Dorin Jungietu
The event brought together ministers responsible for energy policy in the Member States of the European Union, representatives of the European Commission and invited partners to exchange views on the priorities of the energy transition and measures to address current challenges in the sector.
‘For Moldova, the energy crises of recent years have clearly demonstrated that consumer protection cannot be limited merely to partial reimbursement of bills. We need to reduce electricity bills themselves through concrete measures. That is precisely why we are making every effort to shift the focus from subsidising part of electricity costs to investing in energy efficiency. A renovated block of flats, an insulated house or energy-efficient household appliances mean lower energy consumption and, consequently, lower monthly bills,” said Junghietu.
The minister confirmed that Moldova is already changing this funding structure through mechanisms that mobilise investment in energy efficiency, without placing the entire burden on the state budget. In this context, the official added that for this year alone, the budget of the Energy Efficiency Fund for the housing sector amounts to over 200 million lei, whilst a total of around 1.4 billion lei is planned to be mobilised between 2024 and 2027.
Progress is also evident in the public buildings sector. Energy modernisation programmes are currently being implemented, with total funding exceeding 240 million euros. Under the INSPIREE programme alone, 16 educational establishments and 14 district hospitals, with a total floor area of over 92,000 square metres, are scheduled to be upgraded for energy efficiency by 2030. It is estimated that these measures will reduce energy consumption by approximately 60 per cent, resulting in annual savings of around 12 GWh.
Moldova needs specialists in the field of energy efficiency
‘We have reached a stage where the question is no longer whether we need energy efficiency or whether there is funding for projects. We have programmes, we have funding, and demand is growing. The challenge is to turn these resources into tangible results: we need experienced energy auditors, designers, project managers and entrepreneurs who are ready to work on a large scale. For us, energy efficiency is also becoming a focus for professional training and market development,” emphasised Dorin Junghietu.
The impact of eco-vouchers and small-scale renewable energy producers
Another example of measures having a direct and rapid impact on consumers, presented by the minister, is the EcoVoucher programme. By July 2026, over 42,000 vouchers had been used, resulting in energy savings of around 9.5 GWh.
At the same time, an increasing number of consumers are choosing to generate their own energy. The installed capacity of producer-consumers has reached approximately 220 MW, enabling households and small consumers to reduce their dependence on energy purchased from the grid.
Overall, the installed capacity of renewable energy sources in the Republic of Moldova exceeded the 1 GW threshold in 2026. These results show that the energy transition can bring tangible benefits to consumers not only in the long term, but also through measures that reduce consumption and costs within a relatively short timeframe, Dorin Junghietu concluded.
This story was translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence.The translation was also reviewed by the Logos Press editorial team.
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