Balti, 9 December 2015, local public administrations’ representatives in the North Development Region of the Republic of Moldova met in a joint workshop of regional working groups on the implementation of regional sector programmes and development of viable project concepts identified in energy efficiency in public buildings, solid waste management, water supply and sanitation and regional and local roads sectors.
The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction (MRDC), experts from the project ‘Modernization of local public services in the Republic of Moldova’ (MLPS) managed by the German Development Cooperation through GIZ, specialists from North Regional Development Agency (North RDA) and representatives of local administrations of levels I and II from the northern part of the republic.
By organizing the workshop, the organizers aimed to show progress on the implementation of regional sector programmes and readiness of project concepts developed. However, participants identified their role in promoting and implementing projects concepts, referring to the manner of transmitting the studies and reports prepared by partners/beneficiaries.
According to the Director of North RDA, Ion Bodrug, regional sector programme quality is good. In this context, North RDA Director stressed the major role that lies with local public administrations in implementing the viable project concepts developed within regional sector programmes.
Reviewing the achievements in the four regional sector programmes, North RDA Director announced the following:
Water supply and sanitation
There were developed 17 projects sheets, among which were developed 11 possible project concepts, one concept for each rayon in the North Development Region, except Soroca rayon, which is included in a water supply programme funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Of the 11 possible project concepts were developed feasibility studies for four viable project concepts in Edinet, Falesti, Sangerei and Drochia rayons. For Balti it was not developed a feasibility study, due to absence of information on time required by GIZ experts. Four feasibility studies are to be approved by local councils, after which the stage of identifying funding sources for the development of Technical Documentation and the planned investment will follow.
Regional and local roads
Totally there have been developed nine project sheets. Five project sheets will be submitted to the Ministry of Transport and Roads Infrastructure and State Road Administration. Four project sheets will be submitted to North RDA. These involve regional and local road sections in Edinet (M14-Alexandreni-Badragii Vechi- Lopatnic-M14); Edinet-Briceni-Ocnita (M14-Hlinaia-Corestauti-Halahora de Sus-M14); Dondusei-Soroca (R12 -Elizavetovca-Teleseuca-Badiceni-R7); Falesti-Glodeni (R16- Ilenuta-Limbenii Vechi Petrunea-R15) rayons.
Solid waste management
North Development Region has deficiencies in this area, especially in waste management Zone II comprising Ocnita, Donduseni, Edinet and Briceni rayons. Although there were numerous meetings and field trips, we were unable to identify a location for regional landfill, although experts have identified four localities that comply with the criteria for evaluation and selection (Ruseni, Edinet, Bratuseni and Hincauti). Therefore, it was not possible to complete the feasibility study for waste management Zone II. It is a serious problem, because if we do not find a solution, North Development Region could remain without funding, and here we talk about EUR 10-12 million. The cause for this is the unwillingness of local authorities, local councils and the public to accept the placement of landfills in the localities concerned. After the regional conference on new ways of Solid Waste Management, which was held in Edinet on 1 December 2015, there is felt an interest in this regard, but we do not know whether the impact will occur in the future as well, as specialists contracted for the development of feasibility studies already completed their contract with GIZ. Besides, the achievement of this regional sector programme is delayed because there is not solved the issue related to the activity of an economic operator which provides sanitation services in Edinet. All these issues will be discussed at the meeting of North Regional Development Council, in order to approve decisions in this regard.
As for waste management Zone I, which includes Sangerei, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Riscani, Soroca, Drochia rayons and Balti municipality, the European Investment Bank undertook a feasibility study to identify the optimal solution for a well done regional waste management.
Energy efficiency in public buildings
In this area we are, in principle, the most advanced. Out of 45 project sheets examined, there were developed 12 possible project concepts, one in each rayon of the North Development Region. After examining them, five viable project concepts were selected, based on which four feasibility studies have been developed. Here we speak about Falesti Rayon Hospital; The primary school in Flamanzeni village/ High School ‘Iurie Bodiu’, Sangerei rayon, High School ‘Dimitrie Cantemir’ from Balti municipality and block no. 1 of Edineţ Rayon Hospital. As for the public school ‘S. Lucaci’ from Costesti, Riscani rayon, this viable project concept was taken over by the Ministry of Education to be developed. The four feasibility studies are to be approved by local councils, after which the identification of financing sources for the development of technical documentation and the planned investment will follow.
Viable project concepts developed in the four regional sector programmes for the North Development Region have a total estimated budget of EUR 50 million.
Within the workshop, MLPS expert David Toft addressed the role of the four sector programmes for North Development Region, presenting a retrospective of the stages of their development. However, North RDA specialists reviewed the progress on the development of project concepts in four sectors: Energy efficiency in public buildings, solid waste management, water supply and sanitation and regional and local roads.
The four sector strategic documents were developed as a result of conduct in the past two years, of a series of workshops. Those documents were approved by Regional Development Council (CRD) North. Project concepts developed within regional sector programmes are likely to be achieved once obtaining financing from European funds and interested donors.
Regional sector planning activities were held with the financial support of the European Union offered within MLPS project managed by GIZ. GIZ project aims to improve local public services in villages and towns in Moldova. The main beneficiaries of the project are MRDC, RDAs and RDCs and communities in development regions of the country.
