Italy to provide Moldova with 10 million euros to reduce energy vulnerability

Chisinau, 21 November /MOLDPRES/ - Italy will provide Moldova with 10 million euros for the compensation of the energy invoices, implementation of the programme on setting smart electric energy meters and for energy efficiency measures. This will be possible after an agreement on financing for speeding up the fair transition in Moldova was signed in Chisinau today.   
The document was signed by Italy’s Ambassador to Moldova Lorenzo Tomassoni and Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Chisinau Daniela Gasparikova, in the presence of Prime Minister Dorin Recean, Energy Minister Victor Parlicov and Labour and Social Protection Minister Alexei Buzu.     
Ambassador of Italy to Moldova Lorenzo Tomassoni said the financial support provided by Italy would be used, on the one hand, for the compensation of the invoices for the most vulnerable citizens and, on the other hand, it will allow setting smart meters, in order to help the vulnerable families and public institutions optimize the energy consumption. ‘’In all, Italy in 2022-2023 provided support worth 43 million euros and 20 tons of assets. Italy is proud to contribute to the resilience of Moldova’s energy sector,’’ the ambassador said. The official added that his country would subsequently provide Moldova with another support worth 10 million euros.    
Energy Minister Victor Parlicov noted that a part of the money provided by Italy would be used for financing a pilot project which provides for the purchasing of more than 30,000 smart meters, which will allow consumers including to benefit from differentiated tariffs for electric energy.   
„A part of this support is allocated for backing the citizens in energy vulnerability to cope with the invoices. Another part will be invested in development- in elements which will allow us, in the long run, reduce the burden on consumer not at the expense of low prices for energy, but at the expense of the efficiency and possibility to integrate more renewable energy in the network. This is a symbolical support, as it marks, I hope, an exit from the prices crisis; the prices already start decreasing, we already get to normal. On the other hand, it marks the beginning of investments in the long run, starting the fundamental settlement of the energy vulnerability problem through the integration of the renewable energy and the enhancement of the efficiency of the consumption. We mark the getting out from the crisis period and starting the transition to sustainable energy,’’ the minister also said.   
UNDP Resident Representative in Moldova Daniela Gasparikova said that Moldova had committed to reduce the energy vulnerability. ‘’The support provided by Italy will allow us promoting this goal and contributing to the cutting of prices, diversifying the energy resources and do this by using the most efficient technologies available at the world level,’’ Daniela Gasparikova added.  
In the precious cold season, the Moldovan government provided compensations for energy worth 3.4 billion lei (about 170 million euros).