Romanian electricity transmission system operator Transelectrica has launched two major infrastructure projects to strengthen the national grid and enhance interconnection with neighboring Moldova. The initiatives include the 400 kV Gadalin-Suceava overhead transmission line and the 400 kV Suceava-Balti interconnection line. Both projects are crucial for completing the 400 kV transmission loop in northern Romania, which will improve energy security, grid resilience, and cross-border electricity flows with Moldova.
The design and construction contract for the 400 kV Gadalin-Suceava line was signed in August 2025 following a public procurement process. Valued at around 138 million euros, the project includes design, permitting, and construction phases, with a total execution period of 69 months. It has been declared a public utility and a national interest investment, and is one of 11 projects financed through the Modernisation Fund, receiving 98.5 million euros in support. Spanning 260 kilometers across Cluj, Bistrita-Nasaud, and Suceava counties, the Gadalin-Suceava line will be Romania’s longest overhead transmission line. Connecting Transylvania with the Moldavian region, the route crosses challenging mountainous terrain and will facilitate the integration of renewable energy from wind farms in Moldova and Dobrogea. The line will also enable electricity transmission toward northwestern Romania and neighboring EU markets, bolstering grid reliability and supporting the long-term stability of the national power system.
The second project, the 400 kV Suceava-Balti interconnection line, will create a new high-voltage link between the Romanian and Moldovan transmission networks. The Romanian segment of the project, awarded in March 2025 to a consortium led by Electromontaj, has a contract value of 26.7 million euros and a planned completion period of 52 months. The interconnection will stretch approximately 93 kilometers through Suceava and Botosani counties.
Once operational, the Suceava-Balti line will become part of the strategic Gadalin-Suceava-Balti energy corridor, enhancing regional grid interconnection and supporting Moldova’s integration into the European electricity market through ENTSO-E. The project is expected to have a significant geopolitical and economic impact by improving Moldova’s energy independence, facilitating cross-border electricity trade, and contributing to greater stability and flexibility in the wider European power system amid evolving global energy dynamics.
