Moldovan energy minister says every leu invested in energy efficiency generates significant economic impact

Investments in the energy efficiency of buildings have a direct economic and social impact on citizens. This means lower energy invoices, warmer homes and enhanced comfort for people. Thus, every Moldovan leu invested in energy efficiency generates a significant economic impact. Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu made statements to this effect at the National Forum on Energy-Efficient Construction: Investments, Challenges and Development, held in Chisinau today.

The event highlighted the need to accelerate the use of investments and to strengthen the capacity of the construction sector, in order to transform available financial resources into concrete large-scale energy renovation projects.

“The results of the programmes implemented so far show that the energy efficiency of buildings is one of the best solutions for reducing consumption and strengthening the country’s energy resilience. Going forward, we aim to develop and expand these initiatives, so that more families of Moldova can enjoy better living conditions,” said Dorin Junghietu.

Deputy Prime Minister, Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Vladimir Bolea stressed the need to strengthen the sector’s capacity to implement complex projects and to respond to the growing demand generated by national programmes.

“The legislation must keep pace with current realities. Climate change is already making its presence felt in our daily lives and construction technologies and materials are evolving at an accelerated pace. We need a flexible and modern regulatory framework, that allows rapid adaptation to new requirements and to the way we build today. When innovative solutions emerge that are not yet sufficiently regulated, I encourage the business community to come forward with clear and well-argued proposals, so that together we can develop an up-to-date legislative framework, adapted to market needs and sustainable development goals,” said Vladimir Bolea.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Deputy Resident Representative in Moldova Seher Ariner said that we are entering a new stage of energy efficiency: moving from policy ambitions and strategic intentions to large-scale implementation, operational programmes, concrete investments and measurable results. However, it is not enough to simply make investments. “Equally important is the capacity of the private sector to respond effectively to the growing demand for energy-efficient construction and renovation,” the official noted.

Director of the National Center for Sustainable Energy (CNED) Ion Muntean said that energy efficiency was no longer just a public policy objective, but a strategic investment in energy security, economic competitiveness and the quality of life of citizens.

“In recent years, we have built sustainable financing mechanisms and launched programmes that are already delivering concrete results. At the same time, this path has clearly shown us where the market’s vulnerabilities lie. The today’s forum is an open invitation to dialogue and cooperation, in order to jointly identify solutions that will accelerate the development of a strong, high-quality, energy-efficient construction sector of Moldova,” said Ion Muntean.

The Fund for Energy Efficiency in the Residential Sector in Moldova (FEERM) provides for a budget of over 1.4 billion lei by the end of 2027 and envisages the renovation of a heated area of at least 507,000 square meters of housing over the next three years, 75 per cent of which are residential buildings. The financing instruments include grants of 70 per cent of the eligible investment for condominium owners’ associations, with their own contribution of only 30 per cent. Apartment and single-family home owners who are energy vulnerable will benefit from allocations of up to 90 per cent of the value of their contribution, paid from the Energy Vulnerability Reduction Fund.