USAID : The United States Plans to Provide $300 Million to Strengthen Moldova’s Energy Security

 

UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Office of Press Relations For Immediate Release February 24, 2023 PRESS RELEASE The United States Plans to Provide $300 Million to Strengthen Moldova’s Energy Security The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), plans to work with Congress to provide $300 million to help Moldova address the severe energy crisis exacerbated by the Russian Federation’s brutal invasion of Ukraine and attacks on the Ukrainian energy grid. This funding will strengthen Moldova’s energy security in the face of the Kremlin’s longstanding attempts to weaponize energy to undermine Moldova’s independence and sovereignty.  This assistance will help Moldova address urgent needs created by Putin’s war, while also building toward long-term energy resilience and stronger interconnections with Europe. Responding to needs identified by the Government of Moldova to help its citizens during the current crisis, funding includes $80 million in direct budget support to offset the cost of record-high electricity prices this winter. To increase Moldova’s long-term energy security, this assistance also includes $135 million to support the development of high-priority electric power generation projects in Moldova to help diversify the country’s electricity supply; and $85 million to improve Moldova’s capability to procure energy supplies from alternative sources, as well as efforts to enhance power system resilience. Prior to this announcement, the United States has provided approximately $267 million in emergency support to help Moldova address the economic, energy, security, and humanitarian impacts of Putin’s war against Ukraine, while maintaining progress on its economic and democratic reform agenda. This included $40.5 million in energy-related funding and $30 million in budget support provided to the Government of Moldova in January 2023 to help ameliorate the energy crisis caused by the Kremlin’s unprovoked and unjustified war. This additional $300 million commitment reaffirms the U.S. government’s continued support for the government and people of Moldova as the country responds to unprecedented economic, energy, security, and humanitarian challenges in the wake of Putin’s war against Ukraine.  The United States and the Republic of Moldova have been partners for more than thirty years. Since 1992, USAID has helped Moldova strengthen democratic governance and economic growth, improve education and healthcare outcomes, and address urgent humanitarian needs, including the needs of refugees from Ukraine.