The Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (INECP) 2025-2030, which represents a concrete action plan to achieve the country’s decarbonization objectives, was approved today at the Cabinet of Ministers’ meeting. The document was developed by the Ministry of Energy, with the support of the European Union, provided through the program “Addressing the Impact of the Energy Crisis in the Republic of Moldova”, implemented by UNDP Moldova and with the support of USAID, through the Energy Security of the Republic of Moldova Project (MESA).

 

The INECP establishes the priorities, objectives and policies necessary to ensure a sustainable and accessible energy system for all consumers, while setting, at the same time, national targets on renewable energy, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions.

 

The document is based on the five dimensions of the Energy Union and describes the public policies and investments expected to achieve the targets set in each of them:

 

Decarbonization;

Energy efficiency;

Energy security;

Internal energy market;

Research, innovation and competitiveness.

 

“Increasing climate ambition has the potential to accelerate economic development, bring us closer to the EU space, stimulate innovations and a just transition, as well as create long-term jobs. The development of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan contributes to the achievement of the commitments assumed by the Republic of Moldova under the Energy Community Treaty, to the promotion of sustainable development and decarbonization of the energy sector,” said the Minister of Energy, Dorin Junghietu, in the context of the approval of the Plan.

 

Thus, by 2030, the Republic of Moldova is committed to achieving the national objective of a 30% share of energy from renewable sources in final energy consumption, to maintaining primary energy consumption below 2,949 ktoe and final energy consumption below 2,762 ktoe, to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on the right bank of the Dniester by 68.5%, compared to 1990 emissions could be reduced by 88%.

 

At the same time, the PNIEC also provides for concrete actions to ensure energy security, including diversifying energy import routes, strengthening the interconnectivity of the national energy system by building new connection lines with Romania and ENTSO-E, and developing a new energy strategy until 2050.

 

In terms of energy efficiency, the PNIEC provides for the renovation of residential buildings with financial support from the Fund for Energy Efficiency in the Residential Sector (FEERM), as well as energy savings of 0.8% of the average annual consumption as a result of the implementation of energy efficiency measures and new efficient technologies, the installation of smart meters and the promotion of non-polluting and energy-efficient transport.

 

In terms of the internal energy market, the Plan provides for the opening, modernization and liberalization of the internal energy market, the creation of intraday and day-ahead markets, coupling with European markets by launching the Energy Market Operator of Moldova, as well as the creation of cross-border markets for balancing energy systems.

 

All member countries of the European Union and the Energy Community develop such Plans with an implementation period until 2030, which are reviewed every 5 years, in accordance with the Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action (part of the "Clean Energy for All Europeans" package).

 

The development of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan contributes to the implementation of the commitments undertaken by the Republic of Moldova under the Energy Community Treaty, to the promotion of sustainable development and decarbonization of the sector.

 

The approval of the PNIEC is an important step in the implementation of the commitments of the Republic of Moldova to the EU and the international community regarding the energy transition and combating climate change.