Albania gov’t, opposition clash over draft-law on unpaid energy bills – (dtt-net) Opposition parties in Albania are rejecting a draft-law which regulates prison terms and seizure of properties and businesses to citizens and companies over unpaid electricity bills as the socialist-led government insists on severe measures amid huge loses in the sector accumulated for years already…

Energy, mining and tourism top Albania’s strategic investment sectors – (dtt-net) A recently law adopted by Albania sets up the energy, mining and tourism at the top of the list of strategic investments sectors which also include infrastructure, agriculture and fishery…

Nearly 70 houses damaged by gas explosions in Albania – (Global Times) Nearly 70 houses were damaged by gas explosions occurred in southwestern Albania, the head of Kuman commune, Rajmond Plaka, said on Thursday.  Among which 35 of them have grave and serious damages, three are uninhabitable, while the others will be assessed by a commission established by the region, Plaka said…

Albania gas explosion renders 70 houses uninhabitable – (Spyghana) Among which 35 of them have grave and serious damages, three are uninhabitable, while the others will be assessed by a commission established by the region, Plaka said.  Also criminal proceedings have been launched against Bankers Petroleum which caused gas explosion in Marinza, Fier Police Directorate announced on Thursday…

Oil well blast forces Albania villagers to flee – (Turkish Weekly) Several hundred inhabitants of the village of Marinza in southern Albania were ordered to leave their homes after a natural gas explosion sent fumes high in the sky…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia's Elektroprijenos BiH Signs EUR 7 Million Worth of Contracts in March – (Energetika) Bosnia's Elektroprijenos BiH Signs EUR 7 Million Worth of Contracts in March…

Bulgaria

Bulgaria energy minister: NEK’s debts to the 2 US TPPs BGN 700 mln – (Focus) “Currently the National Electricity Company (NEK) owes around BGN 700 million to the two American plants,” Bulgarian Minister of Energy Temenuzhka Petkova said after the Bulgarian National Electricity Company (NEK) inked an agreement on changes to the long-term contracts with TPP AES Maritsa Iztok 1 and TPP Kontur Global Maritsa Iztok 3, FOCUS News Agency reporter said…

US Delegation Meeting Bulgaria's Energy Minister – (Novinite) A US delegation has arrived at the Bulgarian Energy Ministry for negotiations, the ministry has confirmed.  The "working visit", which will not be followed by a joint conference, comes just a day after Prime Minister Boyko Borisov put into question a joint project with US-based Westinghouse Electric Company…

Bulgaria Parliament Appoints Ivan Ivanov Energy Watchdog Head – (Novinite) Ivan Ivanov, the single candidate to become the chair of Bulgaria's energy regulator KEVR, has now been picked by Parliament to take over the body…

Bulgarian parliament appoints new utilities regulator chief – (The Sofia Globe) Bulgarian MPs elected Ivan Ivanov as the new head of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) on April 2, but a walk-out by opposition socialists left the regulator with one vacancy still to fill…

Bulgaria: new members of energy regulator – (ACC) On 2 April 2015, new members of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) were elected by Parliament.  This is the first EWRC panel to be elected by the Parliament, following changes to the Energy Act in March 2015 to make it an independent body…

Bulgaria grid operator inks landmark changes to contracts with American TPPs (ROUNDUP) – (Focus) Bulgaria’s National Electricity Company (NEK) inked an agreement on changes to the long-term contracts with TPP AES Maritsa Iztok 1 and TPP Kontur Global Maritsa Iztok 3 on Wednesday.  The papers were signed by Executive Director of the National Electricity Company (NEK) Petar Iliev; Chief Commercial Officer of AES Bulgaria Ivan Tsankov; and Garry Levesley, Chief Executive Officer of TPP Kontur Global Maritsa Iztok 3…

Croatia

LNG Croatia seeking consultants to prepare documents for Krk LNG terminal – (Dalje) LNG Croatia has advertised a public tender for the preparation of project documentation and other necessary documents required to obtain a building permit for an LNG terminal on the northern Adriatic island of Krk…

