Transelectrica is taking decisive steps towards a more secure and interconnected power system. On October 21, in Suceava, the first coordination meeting took place in order to start two major investments for the development of the power transmission infrastructure, namely the 400 kV Gadalin – Suceava Overhead Power Line and the 400 kV Suceava (RO) – Balti (MD) Overhead Power Line, on Romanian territory.

The Chairman of Transelectrica’s Management Board, Stefanita Munteanu, together with the Company’s technical investment team, led the kick-off meeting with the representatives of Electromontaj, the leading association of contractors responsible for the execution of the two strategic investments.

With these two major works, Transelectrica closes the 400 kV ring in the northern part of the country, a powerful link to increase Romania’s energy security, and strengthens the interconnection with the Republic of Moldova.

“Together with its contractual partners, Transelectrica is committed to Romania’s flagship investments in the energy sector. These are two large-scale projects with historical impact, and we are responsible for completing them under the agreed conditions and on time. The strategic importance of these two investments requires us to demonstrate the highest level of professionalism. The closure of Romania’s 400 kV ring in the north and a new interconnection with the Republic of Moldova are two of Romania’s desires and at the same time create the opportunity for economic development of the north-east of the country,” said Stefanita Munteanu, CEO of Transelectrica.

 

400 kV Gadalin – Suceava OHL: The longest overhead power line in Romania, which will connect Transylvania and Moldavia across the mountains

The contract for the design and execution of the construction works of the 400 kV Gadalin – Suceava Overhead Power Line (single circuit), including interconnection to the National Power System (SEN) was signed in August 2025, following a public tender procedure, with the Electromontaj SA – ELM Electromontaj Cluj SA Association, with Electromontaj SA as leader of the association. The contract value is RON 688.3 million, excluding VAT, with a duration of 69 months, and will be carried out in several stages: design, obtaining/updating the documentation necessary to obtain permits and approvals, obtaining permits and approvals, and execution of works.

The 400 kV Gadalin – Suceava Overhead Power Line (single circuit), including the interconnection to the SEN, is a public utility investment project of national interest, one of 11 investment projects financed by the Modernization Fund, worth RON 492,452,329.63.

The 400 kV Gadalin – Suceava OHL will complete the 400 kV power grid in the northern part of the country, being one of the most complex national energy infrastructure projects, crossing extremely difficult mountainous terrain. At the same time, the 400 kV Gadalin – Suceava Overhead Power Line will be the longest line in Romania, measuring 260 kilometres, and will connect two important geographical regions of the country: Transylvania and Moldavia. The new line will cross the territory of three counties (Cluj, Bistrita – Nasaud and Suceava) and 40 localities.

The new 400 kV Suceava – Gadalin Overhead Power Line will facilitate the integration of wind farms to be built in Moldavia and Dobrogea, thus creating a new power transmission line to north-western Romania and to neighbouring countries west of Romania, thereby strengthening the smooth operation of the SEN.

Furthermore, this strategic investment by Transelectrica will have a positive impact in terms of increasing local development opportunities by providing an alternative power supply route to areas with electricity shortages in northern Transylvania and Moldavia. At the same time, this strategically important project contributes to increasing the operational safety of the National Power System and, implicitly, to supplying consumers with electricity at high quality standards and in compliance with the principles of sustainable development.

 

A new interconnection with the Republic of Moldova: The 400 kV Suceava–Balti OHL expands the energy infrastructure, including Botosani County on the national map of the Power Transmission Grid

The contract for the design and construction of the 400 kV Overhead Power Line connecting Suceava (RO) and the Republic of Moldova (MD) for the section on Romanian territory was signed in March 2025, following a public tender. The works are valued at RON 133.4 million excluding VAT and will be carried out by the consortium Electromontaj SA – ELM Electromontaj Cluj SA, led by Electromontaj SA, over a period of 52 months.

The 400 kV Suceava–Balti OHL project, for the portion of the project on Romanian territory, is a strategically important investment objective that will facilitate cross-border energy exchanges and contribute to accelerating the integration of renewable energy sources in the northeast of the country.

The strategic importance of this project lies not only in the perspective of the two national energy systems, but also in the perspective of the European energy system, which is under significant pressure from the current international context, requiring consolidation measures to ensure electricity supply. The project ensures the energy security of the Republic of Moldova by diversifying its sources of supply, with a view to creating the conditions for its integration into the single European energy market and, in this context, expressing the common political will to examine possible solutions and implement the projects necessary for long-term energy exchange between Romania and the Republic of Moldova.

The 400 kV Suceava–Balti OHL interconnection project will bring significant benefits to the energy sectors in both countries, including:

Creating the conditions for the development of electricity production from renewable sources in both countries by developing the energy infrastructure necessary for the integration of renewable energy into national energy systems Expanding the electricity market at EU level and reducing bottlenecks in energy infrastructure through greater flexibility and sustainability of the two energy systems Security of electricity supply, by increasing interoperability and coordinated operation of the two energy systems and by diversifying sources.

The main objective of the investment is to build a 400 kV interconnection power line between the energy systems of Romania and the Republic of Moldova, which will connect the Republic of Moldova to the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E).

The new 400 kV Suceava–Balti Overhead Power Line will cover a distance of approximately 93 kilometres, crossing 17 localities in the counties of Suceava and Botosani. With 302 high-voltage pylons, this project will complete a strategic axis between Gadalin, Suceava, and Balți, creating an energy bridge between Transylvania, Moldavia, and the Republic of Moldova.

For Botosani County, the investment has an additional significance: it is the first time that high-voltage energy infrastructure will be located on its territory. In connection 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 building a 400/110 kV electrical substation in the Botosani County area.

In this way, the county will be connected to Romania’s Power Transmission Grid, opening up new opportunities for economic and social development by facilitating the connection of new production capacities and investors in the industrial and energy sectors.