Energy and Biomass Project installed 20 biomass heating systems in the first half of this year
The Board of the Moldova Energy and Biomass Project (MEBP) chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Octavian Calmic reviewed the MEBP II performance report for the first half of the year 2016 and the progress of the market consolidation programs.
According to Mr. Calmic, the Energy and Biomass Project, funded by the European Commission and implemented by UNDP, contributes to the production of safe, more competitive and sustainable energy in Moldova by providing targeted support for the most viable and available local source of renewable energy, which is biomass from agricultural waste.
“The country’s energy security, which can be achieved by diversifying the energy sources, among other things, is one of the objectives of the Government. Therefore, with the help of such projects we intend to increase the production of renewable energy by 20% of the total consumption by 2020. This is an ambitious goal, but our experience over the recent years shows that this goal can be achieved”, Mr. Calmic said.
Speaking about the achievements in the first half year of MEBP II, Victor Cotruta, the project manager, said that the project installed 15 heating systems and 5 solar hot water systems, while other five projects are under way. „In the first half of the year, the project reviewed and approved for implementation 39 rural initiatives, 6 of which were received from the Transnistrian region. Moreover, in the second half of the year, we intend to install and put into operation other 10 heating systems and 9 solar hot water systems, and to approve other 30 community initiatives out of the 60 that are under review now”, the project manager added.
The Project Board members reviewed the status of the subsidy program for households and the progress with establishment of public-private partnerships for heat supply to public premises.
In addition, they addressed the challenges to the project implementation, in particular the low interest from the local governments to establish public-private partnerships to implement biomass heating projects, low incentive for boiler operators to work because of the low salaries, and others. In response, Mr. Calmic mentioned that the Ministry of Economy and its accountable entities are working on an action plan, which aims to involve the local governments more actively in the process and address the issues related to pay, working conditions etc.
Source: Ministry of Economy