Improving Access to Public Services through Energy Efficiency and Sanitation Projects in Moldova

Energy efficiency and water supply and sanitation infrastructure are two critical areas that the Moldovan government has been prioritizing in recent years. In partnership with various implementing partners, the European Union has been funding several projects aimed at enhancing the energy efficiency and sanitation infrastructure of public buildings in the country.

Water Supply and Sanitation Infrastructure

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, with funding of EUR 39,800,000.00 from the European Union, has been working towards increasing access to improved public services in the field of water supply and sanitation, among other areas. The project is currently ongoing and aims to construct and put into service ten water supply and sanitation systems while implementing eight energy efficiency projects in schools throughout the country.

Thermal Rehabilitation of Public Buildings

The Cantemir Town Hall in partnership with the NGO Alliance for Energy Efficiency and Renewables has been working to improve the energy efficiency and indoor comfort in four public buildings in Cantemir. The Cantemir Thermal Rehabilitation of Educational Buildings project, also known as CanTREB, has received funding of 842, 800 EUR from the European Union. The project aims to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions by implementing various thermal rehabilitation measures such as thermal insulation of the building envelope, installation of a biomass boiler plant, individual heating control points, installation of solar collectors and photovoltaic panels, and replacement of the internal lighting system with LEDs.

Energy and Biomass Project

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with funding of 23, 410, 000 EUR from the European Union, completed the Energy and Biomass Project in 2018. The project aimed to contribute to the reliable, competitive, and sustainable production of energy from biomass, the most viable and available source of renewable energy in the Republic of Moldova. The project benefited 190 schools, kindergartens, and community centers in all the districts across the country.

Increasing Energy Efficiency of Public Buildings

In 2015, the German Development Cooperation through GIZ in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment implemented the Increasing Energy Efficiency of “Mihai Eminescu” Lyceum in Ungheni project. The project aimed to construct energy efficiency measures such as the installation of a ventilation and air-conditioning system, an efficient heating system, an efficient power distribution system, and LED lighting. Other complementary measures included rainwater management, pavement of internal court, toilets refurbishment, and creation of an entrance for persons with disabilities, including access to the school area. The project received funding of 1,753,39 Euro from the European Union.

Moldovan Residential Energy Efficiency Financing Facility

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) received funding of 4,700,000.00 Euro from the European Union to implement the Moldovan Residential Energy Efficiency Financing Facility project. The project aimed to increase the energy efficiency of residential buildings in the Republic of Moldova, where there is great potential for energy savings.

Moldelectrica Transmission Network Rehabilitation Project

The Moldelectrica Transmission Network Rehabilitation project aimed to rehabilitate the existing internal power transmission network of Moldelectrica, the state-owned Moldovan transmission system operator. The project received funding of 6.000.000 Euro from the European Union and was implemented by the EBRD between 2013 and 2017. The rehabilitation aimed to strengthen regional interconnections and to develop trade in regional electricity.

Moldova has been making great strides in increasing the access of its citizens to improved public services in the field of Water Supply and Sanitation and Energy Efficiency in public buildings. This has been made possible by several projects that have been implemented in recent years with the help of funding from the European Union.

One of these projects is the Construction of Water Supply and Sanitation infrastructure, as well as Energy Efficiency in public buildings, which is being implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH with EU funding of EUR 39,800,000.00. The project aims to construct and put into service 10 Water Supply and Sanitation systems and implement 8 Energy Efficiency projects in schools throughout the country.

Another project that is currently ongoing is the Thermal Rehabilitation of Educational Buildings in Cantemir (CanTREB), which is being implemented by Cantemir Town Hall in partnership with NGO Alliance for Energy Efficiency and Renewables. The project aims to improve the energy efficiency and indoor comfort in 4 public buildings in Cantemir by taking comprehensive thermal rehabilitation measures aimed at the reduction of energy consumption and CO2 according to Cantemir Sustainable Energy Action Plan.

The Moldova Energy and Biomass Project is another project that has greatly contributed to the reliable, competitive, and sustainable production of energy from biomass in the Republic of Moldova. The project, which was implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) from 2011 to 2018 with EU funding of 23,410,000 EUR, benefited 190 schools, kindergartens, and community centers in all the districts across the country.

The Increasing energy efficiency of “Mihai Eminescu” Lyceum in Ungheni project was implemented by German Development Cooperation through GIZ in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment from 2014 to 2015 with EU funding of 1,753,39 Euro. The project involved the construction of energy efficiency measures of the building envelope, installation of ventilation and air-conditioning system, installation of an efficient heating system, installation of an efficient power distribution system and LED lighting, and complementary measures such as rainwater management, pavement of internal court, toilets refurbishment, incl. for persons with disabilities, creation of entrance for persons with disabilities incl. access to the school area.

The Moldovan Residential Energy Efficiency Financing Facility (MoREEFF) is another project that aimed to increase the energy efficiency of residential buildings in the Republic of Moldova. The project, which was implemented by the EBRD with EU funding of 4,700,000.00 Euro, has been finalized.

The Moldelectrica Transmission Network Rehabilitation project, which was implemented by EBRD from 2013 to 2017 with EU funding of 6,000,000 Euro, aimed to rehabilitate the existing internal power transmission network of Moldelectrica, the state-owned Moldovan transmission system operator, in order to strengthen regional interconnections and to develop trade in regional electricity.

The 2nd Phase of the Moldova Sustainable Energy Efficiency Finance Facility (MoSEFF2), which was implemented by EBRD from 2011 to 2017 with EU funding of 4,700,000.00 €, offered long-term finance to local participating banks, which then on-lend these funds to their clients for individual projects designed to cut energy consumption and C02 emissions as well as to improve energy use in industries, SMEs, agribusiness, and commercial buildings.

In conclusion, Moldova has made significant progress in improving its public services in the field of Water Supply and Sanitation and Energy Efficiency in public buildings. The various projects that have been implemented with the help of funding from