The Chisinau City Hall is accused of trying to implement the energy efficiency project to thermally insulate public buildings, financed by the EBRD and EIB, in a nontransparent way. In a news conference at IPN, energy expert Sergiu Tofilat and expert in housing problems Ianus Cusnir said there are suspicions that the money will be appropriated, as it happened in the case of the MOREEFF project that financed the replacement of windows and doors.

According to the experts, the City Hall on February 23 presented the feasibility study concerning the energy efficiency project. But when details were requested and when reference was made to the appropriation within the MOREEFF project, the mayor asked to provide evidence.

Ianus Cusnir said that in 2013-2016, the housing stock managing companies took out loans to the value of over US$500,000 under the guarantee of the City Hall. Initially, the MOREEFF project envisioned a sum of US$5 million for replacing the doors and windows of a number of apartment buildings. The activists asked for information about the performed works and allocated sums and about the project coordinator and those from the Public Amenities Division who held the bidding contest.

Checks were carried out at the addresses indicated in the lists of beneficiaries. It was established that in at least 20 blocks indicated as beneficiaries of the MOREEFF project, no windows and doors were installed. Moreover, the lists contained two blocks that do not even exist. Ianus Cusnir said that in their response to an inquiry, the local authorities of Chisinau said the two blocks are to be erected.

Sergiu Tofilat noted that the energy efficiency project supported by the EBRD and EIB has an economic, social and environmental impact and therefore the City Hall is obliged to respect the public consultation procedure. He called on the local councilors to put off the examination and approval of the project so as to stage public consultations where the City Hall would provide information about the bidding contest, those who will check the quality of works, the criteria for selecting buildings, etc.

The project “Energy efficiency and thermal insulation of public buildings in Chisinau municipality” has a budget of €25 million. Of this sum, €20 million is the loan from the EBRD and EIB, while €5 million is a grant.