Sweden to provide Moldova with grant worth about 820,000 euros, to facilitate waste-to-energy transformation

Moldova will collaborate with Sweden in developing waste-to-energy transformation projects. An agreement on grant worth 9 million Swedish crowns (about 820,000 euros) today was signed between the Ministry of Energy of  Moldova and Swedfund International AB (Sweden's Development Finance Institution).

According to the grant agreement, Swedfund will finance consulting services costs for feasibility studies regarding waste-to-energy facilities in two settlements of the country.

“I express my sincere gratitude to the Kingdom of Sweden for its invaluable support in exploring the potential of waste-to-energy transformation and supporting the energy transition. Thanks to the support provided, we will be able to use the data and information collected through this study, which will later guide us in creating a clear framework for identifying and developing waste-to-energy projects. These projects will not only help efficient waste management, but will also contribute to strengthening the production of renewable energy,” said Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu.

For her part, Ambassador of Sweden to Moldova Katarina Fried emphasized that the initiative would support the country's energy security and facilitate the transition to energy production from renewable sources.

“Today, I am particularly pleased to discuss Swedfund's fourth project in Moldova: Waste-to-Energy (WtE). The main goal of our cooperation is to establish sustainable waste management solutions that transform waste into valuable resources, such as electricity and heat. This not only addresses waste management challenges, but also contributes to enhancing Moldova's energy resilience and environmental sustainability,” said Katarina Fried.

The study will be carried out within 6-12 months. Its purpose is to evaluate the technical, economic and environmental feasibility of implementing waste-to-energy solutions, using the data and information already collected in the study.

Thus, it will provide a clear framework for identifying and developing waste-to-energy (WTE) projects, contributing to efficient waste management and production of renewable energy.

The study will focus on identifying viable technologies, depending on the type of waste and their processing capacity, evaluating the costs and efficiency of each technology in the economic context of Moldova, establishing an energy recovery model, including the type of energy produced (electricity, heat) and potential integration into the national energy network.

Also, it will address the environmental and social impact of implementing a waste-to-energy transformation system, such as: reducing waste deposited in landfills, CO2 emissions, and other pollutants, saving resources and protecting the environment, identifying possible concerns of local communities regarding the implementation of waste processing projects, etc.