Breaking free of Russia's energy grip: Moldova's new power link with Romania

Moldova on Sunday officially opened a new power interconnection line linking it with neighbouring Romania and the European power grid, aiming to reduce its dependence on Russian energy.

"For decades Moscow used energy to blackmail and intimidate us," President Maia Sandu wrote on X. "No longer: Moldova no longer buys even a drop of Russian gas," she said.

The country of 2.6 million people, wedged between Romania and Ukraine, has obtained most of its gas through Transnistria, the Moscow-backed breakaway region, and through pipelines via Ukraine. The 400-kilowatt ultra-high-voltage line from Vulcanesti to the capital Chisinau reduces dependence on Transnistria's Cuciurgan thermal power plant.

"Every time we choose what Moscow does not want, they threaten to cut our electricity," Sandu said, adding that "two more power lines to Romania are coming." European Commissioner Marta Kos, who attended the opening, said Moldova can now "buy energy wherever it is cheapest."

The project, called the 'energy liberation line', opened two years late from the initially promised date. Notably, Moldova's parliament last month approved a state of emergency until November 20 to cope with gas shortages amid global energy price rises.

Black Sea region countries are levelling new attack allegations against Russia. Romania blamed Russia for a drone attack that sank a cargo ship off the Romanian coast last month, in which one crew member was killed and three went missing. Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria have asked NATO to accelerate additional monitoring capabilities to protect merchant ships; NATO has announced it will send additional maritime patrol aircraft, radar systems and drones.