2 Strategic Projects for the Development of Romania’s Energy Infrastructure

On April 23, the Romanian government adopted two decisions of strategic importance for the development of the power transmission grid, marking clear progress in the implementation of priority investments by the National Power Grid Company Transelectrica. These legislative acts establish the legal framework necessary for the implementation of the investment projects: the 400-kV overhead power line (OHL) connecting Romania with the Republic of Moldova (Suceava–Balti segment, located on Romanian territory) and the 400-kV overhead power line (OHL) Gadalin – Suceava, both of which have been declared projects of national importance in the field of electricity transmission.

The adoption of these government decisions aims to approve the sites and initiate expropriation procedures for the land areas located within the corridors required for the project, representing a crucial step toward moving on to the next phases: obtaining building permits and the actual execution of the works. In 2025, Transelectrica signed the design and works contracts for the two major infrastructure projects.

Both investments directly contribute to completing the 400-kV ring in northern Romania, significantly enhancing the operational reliability of the National Power System (NPS) as well as the capacity to integrate renewable energy generation.

At the same time, these projects support regional economic development and reduce energy vulnerabilities by creating new “energy highways” for power transmission.

 

Strategic interconnection between Romania and the Republic of Moldova

The decision regarding the 400-kV Suceava–Balti OHL is of particular strategic importance, as it facilitates the interconnection of the energy systems of Romania and the Republic of Moldova and contributes to the latter’s integration into the European energy market.

The contract for the design and construction of the 400 kV OHL 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 contract (for works and equipment) is valued at RON 133.4 million excluding VAT and has a duration of 52 months; the works will be carried out by the Electromontaj Consortium (consortium leader) – ELM Electromontaj Cluj.

The 400 kV Suceava–Balti OHL project, for the portion of 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 new 400 kV Suceava–Balti OHL will cover approximately 93 kilometers, 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 Balti, 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.

 

The longest overhead power line in Romania

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 and representing one of the longest crossings of the Eastern Carpathians. At the same time, the 400-kV Gadalin–Suceava OHL will be the longest in Romania, spanning 260 kilometres, with the project calling for 988 high-voltage towers (of which 967 will be newly constructed), and it will connect two important geographical regions of Romania: Transylvania and Moldavia. The new line will cross the territory of three counties (Cluj, Bistrita-Nasaud and Suceava) and 40 localities.

The contract for the design and execution of the construction works of the 400 kV Gadalin – Suceava OHL (single circuit), including interconnection to the National Power System (SEN) was signed in August 2025 with the Electromontaj (association leader) – ELM Electromontaj Cluj Association, following a public procurement procedure. 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 OHL (single circuit), including the interconnection to the National Power System, is a public utility investment project of national interest; it is also one of the 11 investment projects receiving non-reimbursable funding through the Modernization Fund, in the amount of RON 492,452,329.63.

The new 400 kV Gadalin – Suceava OHL 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, the completion of this strategic investment by Transelectrica will have a positive impact by increasing opportunities for local development through the provision of an alternative power supply route to areas in northern Transylvania and Moldova that currently lack adequate electricity infrastructure. 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.

The adoption of these two legislative acts follows the Romanian Government’s declaration, during its meeting on March 26, 2026, that two additional strategic investment projects by Transelectrica are of national importance to the Power Transmission Grid. Both projects will receive non-repayable funding through the Modernization Fund, namely: The 400 kV Constanta Nord–Medgidia Sud OHL and the 400 kV Timisoara–Arad OHL, which are part of Phase III of the investment project to upgrade the Portile de Fier–Resita–Timisoara–Sacalaz–Arad corridor to 400 kV.

The adoption of these extremely important Government Decisions demonstrates the Romanian Government’s commitment to the rapid development of energy infrastructure and to supporting investments that will have a long-term impact on the economy and energy security. These regulations also support the use of European funds secured by Transelectrica for three of the four projects designated as being of national importance in the past month.

Transelectrica will continue to implement its investments in accordance with the project timeline, while managing the expropriation procedures and ensuring compliance with all applicable legal provisions.