The Romanian-Moldovan power line is a turning point that Moscow has been unable to stop

Since last Sunday, a power line capable of carrying up to 630 megavolt-amperes has been operational between Romania and Moldova, between Vulcanesti and Chisinau, and it is a revolution. As Moldovan President Maia Sandu wrote: “For decades, Moscow has used energy to blackmail us. Not any more: we buy zero gas from Russia”. Until now, Chisinau had continued to source most of its electricity from the Cuciurgan power station, on the left bank of the River Nistro, controlled by the Transnistrian administration – the separatist entity that feels tied to Moscow and lives as if the Soviet Union had never collapsed – and fuelled by Russian gas. It seemed impossible that Moldova would be able to find an alternative source, and whilst it was exploring its options, Moscow had continued to blackmail the country, which had been bound by the Kremlin’s rules since the early years of its independence. Different times, different needs.

Today, Moldova aspires to join the European Union, is doing what is required to achieve this, and needs to break free from its dependence on Russia. The energy issue was a major problem, but the European Union has shown that it can find solutions, and do so efficiently and swiftly.

The EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, was also present at the power line’s inauguration ceremony, signalling that the new line was a European issue, an umbilical cord. Sandu said: “Every time Moldova dares to choose something other than what Moscow wants, they threaten to cut off our electricity. No one will be able to blackmail us, turn off our lights or cut off our heating any more.’ It is a choice for freedom, which the Kremlin has declined to comment on, but which carries weight in the decisions of Russia, which for decades has used energy as a weapon – a physical link – to increase its power, create dependencies and enforce subjugation.