Soros Foundation Moldova launched in 2023 several initiatives to support the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Moldova: paid internships for young people in the Ministry, improving the governance of state-owned energy enterprises, studying the issue of gas network management belonging to local governments, associations and individuals. Besides, the Foundation provides support for public communication activities of the Ministry of Energy.

In this context, several meetings were held on Friday to launch the activities of the operational project "Support to the Ministry of Energy on ensuring energy resilience in the Republic of Moldova". Thus, the Analytical Center Expert Group is to develop the corporate governance code for 7 state-owned enterprises in the energy sector, as well as the set of regulations and acts that will allow the implementation of corporate governance principles, including performance indicators for managers and their training.

Present at the talks, the director of the Public Property Agency, Roman Cojuhari, emphasized that the implementation of the corporate governance code will allow to increase the performance of enterprises and their functioning based on procedures and less on the human factor.

"Our aim is to support the authorities in their efforts to ensure the country's energy security, so that, as a result, everyone living in Moldova will have access to energy, the environment will be protected and public resources will be managed transparently and efficiently," said Petru Culeac, Executive Director of the Soros Foundation Moldova.

Green City Lab, Soros Foundation Moldova's partner, is currently selecting seven young researchers to work in the Ministry's subdivisions for six months. They will develop one public policy study each, during which time they will be remunerated and mentored by Ministry specialists. 

The Energy Ministry's priority, in cooperation with the Soros Moldova Foundation, is to improve the corporate governance of state-owned enterprises in the energy sector and attract talented employees to the Ministry. "We want to convince young people who will participate in the internship program to stay at the ministry. We are, in fact, now building the Ministry of Energy," said Victor Parlicov, Minister of Energy. The executive director of Green City Lab, Veronica Herța, said that there is already a remarkable progress in the selection process of interns.

A study will soon begin to look into the management of gas networks belonging to local public administrations, associations and individuals. "We believe that the authorities must come up with a solution that respects property rights and ensures the proper functioning and security of gas networks," said Petru Culeac, the Foundation's Executive Director.

The Foundation will also assist the Ministry of Energy in public communication activities in the context of Russia's hybrid war against the Republic of Moldova, where disinformation and diversion of information on energy are part of the daily toolkit of poisoning public opinion and destabilizing society.