Electricity prices in Albania the highest in the W. Balkans – (dtt-net) Albanian consumers are paying the highest prices of electricity in the Western Balkans region, while Kosovo has the lowest ones…

Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG awarded first contracts in Albania – (ABC.AZ) Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG, which is preparing for construction of TAP pipeline for delivery of Azerbaijani gas to the EU, has awarded first contracts in Albania…

Germany funded Albania-Kosovo power interconnection to be ready next year – (dtt-net) Albania and Kosovo will have their power grids connected next year when the interconnection infrastructure funded by the Germany will be constructed…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia's TPP Gacko Back on Stream After Routine Overhaul – (IENE) Bosnian 300 MW thermal power plant (TPP) Gacko was reconnected to the grid on Wednesday after a 42-day regular annual overhaul, local media reported…

Bosnia's ERS tenders to sell 22,320 MWh of May power surplus – (Reuters) Bosnia's second largest power utility Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS) issued a tender on Friday to sell 22,320 megawatt-hours (MWh) of baseload electricity surplus available for delivery in May…

Bosnia's ERS cancels May power sale tender due to low bids – (Reuters) Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS) cancelled a tender for the sale of surplus electricity available for delivery in May after a single offer was deemed too low, Bosnia's second largest power utility said on Thursday…

Bulgaria

Bulgaria signs agreement with Nord Pool Spot for power exchange – (Reuters) Bulgaria's state-owned Independent Bulgarian Energy Exchange (IBEX) has signed a cooperation agreement with Europe's leading power market Nord Pool Spot aimed at setting up the Balkan country's first day-ahead power exchange, it said on Wednesday…

EC: Gazprom breaches EU anti-trust rules by CEE gas supply market abuse – (The Sofia Globe) Russia’s Gazprom is hindering competition in the gas supply markets in eight European Union countries: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia, the European Commission (EC) said in a “statement of objections” sent to the Russian gas firm…

Bulgaria Says Signs Natural Gas Link Deal With Romania, Greece – (The Wall Street Journal) Bulgaria on Wednesday took a step toward reducing its dependence on Russian energy supplies by agreeing to build a link to natural gas grids in neighboring Romania and Greece, according to a senior government official…

Greece, Bulgaria and Romania Agree on Constructing ‘Vertical Gas Corridor’ – (Greek Reporter) The Energy Ministers of Greece, Bulgaria and Romania agreed on the construction of a gas interconnection grid, which is scheduled to begin on March 2016 and completed by the end of 2018. According to Bulgarian Energy Minister…

Bulgaria's ESO awards 1.9 mln euro overhead line upgrade deal to local tie-up – TED – (SeeNews) Bulgaria's state-owned Electricity System Operator (ESO) has awarded a 3.8 million lev ($2.1 million/1.9 million euro) overhead line upgrade contract to local tie-up Bulgaria 2015, a notice in the EU’s procurement journal indicated on Wednesday…

Croatia

Croatia’s LNG terminal is ‘for the region’ – Plinacro – (Interfax) Croatia’s long-planned LNG terminal could be about to see real progress, Vladimir Durovic, director of strategic development for Croatia’s transmission system operator, tells Interfax…

Croatia’s LNG terminal is ‘for the region’ – (Port News) Croatia has been seeking to open its Adriatic coast to the global LNG market for a number of years, with Brussels marking a scheme on the island of Krk as one of the key infrastructure developments needed to diversify supply in Central Europe…

Kosovo

Kosovo still nowhere with EU gas pipeline plans – (dtt-net) All Western Balkans countries, except Kosovo, are working on projects how to connect and get gas from the European Trans-Atlantic (TAP) which will pas through Greece and Albania to reach the EU countries via Adriatic sea from Italy…

Macedonia

Constitutional Court Launches initiative to establish Energy Agency – (MINA) Macedonia's Constitutional Court reviewed around 10 initiatives about the assessment of the constitutionality and the legality of a series of laws and legal acts at a session held Wednesday…

Romania

EU Regulators Clear State Aid for Romanian Power Producer – (IENE) EU regulators cleared 37.7 million euros ($40.3 million) of state funds for Romanian state-owned power producer Complexul Energetic Hunedoara (CE Hunedoara) on condition either that the company repays the money after six months or that Romania presents a revamp plan…

