Eleven individuals, enterprises, public institutions, and NGOs became champions of the Eco-Energy Sector of the Republic of Moldova in 2012. They were selected at the Moldova Eco-Energetica, the largest contest of the most successful initiatives in the area of renewable sources and energy efficiency in Moldova, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The use of renewable energy sources and increasing the efficiency of energy use are a priority for the Republic of Moldova. This reform aims to enhance the energy security of the country, diminish the dependency on imports, create new workplaces and ultimately, protect the environment,” Prime Minister Vlad Filat said in the Moldova Eco-Energetica Awards Ceremony. Cihan Sultanoglu, Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Europe and CIS, UNDP, said that the first edition of the Moldova Eco-Energetica awards takes place in 2012, the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, an initiative of the UN General Assembly which is supported by more than 60 governments, including the Government of Moldova. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar said the 11 awardees were selected out of more than 65 applicants. “There is a whole industry behind the participants in the contest, which we managed to launch this year,” he stated. “The success of any reform shall be ultimately measured not only by the authorities but also by every member of the society. When ordinary citizens, private sector and civil society launch initiatives that go hand-in-hand with the Government endeavors to reform the energy sector, we can achieve tangible results,” said Dirk Schuebel, Head of EU Delegation to Moldova. Moldova Eco Energetica is organized by the Ministry of Economy and the Agency for Energy Efficiency on the initiative of the Moldova Energy and Biomass Project, which is financed by the European Union and co-financed and implemented by UNDP. The winners this year are: Best Project in Solar Energy: Ecowatt Impex SRL; Best Project in Wind Energy: Technical University of Moldova; Best Project in Geothermal Energy: Sergiu Cocarla; Best Project in Biomass Energy: Agrobiobrichet SRL; Best Project in Biogas Energy: Vasile Moraru; Best Energy Efficiency Project in the Public Sector: Public Hospital from Orhei; Best Energy Efficiency Project in the Private Sector: Laiola SRL; Best Initiative of Public Communication and Awareness: Ion Muntean; Best Educational Initiative: Technical University of Moldova, Chisinau; Best Initiative of the Youth: Gutta Club. The contest Moldova Eco-Energetica 2013 will be launched in the first half of the next year