Moldova will receive 10 million euros from Italy for compensation of energy bills, installation of smart electricity meters and measures to improve energy efficiency.
This is included in financing agreements to accelerate a just transition in Moldova, which were signed in Chisinau on Tuesday by the Italian Ambassador to Moldova Lorenzo Tomassoni and UNDP Resident Representative in our country Daniela Gasparikova in the presence of Prime Minister Dorin Recean, Minister Energy Victor Parlicov and Minister of Labor and Social Protection Alexei Buzu. After signing the document, the head of the Ministry of Energy drew attention to the fact that part of the funds allocated by Italy will be used to support the population, citizens who are in energy vulnerability, to partially compensate their bills for energy resources, and the other part of the funds will be used to finance an important pilot project, which provides purchase and installation of more than 30 thousand smart meters, which will allow consumers to take advantage of differentiated electricity tariffs and change their attitude towards electricity consumption at different hours. The implementation of a pilot project will also make it possible, through the transfer of data and information from smart meters, to observe the behavior of consumers in the use of electricity, consumption habits, to find out whether consumption will change during the day if there are lower night tariffs, etc. The head of the Ministry of Energy also indicated that the introduction of new technologies will help integrate a larger volume of renewable energy into the national grid. We are talking, among other things, about electric vehicles that can not only charge the battery from an outlet, but also supply energy to the household during hours when it is more expensive or there is little of it on the grid, sources for storing excess produced “green” energy, and energy efficiency technologies. This will pave the way for the energy transition and the absorption of renewable energy sources. “This is symbolic support, since it marks, I hope, a way out of the price crisis, prices are already beginning to decline, we are gradually returning to normal. On the other hand, it marks the beginning of future investments, the beginning of a fundamental solution to the problem of energy vulnerability through the integration of renewable energy sources and increased consumption efficiency. We are celebrating the end of the crisis period and the beginning of the transition to sustainable energy,” concluded the Minister of Energy. In turn, Lorenzo Tomassoni said that “Italy is proud to contribute to the sustainability of the energy sector in Moldova.” The Italian ambassador also said that Moldova would later be allocated another 10 million euros in financial support. He noted that in general in 2022-2023 Italy provided assistance to Moldova in the amount of 43 million euros, as well as 20 tons of goods to help Ukrainian refugees. Daniela Gasparikova noted that Italian assistance will allow Moldova to achieve the goal of reducing energy vulnerability, will help reduce risks, diversify energy resources and do this using the most efficient technologies available in the world. The Moldovan government later announced that the funds received would also install photovoltaic panels on many public buildings, including hospitals. At the same time, owners' associations will be assisted in energy rehabilitation of residential buildings, such as block insulation, window replacement, facade insulation and modernization of heat distribution systems.// 21.11.2023 — InfoMarket
