OREANDA-NEWS. December 20, 2011. The Economics Ministry and the Agency for Energy Efficiency launched the first issue of the campaign "Moldova ECO-Energy" aimed at promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Moldova ECO-Energy is part of a comprehensive social campaign, whose goal is to promote alternative energy sources and energy efficiency. The campaign is conducted by the Moldovan government in partnership with the European Union and the UNDP Moldova.

"Energy efficiency, energy preservation, use of renewable energy resources are serious problems and an absolute priority especially for Moldova, which imports about 70 per cent of the electric energy it needs, and 100 per cent of natural gas and other fuel," acting President, Parliament Speaker Marian Lupu said at the opening of the event.

Noting that energy resources are getting increasingly expensive, Lupu said that Moldova needs to ensure its energy security and efficiency in order to be consequent in the implementation of the economic development strategies.

The head of the EU Delegation in Moldova, Ambassador Dirk Shuebel, said that the European Union and other donors are ready to back Moldova financially and technically in order to enhance its energy efficiency. "It is about a 14.56-million-euro project of energy and biomass, aimed at increasing significantly the use of renewable energy technologies in Moldova," the high official said. Under the project, biomass heating systems will be installed in 130 settlements, mainly in schools and kindergartens.

Dirk Shuebel also mentioned the 42.6-million-euro-worth project "Support for reforming the energy sector", which will focus on enhancing the energy efficiency and using renewable energy resources in Moldova.

Attending the event, Deputy Premier, Economics Minister Vleriu Lazar noted that "surveys proved that 30 to 40 per cent of energy can be saved, and another 20 per cent can be replaced with available renewable energy resources".

According to the government's plans, by 2020 about 20 per cent of Moldova's energy needs should be covered from alternative energy sources.