EU regulators clear state aid for Romanian power producer – (Reuters) EU regulators cleared 37.7 million euros ($40.3 million) of state funds for Romanian state-owned power producer Complexul Energetic Hunedoara (CE Hunedoara) on condition either that the company repays the money after six months or that Romania presents a revamp plan…

EC approves EUR 38 mln aid to save Hunedoara Energy Complex – (Business Review) The European Commission (EC) has temporary approved an aid worth about EUR 38 million to save Hunedoara Energy Complex owned by the Ministry of Energy, reports Mediafax…

Romanian household gas prices to rise 5-8 pct from July-local news agency – (Reuters) Romanian gas prices will rise 5-8 percent on average from July, as a result of the ongoing market deregulation agreed under an IMF-led aid deal, the head of the country's energy regulator ANRE was quoted as saying by state news agency Agerpres…

Gas prices up 5-8 pct starting with July 1 – (Business Review) The final price of natural gas paid by household consumers will increase by 5-8 percent as of July 1, said on Thursday Niculae Havrilet, president of the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE), according to Mediafax…

Hidroelectrica gets EUR 1 mln for three micro hydropower plants – (Business Review) State-owned company Hidroelectrica, Romania’s largest electricity producer, currently in bankruptcy, sold at the end of March three micro hydropower plants from a total of 33 units auctioned for RON 5 million (EUR 1.1 million)…

Kiev Claims Ukraine Capable of Delivering Gas from Norway to Romania – (ACT Media) Ukraine is capable to transport gas from Norway to Romania, Bulgaria as well as to Turkey and potentially to Greece, Ukrainian Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn stated at the IHS CERAWeek conference in Houston, Texas…

Serbia

Serbia Weighs its Options for Gas – (IENE) Serbia needs several sources of gas supply, and at the moment all available options are being considered, seeking those that could realize soonest. Seeming as the most certain is the interconnection Nis-Dimitrovgrad, as that way Serbia would connect to the "Turkish stream” gas line, via Bulgaria…

Serbia expects funding for gas link with Bulgaria to be agreed with EU by end-2015 – (SeeNews) Serbian energy minister Aleksandar Antic said on Friday he expects financing for a gas interconnection with Bulgaria to be agreed with the European Commission by the end of 2015…

EBRD to support reconstruction of Serbia’s energy company – (dtt-net) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is expected to lend later this year some 200 million Euro to Serbia for reconstruction of country’s main energy company…

Armenia

Gazprom to invest $60 million in Armenia’s gas transportation system – (EIN News) Russian Gazprom that has full ownership of  Armenia’s natural gas distribution company Gazprom Armenia, has invested a total of $200 million in upgrading of Armenia’s gas  transportation system since 2006  and plans to invest another $60 million in the next five years, the Kremlin said today ahead of tomorrow’s visit to Armenia by Russian president…

Gazprom to invest $60 million in Armenia’s gas transportation system in five years – (ARKA) Russian Gazprom that has full ownership of  Armenia’s natural gas distribution company Gazprom Armenia, has invested a total of $200 million in upgrading of Armenia’s gas  transportation system since 2006  and plans to invest another $60 million in the next five years, the Kremlin said today ahead of tomorrow’s visit to Armenia by Russian president Vladimir Putin…

PSRC rules to penalize Electric Networks of Armenia in the amount of 20 million drams – (ARKA) Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) has ruled today to penalize Armenia’s Russian-owned national power utility -Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) - in the amount of 20 million drams…

PSRC rules to penalize Electric Networks of Armenia – (EIN News) Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) has ruled today to penalize Armenia’s Russian-owned national power utility -Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) - in the amount of 20 million drams. Hayk Gosalmyan, head of a PSRC unit in charge of financial analyses, said the company is penalized for ‘incomplete transfer of electricity…

Gazprom Chief Visits Armenia – (Ein News) Gazprom’s chairman, Alexei Miller, received an Armenian state award from President Serzh Sarkisian on Thursday during a visit to Yerevan that came amid continuing negotiations over the price of natural gas supplied by the Russian monopoly to Armenia…

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan’s hydropower industry keeps growing but power generation deprived of commercial importance by 4.5% - (ABC.AZ) The State Statistics Committee reports that 4.5% of power generation in Azerbaijan was not of commercial significance for Jan-Mar 2015 against 5.13% in 2014.  The Committee informs that total power generation reached 6.411 bn kWh over Jan-Mar of the year that exceeded the generation…

