Between December 13 and 16, 2022, public consultations were held on the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Study for the construction of the 400 kV overhead power line Vulcănești–Chișinău. These consultations involved representatives from the mayors’ offices and district councils of the local public authorities of Taraclia, the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, Cahul, Leova, Cimișlia, Hâncești, Ialoveni, and the municipality of Chișinău (Băcioi commune).
The events were held to inform the communities about the measures taken by the state to mitigate the environmental and social impact in the context of the construction of the 400 kV overhead power line Vulcănești–Chișinău and the modernization of the Chișinău electrical substation (declared of public utility and national interest by Law no. 120 of May 15, 2022).
Thus, representatives of the mayors’ offices and district councils became acquainted with the project’s objectives, the stages and timeline of the construction of the 400 kV overhead power line Vulcănești–Chișinău, the mechanisms for addressing complaints from landowners affected by the construction, as well as the methods for mitigating and resolving these issues.
The public consultations were organized by the Consolidated Unit for Implementation and Monitoring of Energy Projects (UCIPE) with the support of the district councils, the environmental and social consultants’ team, and representatives of the World Bank.
The construction of the 400 kV overhead power line Vulcănești–Chișinău and the modernization of the Chișinău electrical substation are components of the Energy System Development Project, financed by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development through UCIPE, aiming to improve the electricity supply in the Republic of Moldova, in accordance with the provisions of the Republic of Moldova’s Energy Strategy until 2030, approved by Government Decision no. 102/2013.