Energy and Biomass Project to be extended in Moldova

Chisinau, 25 March /MOLDPRES/ - The Energy and Biomass Project, as well as the ESCO Moldova project will be extended. An agreement to this effect was reached at a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister, Economics Minister Octavian Calmic and United Nations Resident Coordinator, Resident Representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Moldova Dafina Gherceva.         

The promotion of energy efficiency is a strategic activity for Moldova. To improve this sector, a string of actions will be initiated, which will put the consumers of gas and the ones of renewable energy in equal conditions, Octavian Calmic noted.  

The UN will further back the projects underway, with the final goal to enhance the potential of use of renewable energy in public buildings by 15 per cent. The biomass energy in the long run will ensure the energy security of Moldova, so that the latter is not dependent on external factors, Dafina Gherceva said.  

The Energy and Biomass Project was launched in 2011, with an overall budget of 14.56 million euros. UNDP successfully implemented the first phase of the project in 2011-2014. As a result, the European Union earmarked additional funds worth 9.41 million euros for financing the project’s extension. Starting from January 2015, the project entered the second stage of enforcement, which provides for the setting of 80 modern biomass stations in public institutions and assembling of 350 biomass boilers till 2017.   

The objective of the ESCO Moldova project is to transform the market for the urban energy efficiency by introducing energy services companies.   

Moldova assumed the commitment before the European Union to reach a level of almost 20 per cent for the energy from renewable sources of all the consumption by 2020.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor L. Alcaza)