Moldova described as one of most advanced countries in terms of energy policies

Chisinau, 15 April /MOLDPRES/- Moldova is described as one of the most advanced countries in terms of energy policies, according to a report on energy policies implemented in 11 countries from the Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia. The International Energy Agency (IEA) and INOGATE Programme, in partnership with the Economics Ministry, unveiled the report today in Chisinau.

"Moldova has a favorable enough position, as regards the adoption of legislative and normative framework, made progress on the electric energy market by decentralising it," IEA executive director Maria van der Hoeven has said. She added that "now the question is how fast Moldova will move to implement the laws and regulations that have been adopted".

The IEA head said that a significant infusion of capital was needed to modernise the Moldovan energy system, and for these "foreign investments to come, Moldova needs a predictable investment climate. This is one of recommendations contained in this report."

"The energy efficiency and investments in renewable resources are two fields in which much work is to be carried out. Many things remain to be done, but there is political will," Maria van der Hoeven said.

Moldova has lately taken a string of measures on enforcing the EU Acquis, a state secretary at the Economics Ministry, Lilia Palii, said. The official touched upon a string of laws, including on thermal energy and cogeneration.

"We are determined that by 2020, a period necessary for carrying out gas and electricity transport interconnection, Moldova should develop a liberalised and functional market of energy from the legislative, institutional and logistic viewpoints," she said.

The head of the Economics Ministry's security and energy efficiency directorate, Maria Botezatu, stressed that Moldova wanted to be part of the European energy market and therefore, it relied very much on the fast implementation of both gas and electricity interconnection. It is about, first of all, the construction of the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline, as well as three electricity connections, in Centre, South and West.

"If we build a connection, it does not mean that we do not talk to the other partners. There will be a competition, we talk about the diversification of sources", she also said.

Moldova is one of the founding members of the INOGATE Programme, and benefitted from over 30 projects out of 62 INOGATE ones implemented since 1996 so far. The support includes energy markets, sustainable energy, energy efficiency and technical standards.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor L. Alcază)