Energy Country Profiles

• Albania

• Bosnia & Herzegovina

• Bulgaria

• Croatia

• Czech Republic

• Estonia

• Hungary

• Latvia

• Lithuania

• Macedonia

• Moldova
  • Administration
  • Energy Policy
  • Energy Market Actors
  • Energy Supply
  • Energy Sources
  • Energy Demand
  • Environment
  • References

• Montenegro

• Poland

• Romania

• Serbia

• Slovak Republic

• Slovenia

• Turkey

• Ukraine

• About enerCEE|
• Green Electricity in CEE|
• Energy Policy and EU Enlargement|
• enerCEE Links

• Home
• |Moldova
• |Environment

The concept of environmental protection policy of the Republic of Moldova is oriented towards matching social and economic changes with environmental protection. The main objectives of environmental policy are the following:

• reduce the adverse impact of economic activities on the environment, for the purpose of the country’s sustainable development;
• increase public awareness on the necessity of environmental protection;
• diminish negative impacts on people’s health.

Integrated management systems according to international standards will be adopted to better monitor environmental impacts, such as:

• Environment management systems, according to ISO 14001;
• Health and occupational security management systems, according to OHSAS 18001.

The reduction of the energy activities impact on the environment is closely related to improved energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. The improvements in these fields result not only in emission reduction and comply with the Kyoto Protocol and other environmental legislation, but also contribute to a more sustainable development and increased energy security. Specific objectives in this field are:

• alignment to international rules on restricting and/or eliminating emissions into the environment and full approximation of Directive 85/337/EEC
• integration of energy policy with environment policy through an action plan to be drafted by 2010;
• promoting measured reforms towards switching to a more complex procedure of certificates for large pollution rate sources and development of new procedures for determining limit value of admitted pollution indicators for low emission sources;
• use of new financial mechanisms; such as compensating external debt with environmental investments;
• further development of CDM projects, which will allow generation of additional economic benefits from energy projects resulting in reduced CO2 emissions;
• society participation and public awareness raising;
• cooperation with neighbouring countries to address cross-border environmental issues.

As a means of environmental protection energy systems based on exploitation of the renewable potential, energy efficiency and cleaner fuel technologies are promoted. Implementation of the National Program for Energy Saving and of the Program for Renewable Energy Sources Development will contribute significantly to the reduction of harmful emissions.

Development of energy efficiency and RES projects will ensure integration of the Republic of Moldova in the European Union Emission Trade Scheme, provision of new financial sources for developing cleaner energy and for promoting energy efficiency. Until that time, this can be achieved through CDM projects.

Short- and medium-term priorities reducing the impact of the energy industries on the environment:

• substituting fossil fuels with natural gas and liquefied gas, which are less polluting, including for means of transportation (e.g. through the promotion of the use of biofuels or other renewable fuels for transport, in accordance with Directive 2003/30/EC);
• developing and implementing national environmental standards and rules in line with EU standards in order to reduce harmful substance emissions, including those of energy facilities and in the transportation sector;
• development and implementation of an economic mechanism that will encourage improved environmental performance of the energy industry;
• increasing energy efficiency in the electricity consumption sector through, for instance, the use of energy efficient and environmentally friendly home appliances and industrial equipment;
• increasing energy efficiency in buildings by adopting, amongst others, measures introduced by EU secondary legislation and stricter building codes;
• implementation of Directive 93/76/EEC on limiting CO2 emissions, Directive 94/63/EEC on the control of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions resulting from the storage of petrol and its distribution from terminals to service stations and Directive 96/59/EEC on the disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCB/PCT);
• raising awareness in this field among selected target groups and the public at large;
• development of creative financing schemes by duplicating successful programs implemented in other countries;
• implementation of advanced energy management methods as well as acquisition of new technologies.

Targeted actions include: abidance of cross-border environmental conventions based on the “package” concept with a clear distinction of cross-border issues generated by energy sector activities; developing programs and procedures for implementing agreements with instruments for monitoring the quality of the environment within cross border zones between Moldova and Ukraine, and Moldova and Romania; adopting and using frame documents which will monitor the field over the implementation of conventions signed by the Republic of Moldova with non discriminatory exchange of information between national and regional databanks and national bodies competent in energy and environmental matters; implementation of interstate projects financed by the European Union, by donor countries and international financial organizations, including a project on establishing a network of regional environment monitoring in the cross-border zone among Romania, Moldova and Ukraine; judicial and fair resolution of developmental issues related to the hydro energy potential in the cross-border zones of the Republics of Moldova and Ukraine and the Republics of Moldova and Romania, strengthening relationships among business entities and non governmental organizations in the filed of environment with a view to strengthening interstate cooperation.

[Energy Strategy of the Republic of Moldova until 2020]

CO2-Emissions

In 2003 total carbon dioxide emissions from the consumption and flaring of fossil fuels in was 10,52 million metric tons of carbon dioxide; carbon dioxide emissions per capita in was 2,46 metric tons of carbon dioxide. Carbon intensity (or total carbon dioxide emissions from the consumption of energy per dollar of gross domestic product) in 2003 was 6,88 metric tons of carbon dioxide per thousand 2000 U.S. Dollars Using Market Exchange Rates.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Moldova have dramatically declined over the past decade since Moldova gained its independence. In particular, CO2 emissions from use of coal have dropped to almost nothing, while CO2 from petroleum have dropped to less than 15% of the emissions level of 1992. An historical summary of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel use in Moldova is shown in the table below.

Fossil Fuel-related Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Moldova, 1992-2001 (in millions of metric tons of carbon)

[ DOE, EIA ]

Air pollution

Moldova is a signer of the Air Pollution Treaty, the Ozone Layer Protection Treaty, and the Climate Change Treaty. Air emissions have been in sharp decline over the past decade, mostly due to cutbacks in industrial production associated with the country's economic difficulties since Moldova became independent country.

Anthropogenic Air Emissions in Moldova, 1990-2010 (in thousands of metric tons)

Projections for 2010 from Gothenburg Protocol. Since 1993, emissions from Transnistria are not included (except for the Moldovan Thermal Power Plant). Sulfur dioxide emissions in 1991-94 do not include mobile sources.

EMEP, Cooperative Program for the Monitoring and Evaluation of Long-Range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe, Oslo, Norway.