During the January 15-16 visit, Energy Minister Dorin Jungietu will hold several meetings with U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and representatives of the Department of Energy, representatives of the Department of State, Sarah Tannhauser, Deputy Director for Sanctions Policy and Implementation in the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Treasury Department, and with U.S. Senators.
An important topic of discussion will be the 400 kV Straseni-Gutinash overhead transmission line project, which represents a mutually beneficial cooperation to ensure the country’s energy independence. According to the project, the 190-kilometer-long line will be fully built thanks to the US government’s investment of 130 million dollars and will directly connect Moldova with Romania and the European network.
The agenda also includes discussions with representatives of the US energy sector companies on the details of the deal, exchange of experience, as well as participation in a round table of experts, organized by the Atlantic Council and dedicated to the challenges and prospects of energy security in the region.
According to the Energy Department, the goal of the partnership is to “open the market for American companies, increase the country’s energy independence, reduce grid losses and improve the viability of the power sector with the participation of American companies in the context of the process of eliminating dependence on a single source of energy (Russian gas and electricity produced at the MGRES thermal power plant) and diversifying both generating capacity and supply routes.
