- EBRD secures €5.6 million in E5P donor funds for greener solid waste management in Moldova
- Financing crucial for investments in three districts
- Sustainable waste management to benefit 185,000 people
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has secured €5.6 million in donor funds from the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P) for the first region under Moldova’s first large-scale solid waste management project. The grant will help finance critical waste management infrastructure in Moldova, benefiting about 185,000 people in the Ungheni, Nisporeni and Calarasi districts.
The E5P Fund in Moldova totals over €50 million and includes a €1 million contribution from Moldova. The European Union is the largest overall contributor, with €28.95 million. Other donors include the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic and Sweden.
This financing complements to the government of Moldova, which is part of a wider financing package that includes additional lending by the European Investment Bank and investment grants from other bilateral donors.
This is the first solid waste management project in the country involving multiple regions. It is an important step towards a sustainable solution for solid waste management services and is expected to serve as a blueprint for the rest of the country.
The project will finance the purchase of waste collection and transfer assets such as waste containers and collection vehicles, as well as the construction of solid waste disposal and treatment infrastructure, such as landfills and material sorting and treatment facilities.
It will also significantly reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions associated with waste disposal, thereby contributing to Moldova’s decarbonisation efforts in line with its undertakings under the Paris Agreement on limiting climate change.
The EBRD’s Vice President for Policy and Partnerships, Mark Bowman, said: “We are delighted to act as a catalyst for financial partnerships like the E5P to support Moldova’s path towards a more environmentally sustainable future.”
Jānis Mažeiks, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, said: “The European Union is the largest donor of the E5P. This €5.6 million grant will contribute to green solid waste management in Calarasi, Nisporeni and Ungheni. It will also support Moldova’s efforts as an EU candidate country to align with EU standards on preventing the negative impact of waste, strengthening resource efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
Katarina Fried, Sweden’s Ambassador to Moldova, said: “Sweden is supporting Moldova within the E5P because we consider the development of municipal services including through investment in infrastructure has the chance to increase the quality of life and offer access to better opportunities for citizens. The Moldova Solid Waste Management project is a good example of that, as it will contribute to the overall improvement of the environmental situation in the targeted areas, by this contributing to a better life quality for women, men, girls and boys.”
The EBRD is a leading institutional investor in Moldova. To date, the Bank has invested more than €2 billion in the country through 160 projects, with 52 per cent of its portfolio in sustainable infrastructure.
The E5P is a €352 million multi-donor fund initiated by Sweden and operating in the whole Eastern Partnership region. The E5P Fund in Moldova helps to improve energy efficiency, contributing to energy security, economic competitiveness and policy dialogue, while having a positive impact on the environment. The EBRD acts as the fund manager of E5P, providing administrative support to manage the fund on behalf of all the stakeholders.