Over 22 thousand apartments in Balti to have better, safer heating services

Chisinau, Oct. 6 /MOLDPRES/- Moldova will benefit from a grant worth two million euros for the modernization of the thermal energy supply system in Balti. For this, a grant agreement was signed yesterday between the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, CET-Nord and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Beneficiaries of the project are about 37 thousand people from Balti. The initiative will generate energy savings of up to 117,000 megawatt/ hour per year, help save 11,000 cubic meters of water and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 23,000 tons per year.

"Now, when the energy situation is going through a period of transition, and investments have been minimal all these years, we must reorient our strategy and make this sector more resilient, which will bring savings to the citizen's pockets. It is gratifying that step by step we manage to invest in new technologies, so that people are more satisfied with the conditions and services they receive from thermal energy suppliers", said Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spînu, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development.

For his part, Jānis Mažeiks, EU Ambassador to Moldova said that considering the challenges currently faced by the Moldovan citizens in the energy sector, the urban heating initiative of the municipality of Balti is an important one for the people. "At the same time, it aims to reduce the consumption of natural gas, electricity, water and will improve the reliability and quality of urban heating services. We are convinced that this initiative will have a significant demonstrative effect for other cities in Moldova, showing how the energy efficiency of buildings can be improved, the level of related services can be increased and how environmental benefits can be achieved," said Jānis Mažeiks.

Project Thermal Energy System of Balti Municipality Phase II is aimed at increasing the quality of the service provided to the residents of Bălți by restoring the hot water delivery system; development of the horizontal distribution system inside the housing blocks; optimization of operational costs; increasing the operating life of machinery and equipment; reduction of thermal energy losses etc. The duration of its implementation is planned for 2022-2024.

Photo: MIDR