WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

4.1.5 Republic of Moldova
Pascal Hauser, International Center on Small Hydro
Power
Key facts
Population 3,656,843 1
Area 33,851 km 2
Climate Transitional between temperature and
continental, with four distinct seasons 3
Topography Rolling steppe, gradual slope south to
Black Sea 1
Rain
pattern
Total mean annual precipitation over 750
mm. 2
Electricity sector overview
The electricity market in Republic of Moldova (hereafter
Moldova) was formed in the period of 1997-2001 when
the energy sector became subject to re-structuring and
its main operators came into the market: an electricity
transmission and central dispatch-enterprise called
Moldtranselectro, several electricity distribution and
supply companies, and the National Agency for Energy
Regulation (ANRE). Currently, the Ministry of Economy
and Commerce regulates the energy sector. The total
installed electricity capacity of the Republic was 3,008
MW in 2011. Due to the insufficient capacity as well as
the high generation cost, Moldova has to import a large
share of its electricity consumption. In addition, because
of the inflexibility of the Moldovan power plants (i.e. the
limited size of quickly responding spare capacities), the
electricity deficit is supplied by Ukraine. 3 ANRE reported
that in 2011 domestic production was predominantly
derived from fossil fuels (91 per cent) and 9 per cent
from hydropower. 4
Hydro 5%
Import
45%
Fossil Fuels
50%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Figure 1 Electricity generation in the Republic of Moldova
Source: Energy Regulators’ Assocation 4 and Indexmundi 5
Small hydropower sector overview and potential
There are only two major hydropower plants in Moldova
in spite of the large number of rivers. The largest is the
Dubasari plant (48 MW) built in 1954 on Dniester, the
most important river flowing to Moldova from Ukraine,
and the second(16 MW) is located in Costesti on the
Prut, it is also the second most important river in the
country. Only 100 kW small hydropower is thought to be
operating.
Moldova’s small hydropower potential is 1,100
GWh/year. The Dniester River basin, the Prut and
Danube river basin cover the majority of Moldova’s
territory, technically these represent the best areas for
small hydropower development. 6 Under the Energy
Strategy 2020, mini hydro stations with a capacity of 1.2
MW are planned to be built on the Raut river, close to
the village of Tribujeni (Orhei district). 7
SHP installed
capacity
SHP potential
0.1 MW
1.3 MW
0 0.5 1 1.5
Figure 2 Small hydropower capacities in the Republic
of Moldova
Source: United Nations Economic Commission for
Europe 6
Note: Potential is based on planned capacity by 2020.
Renewable energy policy
The Energy Strategy until 2020, which was approved in
2007, has objectives, measures and activities to improve
the national energy industry, inter alia: improved energy
efficiency, use of renewable energies, implementation
of tariffs and improvement of energy security. 8 It
foresees an increased share of renewable energy
sources in the country’s energy balance of up to 6 per
cent in 2010 and 20 per cent in 2020. 6
Efficient use of the existing biomass potential could fully
supply Moldova’s rural population with energy, using
cereals, sugar sorghum and oil technical cultures - rape,
sunflower, grape seeds from the wine industry. 7
Barriers to small hydropower development
The main barrier for investments in small hydropower in
the country is capital constraints; there are no national
or municipal funds for improving energy efficiency or
developing renewable energy projects. High interest
rates of bank loans further prevent formation of a
market for private companies involved in development
of energy projects. 9
So far, implementation of all renewable energy projects
has been carried out by State institutions. The lack of
public tendering processes has also hindered the
formation of a competitive environment for private
companies. 9
References
1. Central Intelligence Agency (2012). The World
Factbook. Available from
www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-worldfactbook/geos.
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