Moldova has begun work on a new power line linking the capital Chisinau to Romania, as the former Soviet Republic seeks greater energy independence from Russia. Once the new power line is in place, Moldova will no longer be dependent on a power plant from the pro-Russian region of Transnistria, who unilaterally declared its independence in 1991. The power line will be 158km long with a capacity of 500 megawatts and is expected to be functional by the end of 2025. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES