Moldova is getting over €244 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to help fix energy and healthcare problems across the country, according to a press release. The money will be split between fixing the heating system in the capital Chisinau and building a new hospital in the southern city of Cahul. This funding comes as Moldova works toward EU membership and tries to cut its ties with Russian energy.
The bigger chunk—€143.5 million—will go to fixing Chisinau’s district heating system. Termoelectrica SA, Moldova’s largest heating company, will replace old vertical heating systems in apartment buildings with modern horizontal pipelines. They’ll also put in individual substations. The project should cut energy use by 25%, lower heating bills for residents, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 7% over the next 20 years. The work will take seven years and help about 300,000 households in the city of 750,000 people.
The remaining €101 million will help build a new hospital in Cahul that will serve around 300,000 people across southern Moldova, including nearby cities like Comrat, Leova, and Vulcanesti. The Moldovan Ministry of Health will run this project, which aims to bring healthcare services up to European standards.
EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska said, “We are helping improve daily life for people across Moldova—from better healthcare in the south to more efficient heating in the capital.” She added that the projects will help Moldova align with EU standards and reduce its dependence on Russia.
Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu called the heating project a smart investment that will give residents more control over their energy use and lower their bills. The project will put in 2,510 individual thermal points and convert 1,665 apartment buildings to the new system. The funding shows European support for Moldova’s infrastructure development as the country pushes for EU membership.
