Wedoany.com Report-Feb 7, This is provided for in the relevant grant agreement, which was signed on February 6 in Chisinau by Prime Minister Dorin Recean, Head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Office in Moldova Catarina Bjorlin Hansen and Acting CEO of Moldelectrica Sergiu Aparatu. The EBRD's gratuitous financial assistance represents 20% co-financing of the construction of the 400 kV Balti-Suceava transmission line within the framework of the project "Interconnection of Electricity Grids between Moldova and Romania, Stage II" worth EUR 77 million. The allocated funds will also be used to restore the national power grid by replacing outdated equipment. The head of government stressed the importance of access to European energy markets, noting that support from the European Union helps Moldova avoid energy blackmail from Russia and strengthen its energy security. "Today we have light and heat, thanks to our partners and the fact that for 4 years the government has been taking active, strategic steps that have freed us from blackmail and dependence. This additional agreement provides for the gratuitous provision of financial resources for the construction of a power transmission line with Romania and for ensuring independent supplies of electricity from the European market, as well as to ensure that we are no longer blackmailed," Dorin Recean said. In turn, Catarina Bjorlin Hansen noted that the EBRD's assistance will strengthen the government's efforts to diversify energy resources. "This project will help Moldova build a safe and reliable electricity supply system," she said. The total cost of the Moldova-Romania power grid interconnection project, which is in its second stage, is 77 million euros. The EBRD and the European Investment Bank are each allocating 30.8 million euros for its implementation. The construction of the 400 kV Balti-Suceava transmission line is planned to be completed by the end of 2027. The main objective of the project "Connection of the Electricity Grids of Moldova and Romania, Stage II" is to complete another energy connection between Moldova and Romania by the end of 2027 with commissioning in 2028. The implementation of the mentioned investment project will facilitate the integration of the Moldovan network into the EU market through connections with the European ENTSO-E network, increase the efficiency of the national energy sector, improve the stability and reliability of the local and regional electricity system, as well as increase development opportunities through other energy sources, including renewable energy sources.
