The public institutions of Chisinau municipality and those from the hoisting sector could become more energy efficient when a new project launched by the Ministry of the Environment with the support of UNDP on April 1 is implemented. Within the project, there will be selected buildings where thermal insulation works and, if necessary, window replacement, heating system modification and other works will be executed. The services can be accessed based on a financing mechanism that does not involve direct investments on behalf of the beneficiary, IPN reports.
Nicolae Zaharia, manager of the project “ESCO Moldova – Transforming the Market for Urban Energy Efficiency in Moldova by Introducing Energy Service Companies”, said the beneficiaries will be selected in concert with the local authorities. The buildings will be rehabilitated by ESCO (Energy Services Company) companies that will have access to the guarantee fund made available within the project to enable taking out loans from banks. The investments will be recouped in several years through the bills paid by the beneficiaries.
Deputy Minister of the Environment Lazar Chirica said the launch of such projects is welcome as they reduce the greenhouse effect, while Moldova assumed obligations to diminish it under the Kyoto Protocol. “The Ministry of the Environment pays special attention to this issue and welcomes any initiative that can contribute to the active cooperation between the governmental bodies, the foreign partners and the private sector. We will be glad to disseminate this project all over the country,” he stated.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Moldova Narine Sahakyan said the implementation of such projects as ESCO Moldova will serve as an example for establishing multilateral cooperation relations with the local and central authorities, the banking sector, local engineering companies and other interested sides so as to achieve the common objective of increasing energy performance in the housing sector of Chisinau municipality.
The four-year project “ESCO Moldova – Transforming the Market for Urban Energy Efficiency in Moldova by “ntroducing Energy Service has a budget of US$1.45 million. It is financed by the Global Environment Fund and co-financed and implemented by UNDP.
Last week, the mayor of Chisinau also announced an energy efficiency project that the local authorities intend to implement over the next 20 years by accessing external financing. Within the project estimated at €500 million, the apartment buildings and public institutions of Chisinau will be thermally rehabilitated.