Kosovo

Kosovo KEK repairs Units A, B1 and B2 of the Kosovo TPP – (Energetika) After accidental damage which occurred in June 2014 in the Kosovo A thermal power plant (TPP), the corporation has been facing many challenges. Although it lacked regulated revenues due to a lack of production…

Macedonia

HUNGARY, GREECE, MACEDONIA, SERBIA AND TURKEY SIGN DECLARATION ON ENERGY COOPERATION – (Hungary Today) A pentalateral ministerial meeting initiated by the Hungarian Foreign Ministry was held in Budapest, on the issue of the future energy supply of the Central and South-East European region. The Foreign Affairs Ministers of Serbia, Greece and Macedonia and the Minister for EU Affairs of Turkey were welcomed by Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán on Tuesday morning in the Parliament…

Hungary, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey seek cooperation on energy – (Global Times) Foreign affairs officials from Hungary, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey have agreed to meet regularly and to set up a working committee to focus on infrastructural developments, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said here on Tuesday…

Montenegro

Revised security of gas supply regulation covering the Energy Community is best guarantee for Europe’s security of gas supply – (Energy Community) Today the Secretariat submitted its views to the European Commission’s public consultation on the revision of Regulation (EU) no 994/2010 on measures to safeguard the security of gas supply. The Regulation is currently not in force in the Energy Community Contracting Parties…

Romania

Unit 1 of Romania's Cernavoda NPP Disconnected from Power System Again – (Energetika) According to Nuclearelectrica, all the systems of the power plant had operated at design base parameters, without any potential negative impact on the nuclear safety of the reactor, on the operating staff…

Romania ranked seventh EU country for wind turbines installed in 2014 – (The Diplomat) Although last year there were 50 per cent fewer new turbines installed in Romania compared to 2013, the Romanian market has climbed one position in Europe among the largest markets for wind power, finishing in the tenth place in 2014 according to total capacity…

Romania was the seventh largest market in the EU for wind turbine installation – (ACT Media) Depending only on the mounted wind turbines in November 2014, however, Romania was the seventh largest market in the EU. "Investments in wind projects ranged last year from 12.1 to 18.7 billion Euro," said the latest report published by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), quoted by Ziarul Financiar. "Onshore wind projects have attracted between 8.9 billion and 12.8 billion Euro, while offshore projects have attracted between 4.2 billion and 5.9 billion Euro…

Romania's energy output rises 4.2% in Jan-Feb – (SeeNews) Romania's energy output rose by an annual 4.2% in the first two months of the year, while imports fell 9.5%, the statistics office, INS, said on Thursday…

Project Agreement for the Institutionalisation of the European Energy Award in Romania – (ACT Media) The State Secretariate for Economic Affairs of Switzerland and Romania's Government have signed on Thursday a Project Agreement for the Institutionalisation of the European Energy Award in Romania, a 411,765 CHF budget project, of which the Swiss grant is worth 350,000…

Serbia

Serbia intends to have access to Azerbaijani gas – (APA) Serbia plans to have access to Azerbaijani gas to be transported via TANAP, said the Minister of Energy and Mining of Serbia Alexander Antic, APA-Economics reports quoting Natural Gas Europe…

Serbian Minister Antic: Interconnection with Bulgaria could give Serbia access to gas supplies from Azerbaijan via TANAP – (Azer Tac) “Interconnection with Bulgaria could give Serbia access to gas supplies from Azerbaijan via TANAP,” Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Aleksandar Antic told a meeting titled Regional Energy Prospects held in Belgrade. He said that the Serbian government would try to be part of all projects that may provide new gas supply sources and routes…

Five-nation talks on energy security – (Politics.hu) Cooperation between Central and South-east European nations will increase energy security in the region, Hungary’s foreign minister said. Péter Szijjártó hosted his Greek, Macedonian and Serbian counterparts as well as the Turkish minister of EU affairs in Budapest for a discussion of efforts to boost cooperation in energy supply…