Azerbaijani projects have changed the energy map of the Caucasus and the Caspian region – (Vestnik Kavkaza) An expert of the Energy Ministry of Azerbaijan, Otel Huseynov, says that Azerbaijan is one of the oldest oil and gas producing countries, with considerable energy resources. Azerbaijan, thanks to its long history of oil production, received such names as: the Birthplace of Oil, the Land of Fires…

Alternative for traditional energy market – (Azernews) Since nations' hunger for cheap and reliable energy is only set to increase on the back of economic progress and population growth it is only natural for countries, whether rich or poor, to be looking for new alternative energy market…

Solar energy became statistically significant for the first time in Azerbaijan – (ABC.AZ) Solar energy has become statistically significant for the first time in Azerbaijan: the State Statistics Committee has included in its monthly report.  According to the State Committee, solar energy sector provided generation of 0.3 million kW/hr of power in Q1 2015. For comparison, wind energy sector provided generation of 2.2 million kW/hr, which exceeded the index of Q1 2014 2.4-fold…

Azerbaijan’s power export rises sharply – (ABC.AZ) The State Customs Committee reports that according to electric meters’ data over Jan-Mar 2015 electric power export from the country totaled 89.689 million kWh that exceeds the 2013 same term’s index (56.165 million kWh) by 1.6 times…

ADB to assist in developing Azerbaijan's energy supply – (Azernews) Azerbaijan urged international organizations, such as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, to render financial assistance to improve the country's energy supply…

Never ending story of opportunities: Caspian blue energy is salvation for EU – (Azernews) While the European Union is more adamant than ever to diversify away from its Russian-gas dependence, keen to free itself from its ever-growing energy needs by turning its attention further east, the energy rich Caspian states work hard to position themselves within this new blue energy race…

Azerbaijan submits to IAEA a strategic plan and technical specifications of its first nuclear reactor – (ABC.AZ) Azerbaijan has submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency a strategic plan and technical specifications of its first nuclear reactor.  Vidadi  Zeynalov, administration head of the Ministry of Communications & Information Technologies, has stated that with the assistance of  French company AREVA a strategic plan and technical specifications of the first national research nuclear reactor have been made…

Georgia

Georgia reveals fate of Batumi oil terminal – (Trend) The seizure will be lifted from the assets of the Batumi oil terminal only after a corresponding court decision, the Public Relations Department of Georgia’s Economy and Sustainable Development Ministry told Trend…

Reason for decrease in Georgia's import of Azerbaijani gas revealed – (Trend) The reason for decrease in Azerbaijani gas imported by Georgia is the reduction of the level of consumption in the country, a source in SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) told Trend April 1…

ANNOUNCMENT OF THE EXPRESSION OF INTEREST ON DEVELOPMENT OF THE “BAKHVI 2 HPP” – (Ministry of Energy of Georgia) The Ministry of Energy of Georgia has announced the Expression of Interest on the technical and economic feasibility study, construction, ownership and operation of the “Bakhvi 2 HPP” on the river Bakhviswkali in the Guria Region. The Expression of Interest has been announced based on the Letter of Interest submitted to the Ministry of Energy by “Georgian Hydro Power” company…

Tough success at Dariali hydro scheme – (Water Power Magazine) Tough underground construction for the 108MW Dariali hydropower project in Georgia was successfully completed recently when the TBM broke through to finish boring on the headrace drive…

Moldova

Young people in Moldova learn about green energy – (Europa.eu) Students from “Vasile Lupu” Lyceum know the secret of renewable energy production and efficient energy use as the course ”Renewable Energy Sources” was developed and introduced in the school curricula in the Republic of Moldova with the support of the EU-UNDP Moldova Energy and Biomass Project…

Moldova has shown progress in implementing reforms in energy sector, report – (TRM) In order to ensure energy security, Moldova should diversify and invest in renewable energy production systems. This is the opinion of the European experts who reviewed the energy policies of 11 countries in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia…

Turkey

Turkish electrical grid to gain competitive power with links to Europe – (Daily Sabah) Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yıldız said with the Energy Markets Business Corporation's (EPİAŞ), competition will increase due to the trading of electricity. Moreover, with Turkey's link to Europe, the competition will be at much higher levels according to the agreement, which will permanently link the Turkish electricity grid to Europe…

European Energy Market Grows with ENTSO-E Grid Expansion to Turkey – (Publics) High level speakers from EU institutions, the Turkish Government, ENTSO-E and TEIAS, the Turkish transmission system operator, gathered in ENTSO-E to explain why this is good for European and Turkish consumers…

