Moldova–Romania power line to be named Trump Liberty Line with $130m US funding
In short
A new 400 kV high-voltage power line between Moldova and Romania will be named the “Trump liberty line”, the US embassy in Moldova said. Washington is financing the $130m Strășeni–Gutinaș project on a grant basis, and a working group involving Moldova's energy ministry, Moldelectrica and Black & Veatch has been launched in Chisinau. The line is meant to ease Moldova's power deficit, after parliament declared a 60-day state of emergency in the energy sector from 26 September.
Read the full story 2 min read
A new high-voltage transmission line between Moldova and Romania will be named the “Trump liberty line”, the US embassy in Moldova said in a social media statement, as reported by Interfax, Kommersant, TASS and RBC. The embassy said a working group had been launched for the Strășeni–Gutinaș project, involving Moldova's energy ministry, the Moldovan grid company Moldelectrica, the US company Black & Veatch and the US embassy in Chisinau. Kommersant described the group's creation as a step to the next stage of the project. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The US government is financing the project with $130 million provided as grant aid to Moldova, Interfax and Kommersant reported. According to the embassy statement cited by both outlets, the overhead line will strengthen Moldova's energy security and independence, expand opportunities for US companies and technologies in various sectors and deepen the economic partnership between the United States and Moldova. Interfax said construction will be carried out by American companies. [ 1 , 2 ]
The 400 kV line will be 190 km long, with about 70 km in Moldova and 120 km in Romania, the two outlets reported. It will be the third high-voltage link between the neighbouring countries, after the Vulcănești–Chișinău and Bălți–Suceava projects. Kommersant noted that the two earlier lines had been disconnected for various reasons, and that the Vulcănești–Chișinău line temporarily lost voltage in March 2026 after attacks on energy facilities in Ukraine. [ 1 , 2 ]
The project comes against a backdrop of Moldovan supply constraints. Interfax reported that Moldova faces a deficit of 400–450 MWh at peak consumption hours, covered by imports from Ukraine and Romania, and that in the first half of the year electricity imported from Romania accounted for more than 50% of total consumption. Kommersant reported that Romania was named Moldova's main electricity supplier in August 2026, and that the government estimated imports would cover about 59% of consumption in winter. Interfax said that once the new line is completed Moldova will be able to obtain electricity from European markets. [ 1 , 2 ]
Kommersant also recalled a November 2022 incident in which the disconnection of one line halted supplies from Romania and led to mass outages, and said the additional high-voltage link would create a reserve in case of automatic protective disconnections. Moldova's parliament declared a state of emergency in the energy sector, which entered into force on 26 September for 60 days, Interfax reported. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The line would add a third high-voltage link between Moldova and Romania and, according to the US embassy, strengthen Moldova's energy security and independence while expanding opportunities for US companies and technology. It comes as Moldova covers a large share of consumption with imports and is under an energy state of emergency. Naming the link after US President Donald Trump gives the project a political dimension beyond its technical purpose.
Key facts
- The new 400 kV line will be called “Trump liberty line”, according to the US embassy in Moldova. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The US government is funding the project with a $130 million grant. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The line runs between Strășeni and Gutinaș and is 190 km long: about 70 km in Moldova and 120 km in Romania. [ 1 , 2 ]
- It will be the third high-voltage line between Moldova and Romania, after Vulcănești–Chișinău and Bălți–Suceava. [ 1 , 2 ]
- A working group has been set up in Chisinau with Moldova's energy ministry and US embassy, Moldelectrica and Black & Veatch. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Moldova faces a peak-hour electricity deficit of 400–450 MWh, covered by imports from Ukraine and Romania. [ 1 ]
- Moldova's parliament declared a state of emergency in the energy sector, in force from 26 September for 60 days. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The line will be named “Trump liberty line”. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- It is a 400 kV high-voltage line between Moldova and Romania. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The project is backed by $130 million of US government funding provided as a grant. [ 1 , 2 ]
- A working group for the Strășeni–Gutinaș project has been launched with Moldovan and US participation, including Moldelectrica and Black & Veatch. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The line is intended to strengthen Moldova's energy security and independence, the US embassy said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Which US companies will carry out the construction, beyond the involvement of Black & Veatch in the project group. Interfax says American companies will build the line but does not name them; Kommersant names only Black & Veatch as a project participant.
- When construction will start and when the line is expected to be completed. The documents describe the launch of a working group as a step to the next stage but give no construction or completion dates.
- The full cost of the project beyond the US contribution. Only the $130 million US grant is stated; the documents do not give a total project cost.
- Whether the naming of the line has been formally decided by Moldova and Romania or announced as a US initiative. The naming is reported from the US embassy's statement; the documents do not describe a decision by the two states.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Moldova's state of emergency in the energy sector enters into force, declared for 60 days. [ 1 ]
- Interfax reports the new Moldova–Romania line will be named “Trump liberty line”, citing the US embassy. [ 1 ]
- Kommersant reports the naming and details of the $130 million line. [ 2 ]
- TASS reports the naming and the embassy's energy-security framing. [ 3 ]
- RBC reports the decision to name the line after Donald Trump. [ 4 ]