PM Says Serbia May Renegotiate Electricity Price Hike Deal With IMF – (IENE) Serbia expects it may be possible to lower the electricity price hike agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after the country's deficit in the first quarter came in sharply below plan, local media reported on Monday, quoting Serbian prime minister Aleksandar Vucic…

Armenia

WB to continue cooperation for reforms in Armenia’s energy system – (ARMENPRESS) On April 8, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Armenia Yervand Zakharyan received World Bank Energy Sector Manager for Europe and Central Asia Ranjit Lamech…

Energy, Natural Resources Ministry Submits 2014 Performance Report – (Aysor) Chaired by Vice Prime Minister, Minister for International Economic Integration and Reforms Vache Gabrielyan, the Government discussed the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources-submitted report on key activities and priority tasks in 2014 in compliance with the Government’s Action Plan, as well as the Ministry’s estimated performance report…

Armenia’s electric power output 7 751 million kWh in 2014 – (ARKA) Armenian Energy and Natural Resources Minister Yervand Zakaryan, presenting today the 2014 activity report to the prime minister, said the country's electric power output was 7 751 million kWh in 2014…

Electricity, gas tariffs may increase in Armenia – (Trend) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) proposed the government of Armenia to increase the amount of benefit provided to the most vulnerable families in the country, the IMF Mission Chief to Armenia Mark Horton said, the Armenian newspaper Haykakan Zhamanak reported…

Georgia-Armenia collaborate on EURO 100m regional power project – (The Messenger Online) Electricity sharing between Georgia and Armenia is getting a boost thanks to the establishment of a new cross-country power line.  A new electricity transmission line and high-voltage direct current station between Georgia and Armenia will be built for the purpose of meeting the growing power demands of both countries. The new electricity transmission line will strengthen the countries’ energy-system, said officials…

Georgia-Armenia collaborate on €100m regional power project – (Agenda.Ge) Electricity sharing between Georgia and Armenia is getting a boost thanks to the establishment of a new cross-country power line.  A new electricity transmission line and high-voltage direct current station between Georgia and Armenia will be built for the purpose of meeting the growing power demands of both countries. The new electricity transmission line will strengthen the countries’ energy-system, said officials…

Armenia to receive $52-million IBRD soft loan for energy purposes – (News.Am) The Minister of Finance, Gagik Khachatryan, and the World Bank (WB) Country Manager for Armenia, Laura Bailey, on Wednesday signed loan agreements…

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan ups power generation – (Azernews) The power plants of Azerenerji JSC generated 6.3 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in Jan.-March 2015, compared to 6.2 billion kilowatt hours in the same period of 2014.  Azerenerji JSC is the main producer of electricity in Azerbaijan…

"Azerenerji" increases power generation – (News.Az) "Azerenerji" JSC (state monopoly on the production of electricity in Azerbaijan) in the 1 quarter of 2015 produced 6.3 bn KW/h of electricity, which is 1.6% more than the same period in 2014, Oxu.Az reports with reference to the structure…

In March electric power generation in Azerbaijan started to grow – (ABC.AZ) OJSC Azerenerji, Azerbaijan’s national energy producer, increased electric power generation in March but failed to reach the level of January’s surge…                                                                                                     

WB considers possibility of financing new energy project in Azerbaijan – (Trend) The World Bank (WB) is considering a possibility of implementing a project together with a single operator on the electricity distribution network in Azerbaijan…

Azerbaijan to switch to wind plants – (Azernews) Azerbaijan plans to use the windy Caspian Sea to expand its alternative energy potential.  The country has started work on the development of the area of the Caspian Sea to create wind farms there, said Jamil Melikov, the deputy head of State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources…

TURKMENISTAN, TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN: POTENTIAL FOR TRILATERAL ENERGY STRATEGY? – ANALYSIS – (Eurasia Review) Following the recent (March 4) visit to Ankara by his counterpart from Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a trilateral mechanism on energy issues between Turkey, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. He specifically noted that the three countries share a vision of transferring Turkmenistani natural gas to Europe via Turkey…