Turkey turning into regional energy hub – (Azernews) Turkey, as a rising power in the global arena has been determined to extend its influence well beyond its region. Considered by some experts as an emerging power, Ankara’s importance is rising day by day in view of developments taking place in the world…

Falling energy prices could squeeze Turkey-SEE cross-border trading – (ICIS) Falling energy prices in Turkey could pare cross-border trading profits to wafer-thin levels and change market dynamics in the region in the medium term, traders in southeast Europe said…

Progress stalled on Russia's pipeline through Turkey – (Al-Monitor) During a visit to Turkey on Dec. 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the cancellation of the South Stream project to carry Russian natural gas to Europe via Bulgaria. Instead, he said, a pipeline would be build under the Black Sea and via Turkey…

Russia Says Greece May Borrow Using Its Gas-Transit Guarantee – (Bloomberg Business) Russia’s guarantee to deliver gas for the European market through Greece in five years would help the debt-burdened Greek economy to get new loans, according to Moscow-based OAO Gazprom…

Turkish gasoline prices mired in high taxation – (Today’s Zaman) Following recent price hikes, a customer purchasing 55 liters of gasoline is paying TL 65 for the gas itself but an additional TL 156 in taxes, while someone purchasing the same amount in diesel fuel is paying TL 66 for the diesel and TL 119 in taxes, according to the EPDK…

Ukraine

Ukraine to abandon electricity imports in 2015 –Energy Ministry – (Interfax-Ukraine) In the near future, Ukraine's Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry aims to abandon electricity imports, which were launched late last year from Russia due to insufficient power in the country, Deputy Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Oleksandr Svetelyk has said…

Ukraine stops payments to Russia for electricity for rebel-held territories – (Zik) As of Apr. 10, Ukraine stopped payments to Russia for electricity supplies to the rebel-held territories in Donbas, Minister for Power Engineering and Coal Volodymyr Demchyshyn told journalists…

Demchyshyn says payment for electricity from Russia ceased since April 10 – (Kyiv Post) Ukraine has not paid for Russia electricity supplies to the war-torn zone since April 10, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said at a press conference in Kyiv on April 20…

Ukraine electricity output reported down 12.8% y-o-y in 1st quarter – (Ukrainian Journal) Ukraine's integrated power grids decreased electricity output by 12.8% or by 6.578 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) year-over-year in Q1, to 44.745 billion kWh, the Energy and Coal Industry Ministry reported…

Ukraine: Ukrainian Parliament Brings Natural Gas Market Regulation Into Compliance With The Third Energy Package – (Mondaq) On 9 April 2015 the Ukrainian Parliament adopted the draft Law "On the Natural Gas Market" No.2250 (the "Law"), which brings Ukrainian natural gas market legislation into compliance with the Third Energy Package…

Ukraine Coal Workers Hold Pickets in Capital – (ABC News) Hundreds of coal workers are marching through Ukraine's capital in a call for authorities to stop buying fuel from abroad and to guarantee a moratorium on mine closures…

Ukraine miners demand help for their industry in Kyiv protest – (Euronews) Amid a country in conflict, their industry is in crisis…and Ukraine’s miners are making themselves heard…

EU Files Formal Charges Against Gazprom for Abuse of Dominant Position – (The Wall Street Journal) The European Union accused Russia’s state-controlled gas company OAO Gazprom of hindering competition and charging unfair prices in Central and Eastern Europe, a move that could constrain Moscow’s ability to wield power in its former backyard…

Gazprom Faces Effects of Politics on Its Bottom Line – (The New York Times) European antitrust regulators are striking at Gazprom’s core, going after the Russian energy giant’s pricing policies and its politically hued control over natural gas pipelines…

Gazprom says Kiev owes $174 million for gas to east Ukraine – (Reuters) Russian natural gas producer Gazprom said on Wednesday Kiev owed it $174.2 million for gas supplied to eastern Ukraine since the beginning of the year.  Gazprom's chief executive officer, Alexei Miller, said there had been no agreement on who should pay for the supplies of Russian gas to Ukraine's eastern regions, which are held by pro-Russian separatists…

Ukraine seeking international operator for gas project – (Kyiv Post) Ukraine is looking for an international operator for a project to produce gas in the country, Ukrainian Energy and Coal Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said at the IHS CERAWeek conference in Houston…

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