With reference to some forgeries and manipulations regarding the current construction stage of the 400 kV Vulcănești – Chișinău Overhead Power Line (OHL), we offer the following clarifications:
- Regarding the Contract and the deadline for the execution of the works:
In accordance with the provisions of the contract for design, supply and installation signed in November 2021, the OHL construction works will be completed in 2025.
- Regarding the construction company:
The contractor for the aforementioned contract was selected in an international tender, in accordance with the requirements of the Financier. 10 bidding companies participated in the aforementioned tender, with experience and capacity to carry out such works, including from Romania and Europe.
- Regarding the statements about the dismantling of certain poles:
This is false information. No dismantling or any other works near the Vulcănești station have been carried out recently. At the same time, from the information provided by Moldelectrica, there are no teams of workers from Romania involved in the reference equipment on site. Accordingly, the statements are false, manipulative and unfounded.
In the context of the construction of the overhead line, at the moment, the works are being carried out on the Gagauzia and Taraclia UTA segment. The works are being carried out in accordance with the work plan developed by the contractor and agreed by the responsible institutions and which reflects the best practices in the field. The progress of the works is about 190 foundations and about 30 assembled pillars, and the construction site extends over a distance of about 65 km.
The works are being carried out at a continuous pace. During the winter, we intend to advance with the assembly of 50 additional pillars. However, the pace of work is conditioned by weather conditions. It should be noted that the planning of the works and the field work teams is done in accordance with the agreed work plan, according to which the OHL will be put into operation at the end of 2025.
Regarding the deadline:
In accordance with what was previously announced, we emphasize that the construction works of the 400 kV Overhead Power Line on the Vulcănești - Chișinău direction will be completed by the end of 2025.
- Regarding the Republic of Moldova-Romania Interconnection Project:
The Republic of Moldova-Romania Interconnection Project provided for the implementation of the following activities in the first stage:
- Construction of the Back-to-Back station at Vulcănești (with donors EBRD, EIB, PIV/EC)
- The Power System Development Project (PDSE) (financer: IDA - World Bank Group), which involves the construction of the Vulcănești-Chișinău OHL and the modernization/expansion of the related power stations.
However, with the connection of the Moldovan power system to ENTSO-E, the need for synchronization through the Back-to-Back station has disappeared. Therefore, only the Power System Development Project remained in force, the budget for the construction of the overhead line and the modernization/expansion of the related stations, within the PDSE, being about 50 million Euros.
In this context, we encourage the public to obtain information from reliable sources, and media institutions to ensure the veracity of the published information and the right to reply in accordance with the legislation in force and the rules of journalistic ethics.