The Republic of Moldova is 86% dependent on imported energy resources, while renewable energy represents slightly over 14% of the energy produced in the country. By 2020, Moldova aims to increase the share of renewable energy to 17%. The opportunities existing on the renewable energy market were discussed in the first energy efficiency forum that was held in Chisinau on June 22. This brought together over 60 entrepreneurs from both sides of the Nistru.

The event was staged under the aegis of the Embassy of Italy in Moldova. Ambassador Valeria Biagiotti said the utilization of renewable energy will solve the problem of provision of the population with cheaper electrical energy and will create new jobs in the Republic of Moldova. “Given the rise in gas and electric power tariffs for consumers, Moldova needs to develop the energy efficiency sector and to bring this closer to the European one,” stated Valeria Biagiotti.

Deputy Minister of Economy Vitalie Iurcu said the energy efficiency is a priority and an important instrument for ensuring the country’s energy efficiency. “Moldova develops well the biomass sector. We implement a series of related projects that are financed by different institutions. The Energy Efficiency Fund plays a very important role in this regard. Our goal is to make this fund provide a good example of efficient use of public money and of donors’ money so as to increase the energy efficiency of buildings, hospitals, schools and other social facilities,” stated Vitalie Iurcu.

Head of the Operations Section of the EU Delegation to Moldova Aneil Singh said energy efficiency offers possibilities to the public authorities and to businesses. The European Union invested and will yet invest in energy efficiency because a positive impact on the population, costs and the environment will be produced as a result.

“Energy efficiency is a very topical direction on both sides of the Nistru because we tend to develop export. Today, to be a worthy opponent, especially in the European Union, where there are our main markets, we must be competitive,” said Vladimir Isaev, of the Chamber of Trade and Industry of Transnistria.

According to the director of the Moldovan-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Cristina Samson, saving of energy means saving of money. “Efficiency actually means better and less and this will bring us both savings of financial resources and savings of energy resources,” she stated.

The Energy Efficiency Forum is held within the EU Sustainable Energy Week. The event is organized by the trans-river cooperation platform Business Bridge, created as a result of cooperation between the Moldovan-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Chamber of Trade and Industry of Transnistria and the Center for Socio-Economic Development and Innovative Entrepreneurship Support.