The State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Carolina Novac, participated in the event “Energy for Peace and the Future,” organized by the City Hall of Ialoveni. The activity brought together local government officials, representatives of central authorities, and international partners in a joint effort to promote energy efficiency and sustainable energy.

The event began with a bicycle march along the route from Ialoveni City Hall to the Green Theater. Mayor Sergiu Armașu noted that work is currently underway on a cycling lane, intended to ensure safe infrastructure for both amateur and professional cyclists. Additionally, children attending the event participated in a creative workshop dedicated to green energy, where they drew or built models inspired by a sustainable future.

Following the outdoor activities, a discussion panel was held under the theme “Sustainable Cities: How Do We Collaborate for an Energy-Efficient Future?” The panel included Mayor Sergiu Armașu, State Secretary Carolina Novac, Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment Petru Tătaru, representatives of the National Center for Sustainable Energy, the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, GIZ Moldova, and the Mayor of Kodyma in the Odesa region of Ukraine, Serghei Lupașco — a city that is preparing to twin with Ialoveni.

State Secretary Carolina Novac highlighted that Ialoveni district is already receiving tangible support under national energy efficiency programs, particularly through the implementation of the Republic of Moldova’s Growth Plan. Over the past two years, more than 700 energy efficiency vouchers have been distributed to vulnerable households in the district as part of support measures to reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills — totaling four million lei. Additionally, four vulnerable individual households received financial support from GIZ to develop energy audit reports and submitted funding applications for construction work under the financing product “Energy Efficiency of Individual Homes in Rural Households with Extreme Energy Vulnerability,” funded through FEERM.

Furthermore, a residential block in the city of Ialoveni has been pre-selected under the Moldova Residential Energy Efficiency Fund (FEERM) and will benefit from thermal renovation works.

Carolina Novac emphasized that in addition to grants provided by external partners and the government, it is crucial to attract investment from the private sector, including for the renovation of residential blocks and public buildings.

“For these projects to become reality in as many localities as possible, it is important that local public authorities are prepared to write and implement eligible projects for pre-accession funds. The Ministry of Energy is open to facilitating the provision of technical assistance and identifying resources for potential training in this regard, as our experience shows that the success of projects also depends on the capacity of local administrations to access these opportunities. Moreover, we are continuously analyzing the synergies between ongoing projects, including those under the Growth Plan, in order to make the most efficient use of every available resource,” stated Carolina Novac.

The energy future of the Republic of Moldova can only be secured through a joint effort by the Government, local authorities, civil society, and the private sector. Only together can we transform our localities into resilient, smart, and energy-efficient cities.