Moldova commits to speed up reforms in energy sector

Chisinau, 1 July /MOLDPRES/ - Moldova has committed to speed up the reforms in the energy sector, being advantaged by the position of country candidate for accession to the European Union. Deputy Prime Minister, Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Andrei Spinu made statements to this effect at the second High-Level Dialogue on Energy European Union-Moldova, held in Brussels.   

The event was presided over by European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson, Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spinu and Labour and Social Protection Minister Marcel Spatari. The discussions were based on subjects dealing with the cooperation and partnership in the energy sector, which has lately boosted following the war in Ukraine. Thus, the agenda regarded the energy security and connectivity, the reforms on the energy market and the financial assistance for attenuating the impact of the high prices for energy on consumers. These actions are to be carried out through a loan worth 300 million euros, provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to Moldova to buy natural gas on emergency purposes and deposit it.     

Also, the officials referred to the challenges of the transition to the ‘’green and clean energy,’’ as Moldova continues working with its national plan for energy and climate, as well as on establishing the goals for 2030 within the Energy Community. ‘’For the medium and long term, we are set to accelerate the enhancement of the energy efficiency, mainly the residential sector and increase the share of renewable energy sources. We commit to speed up the reforms in the energy sector, being advantaged by our position of country candidate for accession to EU. In all these reforms, we rely also on the support of the Secretariat of the Energy Community and the one of the Office recently opened in Chisinau,’’ Minister Andrei Spinu said.       

Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson stressed that, following a recent decision by the EU leaders to give Moldova, along with Ukraine, the status of country candidate for accession to EU, the bilateral relations had acquired a new dimension. ‘’We will continue working together and we will consolidate our partnership, in order to prepare the Moldovan energy system for its European future,’’ Kadri Simson said.  

The first EU-Moldova High-Level Dialogue on Energy was launched in October 2021. Since then, the Commission has actively worked, in order to make sure that Moldova can maintain stable the supply with electric energy and gas to its citizens. Moldova also has access to the newly created Energy Platform of EU, which is set to coordinate the measures of ensuring the supply with energy at accessible prices.  

Photo: Infrastructure and Regional Development Ministry