Romania-Republic of Moldova MoU on Promoting Innovation in the Energy Sector

On October 24, in Chisinau, the Romanian Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Energy Minister of the Republic of Moldova Victor Parlicov on cooperation in order to implement joint projects and develop partnerships to promote innovation in the energy sector in Romania and the Republic of Moldova.

“This step is the continuation of a process that Romania has assumed: that of being a partner of the Republic of Moldova, to strengthen its energy security and its integration into the European energy market. As part of this process, Romania is already concretely and constantly supporting the Republic of Moldova in the energy sector, through ongoing strategic projects such as the Iasi-Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline, the Suceava-Balti Overhead Line, but also by providing energy when Moldova needed it, more and more in recent years. In turn, Romania now has a new opportunity through the access of Romanian start-ups to the testing ecosystem in the Republic of Moldova, where there is already a sandbox legislative framework that allows companies to apply new solutions in a controlled environment,” Sebastian Burduja said.

The Memorandum on collaboration for the realization of joint projects and the development of partnerships to promote innovation in the field of energy in Romania and the Republic of Moldova aims to promote and realize joint projects, as well as to develop partnerships to stimulate innovation in the field of energy in the two countries and complementary projects.

 

Objectives of the Memorandum

• Identify national and regional industry needs from a green technology and innovation perspective
• Identify and develop pilot programs and projects where energy innovation and green technology development priorities can be addressed in a sustained manner
• Analyse and identify options to support investments in significant technological solutions that will propel the clean technology industry and influence the energy sector at regional level
• Develop strategies based on best practices in Romania and the EU, which have resulted in the financing of green energy investments.

To this end, participants will collaborate, as a matter of priority, to develop projects and initiatives that support innovation, in particular in the following areas: digital and smart solutions for Cleantech; advanced renewable energy; comprehensive ecosystem for green hydrogen; next generation carbon management technologies (CCU/CCS); energy storage; Eco-Friendly/Environment Friendly Urban infrastructure; energy efficiency; green and energy efficient heating-cooling systems; CyberSec projects for energy infrastructure; advanced biofuels; biomass and nuclear energy.

The new memorandum signed follows the two memorandums of understanding signed between the governments of the two countries, the one of February 11, 2022, on cooperation in the field of energy security and the one of December 11, 2023, on the realization of the projects necessary for the interconnection of natural gas and electricity networks between Romania and the Republic of Moldova, both signed in Chisinau.