State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy Carolina Novac participated in the Moldova Cybersecurity Forum 2026, a landmark event dedicated to cybersecurity, digital governance and the protection of critical infrastructure.

During the panel focused on securing critical infrastructure and the digital transformation of governance, State Secretary Carolina Novac highlighted the inseparable link between the modernization of the energy sector, its digitalization and the imperative of cybersecurity.

“Moldova’s energy transition is, at its core, also a digital transition. Energy security goes hand in hand with the digitalization of the sector, as well as with cybersecurity, while investments in smart infrastructure and data protection are becoming essential for the resilience of the system,” Carolina Novac stated.

In her intervention, the State Secretary outlined the main progress and strategic directions pursued by the Republic of Moldova in the digitalization of the energy sector. These include the large-scale deployment of smart metering, the expansion and improvement of national energy efficiency programmes, as well as the development of modern, transparent energy markets interconnected with the European energy market.

Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of the new data architecture, highlighting the strategic role of the future national Energy Data Hub. The official stressed that energy consumption data is highly sensitive information. Ensuring robust protection of this hub against cyber threats is fundamental to maintaining citizens’ trust, which is an essential prerequisite for the success of any e-governance initiative.

The challenge of integrating renewable energy sources was also addressed. The transition from a centralized system to a decentralized grid, with thousands of solar panels and smart devices, significantly expands the cyber-attack surface. To manage this risk, the Ministry of Energy applies the “Security by Design” principle, which involves imposing strict security standards, such as the ISO/IEC 27000 series, from the equipment procurement stage and requiring secure IT architectures for network operators.

“Citizens’ trust, the protection of sensitive data and the continuity of energy services are fundamental elements of energy and national security. Together with the Ministry’s team, we are working every day to build a digitalized energy system that meets European standards,” Carolina Novac emphasized.