The Energy and Biomass Project II , with a budget totalling €9.41 million provided by the European Union, has been launched. The project is expanding its boundaries to cover the Transnistrian region and small towns where heating plants are to be installed in public institution. It will be implemented during January 2015 – November 2017, IPN reports.

Eighty modern biomass heating plants coupled with 21 solar collectors will be installed in schools, kindergartens, and community centres and 300 biomass-fired boilers will provided at subsidised prices to households and microenterprises within the project that will be implemented by the United Nations Development Program. Also, seven public-private partnerships are set to supply bioenergy.

”The Republic of Moldova is proving through the Energy and Biomass Project eloquent example that the targets set for energy efficiency and renewables are achievable. Consistency and effort – this is all that is needed,” Stephane Christophe Bride, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, said in the project launch.

Pirkka Tapiola, Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova, said the European Union provides assistance to the Republic of Moldova in the development of Renewable Energy sources which shall permit among others to limit the environmental impact of consumed energy and promote diversification of energy sources. All this will have a positive impact on improving the life of Moldovan citizens.

“The second phase of the Energy and Biomass Project, will further capitalize on the achievements of the first phase while fostering the triple effect of the use of renewable energy, namely: jobs creation and poverty eradication; environmental protection and reliable access to energy; and improved quality of life,” stated Dafina Gercheva, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program in Moldova.