on Tuesday. Some 30,000 people will be provided with gas this year.

 

Albania

Albanian investment opportunities presented to the SOCAR Company in the field of energy and exploration – (Balkans) During his stay in Baku, Albania's Prime Minister Sali Berisha met with Director of the SOCAR Oil Company Rovnag Abdullayev.PM Berisha presented the investment opportunities to the SOCAR Company in Albania in the field of energy, exploration and exploitation of gas and oil…

Albania signs off on TAP gas project – (UPI) The Albanian government signed off on the terms for the implementation of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline through its territory, the project's consortium said…

Albanian government, TAP sign Host Government Agreement – (Azernews) The Albanian Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project signed on Friday the Host Government Agreement (HGA), formally agreeing the terms of engagement for the Southern Gas Corridor pipeline's future delivery, TAP's website said…

Albania agrees on the terms for the Southern Gas Corridor pipeline’s future delivery – (Balkans) The Albanian Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project have today signed the Host Government Agreement (HGA), formally agreeing the terms of engagement for the Southern Gas Corridor pipeline’s future delivery…

Credins Bank Albania will expand its financing of renewable energy and energy efficiency – (Balkans) IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, with the support of the Government of Canada, is helping Credins Bank Albania expand its financing of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, promoting the efficient use of resources  and reducing greenhouse gas emissions…

Bulgaria

EC to Launch Probe of Bulgaria's Energy Sector Next Week – (Novinite) A team of experts of the European Commission will start a probe of Bulgaria's energy sector next week, according to a media statement of the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism…

EU grid champion stuck in tangle of wires and pipes – (Reuters) The grids that channel electricity and gas around Europe are among the most immovable of assets, yet they are changing hands as if they were cattle at a country fair…

Bulgaria to Press Charges against Energy Watchdog Ex Head – (Novinite) The prosecution in Bulgarian capital Sofia is expected to raise charges against the recently fired head of the national energy regulator Angel Semerdzhiev within ten days, according to media reports…

Bulgarian prosecutors launch probes into energy sector – (Reuters) Bulgarian prosecutors launched on Wednesday investigations into state power companies, the energy regulator and Czech power distributor CEZ, alleging breaches of rules they said had led to an increase in electricity costs…

Bulgarian Energy Watchdog Chair: Options for Reducing Power Rates Are Too Few – (Novinite) Evgenia Haritonova, Chair of Bulgaria's State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR), has said that there are not many options for a decrease in electricity prices at the moment…

Electricity Price Hike from July 1 Quite Likely – Bulgarian Watchdog Chair – (Novinite) An increase in electricity prices from July 1, 2013 is very likely, according to Evgenia Haritonova, Chair of Bulgaria's State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR)…

They try to pin energy management mistakes in Bulgaria on renewable energy sources: Bulgarian Photovoltaic Association – (Focus) They are trying to pin all mistakes in the management of the Bulgarian energy sector since 1989 on renewable energy sources, Rumen Hristov, a member of the Managing Board of the Bulgarian Photovoltaic Association, said in an interview with FOCUS News Agency…

EconMin: Bulgaria Can Escape Electricity Price Hike – (Novinite) There are enough reserves in Bulgaria to prevent an increase in electric power prices, according to caretaker Economy and Energy Minister, Asen Vasilev…

Konstantin Stamenov: This year’s expectations forecast low or zero energy consumption in industry – (Focus) Konstantin Stamenov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Federation of Industrial Energy Consumers, in an interview for FOCUS News Agency with regard to fears of a possible energy system collapse and its effect on energy consumers…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia Government officials discuss regional cooperation – (Balkans) Serbia's Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic pointed in out at a Mostar Bosnia Herzegovina Economy Fair the importance of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) for a more favourable business environment in the region…

The Balkans and the South Caucasus searching for integration – (Vestnik) In late March the international organization International Alert organized an information-gathering visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina for ten Armenian and Azerbaijani journalists…

Croatia

Croatia: big designs on electric cars –(Financial Times) Since declaring independence in 1991, Croatia has lost a staggering 80 per cent of its...neighbour Serbia is home to a Fiat factory, Croatia has until recently only played host to...team of journalists and photographers to Croatia to report on the story of the Concept…

