Moldova to invest 244 million euros in modernization of hospitals, heating systems

The European Investment Bank (EIB) will provide Moldova with a total loan of over 244 million euros for the modernization of the centralized heating system in Chisinau and the construction of a regional hospital in Cahul. Specifically, 143.5 million euros are allocated for the heating system’s modernization, and 101 million euros - for building a hospital in the south of the country.

The project aimed at improving the centralized heating system includes replacing outdated vertical systems in apartment buildings with horizontal pipes, installing individual substations and enhancing building distribution networks. These measures are expected will reduce energy consumption by 25 per cent, lower heating invoices and decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 7 per cent over the next two decades.

Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu, who signed the financing agreement, said that this project was a strategic investment that will contribute to improving the quality of life for approximately 300,000 households of the city.

“By installing 2,510 individual thermal points and converting 1,665 residential buildings into a modern horizontal distribution system, we will ensure that each apartment gains greater control over its consumption, increased energy efficiency, and consequently, lower invoices for citizens,” said Dorin Junghietu.

EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska noted that the funding provided by the European Investment Bank contributed to improving everyday life across the country—from better healthcare in the south to more efficient heating in the capital.

The regional hospital in Cahul is expected to be constructed by 2030 and will serve about 300,000 people from Cahul and neighboring cities of Moldova, including Comrat, Leova, Ceadar-Lunga, Taraclia, Cantemir, and Vulcanesti.

Health Minister Ala Nemerenco emphasized that it is the first time that two regional hospitals would be built from scratch in Moldova, one in Cahul and another in Balti, according to the highest European standards.

EU Ambassador to Moldova Jānis Mažeiks said that time was ripe to reduce unnecessary energy consumption in Moldova through such projects, not only for savings, but also for the quality of life and the country's future.

“Behind every euro invested, there is a family of Moldova, whose living is improving, with warmer homes, reliable healthcare and a real hope for the future. These investments go beyond infrastructure; they bring dignity, security and opportunities to people's everyday lives,” the ambassador said.

Both global EIB loans are complemented by funding from other sources. Thus, the centralized heating project is co-financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and grants from the European Union and a multi-donor fund known as the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P).

The hospital construction project receives technical assistance through contributions from the EU, an EIB initiative called the Eastern Partnership Technical Assistance Trust Fund (EPTATF), a Swedish financial institution called Swedfund, and the EIB's own EU advisory programme for Ukraine.