OREANDA-NEWS. September 14, 2011. Moldova will be seeking to accelerate the process of its connection to the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENSTO-E) and plans to negotiate joining it separately from Ukraine.

It was said by Moldova’s Deputy Minister of Economy Illarion Popa at the meeting in Chisinau with the European Investment Bank President Filipp Maystadt, the Economy Ministry’s press service reported. Illarian Popa said Moldova may prepare its power system to joining the ENSTO-E for 3-5 years, while the formula suggested earlier, according to which Moldova was to join the ENSTO-E together with Ukraine, demands a longer period for joining – up to 15-20 years.

The Deputy Minister of Economy emphasized that the Moldovan government together with the World Bank is working at the plan and concept of modernization of the republic’s energy system, the fact that will enable to facilitate the country’s entry into the ENSTO-E. Illario Popa said Moldova plans to build a high-voltage transmission line Balti-Suceava with the European Union’s support to join Romania’s power system and to get accesss to the alternative electric power source. It is also planned to implement the project of restoration and modernization of the electric power transportation networks.