech and Dacom Impex.
The scope covered the development of a new 400 kV facility and a full upgrade of existing transmission infrastructure at the Reșița location. This included changes to the substation configuration to accommodate the higher-voltage equipment commissioned by Transelectrica.
Reșița node role in Banat high-voltage corridor
The Reșița node supports power flows across western Romania’s electricity system as part of the Banat high-voltage transmission corridor. It is linked to connections involving Porțile de Fier, Reșița, Timișoara, and Arad. These elements are described as key for regional electricity transmission and system stability.
Transelectrica is also progressing related investments intended to complete a full 400 kV transmission corridor along the wider Porțile de Fier–Reșița–Timișoara–Săcălaz–Arad axis. The company states these projects are aimed at strengthening grid resilience and increasing capacity in its western network.
According to company management, more than €120 million in investments have already been implemented or are currently underway in western Romania. These initiatives target improved network reliability, expanded capacity for new electricity producers, and enhanced connections for large industrial consumers.
Cross-border projects with Serbia and regional interconnections
The expansion also supports cross-border transmission capability with Serbia, where exchange capacity has reached up to 1,000 MW. Transelectrica cites recent strategic projects including the 400 kV Reșița–Pancevo interconnection and the Porțile de Fier–Anina–Reșița line. Both are presented as critical for regional energy integration.
In parallel, Transelectrica is developing a new 400 kV corridor from Reșița toward Timișoara and Săcălaz, extending to Arad. The corridor is described as part of Romania’s western high-voltage energy ring and is supported through the Modernization Fund .
Investment pipeline and 2026 budget approval
The company has secured shareholder approval for a 2026 investment budget of around €184 million. Transelectrica said this represents a 30% year-on-year increase compared with the prior period. The approved plan is part of continued spending on transmission infrastructure upgrades.
The operator also indicated that it expects annual spending to rise to approximately €262 million in the coming years. This projection aligns with ongoing works across western Romania and related cross-border transmission projects .
