A public-private partnership brings green energy to 7 schools and kindergartens from Ungheni

Ungheni is the second district benefiting from Public-Private Partnership for the supply of biomass thermal energy within the Moldova Energy and Biomass Project, following the successful example of Leova district. The selected entrepreneur for Ungheni is responsible to maintain 5 biomass heating systems installed with funding from the EU in the framework of the Moldova Energy and Biomass Project, set up 2 new green energy systems and performed energy efficiency works in several institutions. The total investments of the private company are valued at 1,000,000 lei. The beneficiaries of the Ungheni PPP’s are: schools from Bumbata, Zagarancea, Valea Mare, Sculeni, Harcesti and kindergartens from Floritoaia Veche, and Condratesti.  

"Last winter, we cherished the first positive results of the public-private partnership. Both children and teachers enjoyed during cold season the warmth of classrooms, with a temperature of 18-20 degrees. This is the optimal temperature that meets sanitary standards, which before we could not assure day by day, unfortunately. Now managers of educational institutions only pay for the cost per Gcal and they are no longer concerned about purchasing biofuel, hiring operators or maintaining properly the heating plants. In addition to the quality of services, this partnership also brings comfort for the managers of the institutions, who now have more time and financial resources to focus on other priorities of the institution", stated Ludmila Guzun, President of Ungheni district.

The establishment of the partnership was a challenge for the company and public authorities, which was welcomed, and its implementation was beneficial to both parties. "We are aware that all changes are perceived with reluctance but, throughout the last heating season, the managers of the institutions were convinced that this partnership was beneficial to them. The 7 institutions were duly supplied with thermal heating, as per contractual provisions and at a reasonable price, the cost of a Gcal being of 750 Lei, compared to 1400 Lei, in case of gas heating", said Victor Vorobiov, the private partner.

"Children from 3 neighbouring villages study in our secondary school and it was very difficult in winter - children were freezing on the way to school, and inside they could not warm themselves, so they did not take off their coats during lessons. Now, we have a comfortable temperature, a very good attendance. I would even say that, with the increase of the temperature in the classrooms, the school performance has also enhanced. The number of respiratory illnesses also decreased", mentioned Irina Bodrug, director of the secondary school of Harcesti.

The private partner manages the supply with biomass heating and the proper operation of the bioenergy heating plants in 7 institutions connected to biomass heating systems with the support of the company's funds. The company has hired operators for these heating plants and covers their salaries; it supplies biofuel throughout the heating season. The heating plants will be managed by the company during a period of ten years, throughout which local authorities will pay an optimal tariff for a Gcal. Afterwards, the heating plants will become property of the Ungheni District Council.  

The Energy and Biomass Project, the second stage, is a three-year project implemented throughout the period 2015-2017. The Project has a total budget of 9,41 million Euros allocated by the European Union and it is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme. It follows up the first stage of the project, implemented in 2011-2014, with a total budget of 14,56 million Euros, provided by the European Union (14 million Euros) and the UNDP (560,000 Euros).