Background

Moldova is part of the EU’s European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) and in the Eastern Partnership framework, which aims at strengthening individual and regional relationships between the EU and countries in its neighborhood. Moldova is also part of the Energy Community Treaty since 2010 and has signed the Association Agreement with EU in June 2014, including the DCFTA which entered into force in 2016. As a follow-up, Moldova is required to ensure transposition of the EU acquis Communautaire, which underpins the EU energy legislation on electricity, gas, oil, renewables, efficacity and environment. The country is planning to fully synchronize its electricity network with the ENTSO-E to connect to European electricity market.

The energy sector is one of the top priorities for the Government and it is addressed in Government’s Plans and a number of policy documents, laws and regulations. The most important are the following: the draft National Development Strategy 2030, the National Energy Strategy 2030, Law on energy, Law on electricity, Law on promoting use of energy from renewable sources, Law on natural gas, Law on energy efficiency, Law on the energy performance of buildings, Law on the labelling of products with energy impact, Law on eco-design requirements for energy-related products, etc., as well as a list of secondary legislation, meant necessary to ensure for the implementation of the primary legislation.

Moldova consumes around 4 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) of energy per year (4.1 Mtoe in 2018). Around 20% of its energy demand is covered by domestic production, consisting almost fully of solid biomass; total domestic energy production was 0.82 Mtoe in 2018, of which 0.79 Mtoe solid biofuels. All natural gas consumption (2.1 Mtoe, or 2.9 billion cubic meters in 2014) is met through imports, mainly from Russia via Ukraine. In August 2014 the Iasi-Ungheni gas interconnector between Romania and Moldova was commissioned and became operational in 2015. Once at full capacity in 2020, the pipeline is expected to supply almost all the gas Moldova consumes, but not that of the Transnistria region. Most coal consumed must be imported as well (0.09 Mtoe in 2018).

 

 

Duties and Responsibilities

The general objective of the assignment is to support Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development (MoIRD) to advance preparedness and reaction measures for emergencies on the electricity market. More specifically, international consultant is expected to establish/update the national crisis scenarios and to design the Moldova’s Risk-Preparedness in Electricity Sector Plan in line with requirements of Regulation 2019/941. Additionally, international consultant will support Regulation 2019/941 transposition into national legislation.  

Being supervised by Programme Manager and/or Team Leader for Component 1, and in close cooperation with national legal and RIA consultants, and the staff of the Energy Department of the MoIRD, the international consultant is expected to perform the following tasks:

  1. To conduct consultations with TSO and competent authority/MIRD and other institutions in order to identify electricity crisis scenarios at national level as well as cross-border dependencies (in line with provisions/requirements of ENTSO-E Methodology to Identify Regional Electricity Crisis Scenarios).
  2.  Describe the national electricity crisis scenarios following the template established by the   ENTSO-E Methodology to Identify Regional Electricity Crisis Scenarios.
  3. Develop the Risk-preparedness Plan in line with requirements of Chapter III of Regulation 2019/941.
  4. To conduct consultation with relevant stakeholders of the draft Risk-preparedness Plan and update it based on the comments and proposals received. 
  5. Support legal and RIA consultants in transposition of the Regulation 2019/941 into national legislation and assess the regulator impact of the new legal act.

Competencies

        Competencies: 

  1. Excellent knowledge of the Regulation (EU) 2019/941 of 5 June 2019 on risk-preparedness in the electricity sector;
  2. Familiarity with RM-EU Association Agreement, Energy Community Treaty and other international and regional commitments of Moldova;
  3. Familiarity with ENTSO-E responsibilities and activity with regards risk-preparedness in electricity sector;   
  4. Strong analytical and report-writing skills demonstrated by previous assignments; 
  5. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, ability to work with Government representatives, demonstrated by previous assignments; 
  6. Proficiency in English. Knowledge of Romanian and Russian will be an asset.

Required Skills and Experience

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED 

           Education: 

  • Advanced degree (Master or Ph.D.) in energy management, law, climate change, environmental management, policies development and strategic planning or other related areas is required.  

           Experience: 

  • At least 4 years of professional experience in identifying and describing risks scenarios and/or managing risks, including in the energy/electricity area.
  • At least 5 years of international working experience in the institutional consultancy.

The UNDP Moldova is committed to the workforce diversity. Women, persons with disabilities, Roma and other ethnic or religious minorities, persons living with HIV, as well as refugees and other non-citizens legally entitled to work in the Republic of Moldova, are particularly encouraged to apply. 

Contact person: silvia.pana-carp@undp.org

For complete information about this vacancy please access this link: https://sc.undp.md/jobdetails/2507/