Both the residential and industrial sectors on both banks of the Nistru River remain dependent on the infrastructure inherited from the Soviet period, expert Igor Boţan sated in IPN’s public debate "Energy efficiency can (re)integrate Moldova". According to him, these systems are far from the modern principles of energy efficiency because, in the Soviet period, the saving of energy resources was not addressed as an issue.

"The Republic of Moldova inherited both the residential sector and the enterprises from the Soviet system, which did not put a very high price on energy efficiency. Only now, when we are faced with the problem of energy shortage and the problem of increased charges, everyone understood the importance of this process of energy efficiency," said the permanent expert of IPN’s project.

Igor Boțan noted a change of attitude on the left bank of the Nistru, determined by the severe energy crisis this winter. Only as a result of the problems that arose in the cold season, the so-called authorities in Tiraspol began to take concrete measures to diversify the sources of electricity production, turning to renewable ones.

"Only after this winter's energy crisis, measures were taken in the Transnistrian region to generate electricity from renewable sources. So, their goal is not to increase the energy efficiency, but to generate electricity from alternative sources. There is also a joke: the sun and the wind are the best friends of the Transnistrian region. Now Tiraspol's policy is to stimulate both private and business investments in renewable sources, i.e. solar panels and wind turbines," said Igor Boţan.

Currently, investments in green energy production are encouraged in the Transnistrian region. The measures include tax exemptions when leasing out land intended for the installation of photovoltaic panels, as well as the non-taxation of the purchase of solar panels for a period of five years.

"Those who will buy solar panels will benefit from advantages for 5 years, being exempt from taxes. Also, the leasing out of land intended for the installation of solar panels is not taxed for a period of 5 years," said the expert.

The public debate entitled "The first lessons of the energy crisis in the Eastern region" was held as part of the project "IPN News Agency for Social Cohesion and a Pro-European Moldova", funded by IMS.