The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development plans to invest somewhere between €70 and 120 million in Moldova in 2012. The money will cover 11 projects in several development areas, Info-Prim Neo learned from a press release of the Ministry of Economy. Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar met with Julia Otto, EBRD director for Moldova. The two officials reviewed the common projects of EBRD and Moldova. Julia Otto appreciated that 2011 was a positive year. The plan for 2012 was strengthened recently with the above-mentioned investments. Valeriu Lazar saluted the allotment of concrete sums for the development of road infrastructure, of the energy sector and water supply system, all of which are big and necessary projects for Moldova. The two officials listed the goals for 2012 and several that will be finished in 2013, such as the capital repair of Chisinau-Ungheni, Hancesti-Lapusna and Comrat-Giurgiulesti roads, for which €23 million will be allotted in 2 installments. This April, the EBRD board will examine the decision to finance the complex development of Moldova’s energy sector. The estimated figures are €30 million of investments and €8million as a grant. Among the ongoing projects is the Soroca-Balti water main, which will supply with drinking water 7 districts in the north of the country. The first installment of €1.5 million was approved for the development of feasibility project. Energy efficiency projects were discussed as well, for which €40 million will be allotted. The continuation of MoSEFF program is a priority as well. It offers credits to companies via partner banks for projects related to energy efficiency. Moreover, a new project will be launched – MoREFF, focusing on the residential sector. Through this program, partner banks will be able to finance smaller private projects, eventually initiated by tenants associations who want to reduce energy consumption. EBRD expressed its interest in assisting the government in creating the Fund for Energy Efficiency. EBRD also expressed its availability to implement a project for the improvement of Moldovan railway infrastructure. The projects means the refurbishment and the re-equipment of the fleet of locomotives with better and more efficient engines, as well as the replacement of passenger train cars on international routes. This project would require investments of about €100 million.