Romania

CEZ drops plans for wind energy expansion in Romania following reduction in green incentives – (Romanian Insider) Czech energy company CEZ has announced that it will not expand in Romania, concentrating instead on Poland…

Vestas awarded 72MW contract in Romania – (Renewable Energy Magazine) The Vestas order has been placed by LUKERG Renew, a joint venture between ERG Renew and LUKOIL. ERG is currently Italy’s largest wind energy producer with an installed capacity of 1,232MW throughout Europe while LUKOIL is a major international vertically-integrated oil and gas company…

Energreen Investment buys solar power project in Brasov, Romania – (Romania Insider) Luxembourg – based investment holding company Energreen Investment Europe recently took over a solar power plant in Brasov, despite the recent reduction in green energy incentives recommended by Romania’s energy authority ANRE, according to a recent announcement…

Romania to Cut in Half Clean-Energy Subsidies Paid by Consumers – (Bloomberg) Romania plans to temporarily cut in half subsidies energy consumers pay for clean power by holding back one in every two green certificates it currently awards to utilities for generating electricity from wind turbines…

Wind Of Change On The Romanian Renewable Energy Market – (Schonherr) In the Legal Insights edition of 18 March 2013, we presented the potential changes to the Romanian renewable energy scheme, resulting from an unofficial working draft Government Emergency Ordinance (GEO) circulated on the market…

Romania energy production decreases in January and February 2013 – (Balkans) Based on the provisional data released from the Romanian Statistics agency, for the months of January and February 2013, the primary energy resources decreased by 7.3%, while those of electric energy decreased as compared to the same period of previous year, by 5.6%...

http://www.elp.com/news/2013/04/10/central-eastern-europe-smart-metering-market-to-reach-10-3-billion-by-2023.html

Central & Eastern Europe Smart Metering Market To Reach $10.3 billion by 2023 – (Electric Light & Power) Several Central & Eastern Europe (CEE) countries represent compelling opportunities for smart grid investments but are often overshadowed by their Western European neighbors…

Energy firm Repower’s Romanian sales go up in 2012, but profits down 43% at group level – (Romania Insider) International energy firm Repower has reported an increase in sales in Romania during 2012. The energy group, which specializes in renewables, performed well locally with Romanian sales volumes up by 7 percent last year…

How to lose investors and alienate people in renewable energy – (Business Green) Bloomberg New Energy Finance's Nico Tyabji warns lessons urgently need to be learnt from the recent wave of retrospective green energy policy changes..

Serbia

Serbian energy min says UAE eye Djerdap 3 hydro project – (Hydro World) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) are interested in the Djerdap 3 project for a reversible pump-storage hydro power plant (HPP) in Serbia which could help the Balkan country meet its own energy needs as well as those of other countries in the region, Belgrade-based media reported on Wednesday…

Serbian energy min says SHPPs public call draws 1,380 investors – (Hydro World) BELGRADE (Serbia), April 10 (SeeNews) - The public call for the construction of small hydro power plants (SHPPs) in 317 locations in Serbia has attracted 1,380 potential investors, local media reported on Wednesday, quoting energy minister Zorana Mihajlovic…

Armenia

IAEA grants six new seismic stations to Armenia – (Azernews) International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) granted new seismic stations to Armenia for improving seismic safety around the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant…

Scientist finds EU’s demand to close Armenian nuclear power plant groundless – (ARKA) Rafael Harutyunyan, one of the world most prominent nuclear safety experts and the deputy CEO of Russia’s Institute of Safe Nuclear Energy, finds the European Union’s demand to close the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant groundless…

President visits Armenia to discuss the prospects of strategic cooperation in the energy sector with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan – (Oil Voice) Rosneft President and Chairman of the Management Board Igor Sechin went to Yerevan with a working visit to discuss the prospects of strategic cooperation in the energy sector with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan…

AUA Evaluates 25 Toxic Waste Sites Near Communities in Armenia – (AsBarez) The American University of Armenia’s (AUA) School of Public Health and the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment have partnered with two Armenian governmental ministries to develop an inventory of toxic waste sites in Armenia…

