The United States will provide an additional contribution of US$19.5 million to the Republic of Moldova for strengthening energy security following the signing of the 14th Amendment to the Assistance Agreement on the development objective between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the U.S. Government for sustainable economic growth anchored in the European integration, IPN reports.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the money will be used to reduce dependence on one supply source, to connect the key elements of Moldova’s energy sector to the European systems, to attract investments to local energy production, to diversify natural gas supply sources and to improve energy efficiency.

The amendment also provides that the terms and conditions will be defined for the USAID contribution to the value of US$30 million that will be offered to the Government of the Republic of Moldova. The money will go to manage the electrical energy crisis. The amendment will take effect when it is ratified by Moldova’s Parliament.

The draft Government Decision on the negotiation and endorsement of the signing of the 14th Amendment to the Assistance Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the U.S. Government was approved in the November 2 meeting of the Cabinet.