Modernization works on the district heating systems in the municipalities of Chișinău and Bălți will be declared to be of national public utility. The draft laws prepared by the Ministry of Energy to this effect were endorsed today at the Government meeting. The measure provides the necessary legal framework for continuing and accelerating investments in heating infrastructure, including heating networks and systems inside residential buildings.

In Chișinău, the provisions concern works carried out under the “Optimization of the District Heating System” (OSACET) project, known as “Casa Caldă”. With a total value of approximately EUR 326 million, the project provides for the modernization of the district heating infrastructure, the installation of 2,510 individual heating substations, the conversion of 1,665 residential buildings to horizontal heat distribution, pilot thermal insulation projects, the rehabilitation of primary heating networks, and the construction of two pumping stations.

In Bălți, the modernization of the district heating system is being carried out under the project “District Heating System of the Municipality of Bălți (CET-Nord JSC) – Phase II”, financed through loans and grants provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The works include the modernization and replacement of heating networks and installations, the installation of individual heating substations, and the modernization of common heat distribution systems, including those inside residential buildings.

Declaring the projects to be of national public utility allows for the application of legal and administrative procedures adapted to the scale of the investments and the large number of residential buildings and other properties covered by the projects. At the same time, property owners will be informed in advance about the works to be carried out, their duration, and the impact on their property. Any interventions carried out during the works will be compensated in accordance with the law.

“Modernizing district heating means, first and foremost, better service and greater control over heat supply for consumers. Through horizontal heat distribution and the installation of individual heating substations, people will be able to manage their thermal energy consumption more efficiently, according to their individual needs. At the same time, investments in networks and infrastructure will reduce losses and increase the efficiency of the heating system,” said Minister of Energy Dorin Junghietu.

For consumers, modernization means greater control over thermal energy consumption, reduced network losses, and improved comfort in their homes. Estimates indicate that efficiency measures could contribute to reducing thermal energy consumption by up to 30%.

By endorsing the two draft laws, the Government is creating the conditions for investments in the district heating systems of the country’s largest municipalities to be implemented more quickly, bringing direct benefits to households that use centralized district heating services.