Azerbaijan

FDI in Azerbaijan energy projects up in 2012 – (Azernews) Foreign direct investment, mainly in oil and gas projects, increased by more than 23 percent in Azerbaijan in 2012, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said in a report published on Tuesday…

Statoil gains strength offshore Azerbaijan – (UPI) Norwegian energy company Statoil announced it signed a memorandum of understanding to explore for additional reserves offshore Azerbaijan…

Azerbaijan and Turkey may implement energy projects in Mediterranean and Black Seas – (Trend) Azerbaijan and Turkey will be able to jointly implement energy projects in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, Turkey's Minister of Energy…

Azerbaijan’s role in European energy supply grows  (Trend) Azerbaijan is trying to contribute to Europe more than it gets from Europe "because we see Europe as one family and we would like to be an active contributor to Europe as well," Ali Hasanov, head of Political and Public Affairs Department at the Presidential Administration in Azerbaijan told the New Europe magazine…

SOCAR chief: Azerbaijan's role in Europe’s energy security to increase – (Azernews) Implementation of the second phase of development of the Azerbaijani Shah Deniz gas condensate field, as well as other fields will enhance Azer­baijan's role in the energy security spec­trum of Europe, head of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), Rovnag Abdullayev said in an interview to The Business Year magazine…

ADB defines direction of expansion in alternative energy in Azerbaijan – (abc.az) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has determined itself with directions of development operations in the alternative energy sector of Azerbaijan…

Azerbaijan may correct strategy of alternative and renewable energy sources – (abc.az) The State Agency for Alternative & Renewable Energy Sources (ABEMDA) founded in accord with the presidential order from 1 February 2013 has finished preparation of the State Strategy of Use of Alternative & Renewable Energy Sources for 2012-20 in compliance with the presidential order from December 2011.

Georgia

Georgian Energy Ministry signed MoU with Turkish Anadolu Group – (Hydro World) Georgian Energy Ministry signed on Wednesday memorandum on the construction of new hydroelectric power with the Turkish Anadolu Group…

Georgian Energy Minister inspects Paravani HP construction – (Trend) On Wednesday the Minister of Energy of Georgia Kakha Kaladze inspected the Paravani HPP station being constructed by Turkish firm Georgian Urban Energy Ltd in Samtskhe-Javakheti region, South Georgia…

Georgia denied elimination of Inter Rao’s liabilities – (Trend) Georgian Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze denied on Thursday reported information about the elimination of the investment liabilities of OJSC Inter RAO UES published by the Russian Kommersant newspaper…

Georgia and EBRD to continue joint projects – (Trend) On April 11, the Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili discussed with members of the Board of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) the joint projects being realized in Georgia with the bank's support, the Prime Minister's administration stated on Thursday…

Minister: Energy security is of great importance to Georgia – (Hydro World) Georgia has great potential due to using its existing resources to be an independent energy and electricity exporting country, Georgian Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze said at the presentation of international experts' conclusion on the Hudoni hydroelectric power station construction project on Wednesday…

SOCAR Petroleum Georgia company named Georgian largest company of 2012 – (Trend) SOCAR Petroleum Georgia company, which is SOCAR Energy Georgia's subsidiary (represents the interests of the Azerbaijani State Oil Company in Georgia), was named the Georgian largest company of 2012, Iliauni Business Review (IBR) said today…

Russia

Shale Threatens Russia's Economy – (The Wall Street Journal) Russia's oil exports could plunge in the coming decades as the U.S. ramps up output of shale oil, a group of government-linked experts said, in an unusually frank admission that the North American energy boom poses a threat to Russia's hydrocarbon-fueled economy…

Medvedev approves Russia power grid complex strategy – (Electric Light and Power) - Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has approved the strategy for the development of the country's power grid complex…

Energy Journal: Shale Ripples Hit Middle East and Russia – (The Wall Street Journal) Huge increases in U.S. oil and gas output are reshaping energy markets in ways unthinkable as recently as three years ago…

Russia VS. EU Common Energy Policy – (European Public Affairs) From the very beginning of the European Union (European Communities) the main incentive for states involved in the integration progress was the conviction that cooperation would bring them more benefits than the actions taken on their own…

