Ecobricheta – agricultural waste becomes heating fuel

In Bălți, a family business transformed sunflower husks and wood residues into a resource for heating homes and public institutions. The European Union supports innovation and courageous entrepreneurs. Ecobricheta, founded by Ludmila Abramciuc and Ivan Damaschin, began its activity in 2008 when biomass fuel was still little known in Moldova. The development of the enterprise was supported through the Energy and Biomass Project, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP.

The family benefited from a 15,000 euro interest-free financing for three years to procure biofuel production equipment. “This helped us develop the business because at that time banks were not granting attractive loans to enterprises for the simple reason that they did not see prospects in this field,” explains co-founder Ludmila Abramciuc. The investment in machinery was complemented by training sessions and visits to enterprises in Poland. The family was able to see how biofuel production works and how such a business can be organized. “For us, this means a job right here at home,” says Alexandru Timoșin, an employee of the enterprise.