FTA opens up new avenues for Indo-Russian energy cooperation – (Russia & India Report) India and the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have placed cooperation in oil and gas high on their agenda as they work towards a Free Trade Agreement…

EU-, US-backed Nabucco gasline project trails Russia’s South Stream – (Press TV) South Stream is an ambitious endeavor of Russia’s energy giant Gazprom to get direct access to the EU energy market…

Russia’s profitable Lukoil adds more reserves – (Business, WSJ) RUSSIA'S most profitable oil producer Lukoil will add close to 20 million barrels of oil to its annual output after agreeing last week to pay more than $2 billion for Samara-Nafta, an oil producer in the Volga-Urals region of Russia owned by US explorer Hess Corp…

Russia mulls 19 percent Rosneft stake sale in 2013: economy minister – (Reuters) Russia's government is considering selling a 19 percent stake in state-controlled oil major Rosneft (ROSN.MM) this year as part of plans to speed up privatization, Economy Minister Andrei Belousov said…

Turkey

Turkey conducts projects to supply EU's gas need – (World Bulletin) Turkey's energy minister said Turkey holds projects to meet the gas needs of the union, which has not opened an energy chapter heading to negotiations because of political reasons…

Ankara invites Baku to join Mediterranean energy rush –(Turkish Weekly) BAKU -- Turkey has extended an invitation to the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) to explore offshore oil and gas reserves off the Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts of Turkey, which the Azeri oil firm is to consider and decide upon by the end of this year…

Turkey Dismayed at Lack of US Partnership on Second Nuclear Plant – (Energy Tribune) Turkey expected to form a partnership with the United States to build Turkey’s second planned nuclear plant, Energy Minister Tamer Yıldız told daily Hürriyet in an interview published April 6… 

Turkey doubled structure in energy sector – (World Bulletin) Turkish Energy Minister Yildiz said "Turkey will continue its positive attitude by making use of the advantages arising from its geography"..

Turkey reduces electricity consumption and generation – (Trend) Electricity generation in Turkey decreased by 5.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012, amounting to 58.8…

Solar-Fabrik equipped the largest solar plant in Turkey – (PV-Tech) Solar-Fabrik AG supplied modules and inverters for the 250kW rooftop Torbali solar power plant in Turkey.

German manufacturer Solar-Fabrik has supplied modules supplies and inverters for a 250kW solar plant in Torbali, in the province of Izmir in Turkey…

Turkey's Karadeniz Energy hopes to export electricity to Mosul – (Global Post) Turkey's Karadeniz Energy Group, which has exported 9 billion kilowatt hours of electricity to Iraq since 2003, is working to add another Iraqi city, Mosul, to its export list in the near future, according to a source close to the company…

ClearSky Advisors: Turkey to install more than 4 GW of solar PV by 2017  -(Solar Server) ClearSky Advisors (Toronto, Canada) has released a report which predicts that Turkey will install more than 4 GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity by the end of 2017…

Ukraine

Roundtable On "How To Save Ukrainian Energy Industry From Collapse" – (UN.UA) A ROUNDTABLE on "How to Save the Ukrainian Energy Industry from Collapse" will take place at the PRESS CENTER of the Ukrainian News information agency at 11:00 on April 15…

Spain invested EUR 30 million for realization of alternative energy projects in Ukraine in 2013 –(Black Sea Grain) Ecology and Natural Resources Minister Oleh Proskuriakov has said about this, the press service of the Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry informs about this…

Ukraine’s biggest private energy empire growing fast – (Kyiv Post) A decade of stellar growth turned a small regional company into a near monopoly on Ukraine’s electricity market. Though the company rejects claims that it is abusing its clout, experts warn the nation is paying the price for DTEK’s stranglehold on the energy sector…

Is Ukraine really going to reduce its energy intensity? – (Kyiv Post) Few topics are as sensitive in Ukraine – economically, politically and socially – as energy. Rising prices, particularly for natural gas which accounts for some 40 percent of the nation's energy consumption, are straining an already overburdened budget to the brink…

Fracking Stirs Ukrainian Gas Debate – (Energy Tribune) Ukrainians expressing concerns over shale natural gas developments have every right to be wary, but the practice is safe if done correctly, a U.S. envoy said…

 

 

This program is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of the United States Energy Association and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.