Georgia

Georgia knocks on wind club door – (renews) Georgia is seeking contractors to help deliver the 20MW Gori wind farm in the Shida Kartli region.  Special purpose vehicle Qartli Windfarm LLC, set up by state-owned Georgian Energy Development Fund, has landed European Bank for Reconstruction and Development backing for the scheme…

Reason for decrease in Georgia's import of Azerbaijani gas revealed – (The Messenger Online) 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…

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…

Turkey and Georgia sign cooperation agreement in Istanbul – (Getty Images) Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz (L) and Georgian Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze (R) attend the ceremony of signing of agreement on cooperation in field of energy between Turkey and Georgia on April 9, 2015 in Istanbul, Turkey…

New HPP to be built in Georgia – (Caspian Energy) 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…

Moldova

Energy sector Moldova: EU project presents recommendations for reform – (ENPI) An EU-funded technical assistance project for support to reform of the energy sector in Moldova, working in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy, has presented a series of recommendations for the continuation of sector reform at its closing conference last week…

First model for supplying bioenergy to public institutions by a business operator implemented in Leova district – (AEE) Leova is the only District in the Republic of Moldova where bioenergy is supplied by a business operator. This is the outcome of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) pilot-model providing integrated bioenergy services, which was agreed by Leova District Council and “Green Farm” SRL in 2014…

Turkey

Turkey contributing to EU energy security – (Turkish Weekly) Turkey attaches great importance to diversification of energy routes and source countries both for Turkey and for Europe, Turkish European Affairs Minister and Chief Negotiator has said Tuesday in Hungary…

How to save Turkey’s energy security? – (Azernews) No matter how much Turkey tries, today it can’t get rid of its energy dependence. The country’s problem lies in that it imports about 90 percent of its consumed coal, 93 percent of its oil and nearly 97 percent of its natural gas…

Yıldız: Turkey no longer demands EU to open energy chapter – (Daily Sabah) With Turkey working on a regional natural gas corridor as well as other ongoing projects, the energy minister says Turkey does not have any demands on opening a new energy chapter from the EU claiming their policies are less stable…

Turkey's power outage linked to mismanagement, grid director resigns – (Daily Sabah) The mystery over last Tuesday's nationwide blackout partially came to light on Monday after Taner Yıldız, the minister of Energy and Natural Resources, partly attributed it to technical problems and mismanagement…

UPDATE 1-Head of Turkey's power grid quits after blackout errors –Minister – (Reuters) The head of Turkey's state-run power grid has resigned, taking responsibility for a huge blackout last week likely to have been caused by management errors, Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said on Monday…

Turkish electricity director resigns – (UPI) The Turkish government said Monday the top executive at the Turkish Electricity Transmission Co. resigned after last week's massive near-national blackout…

Head of electricity transmission company resigns after huge blackout in Turkey – (Cihan) Energy Minister Taner Yıldız stated on Monday that the head of the Turkish Electricity Transmission Company (TEİAŞ) Kemal Yıldır resigned following a massive blackout which affected nearly the whole country last week…

Turkish energy minister promises lights won't go out during election – (BGN News) Energy Minister Taner Yıldız said his ministry would take necessary measures to keep the lights on during the upcoming parliamentary election while responding to the claims of the opposition parties…

Turkey to increase share of renewables in electricity to 30 percent – (Daily Sabah) Turkey is making great progress in energy investments by the day with the Akkuyu nuclear power plant and the first homegrown seismic research vessel, the Turkuaz, taking the lead among many other major projects…

Turkey’s Akkuyu nuclear power plant to be built by Turkish company Cengiz Holding – (Daily Sabah) Turkish Cengiz Holding has won the tender to build the marine hydro-technic structure for Turkey's first nuclear power plant in Akkuyu in the south of the country, the company announced on Tuesday…

Ukraine

Ukraine gets €65m to boost electricity supply– (Energy Live News) Ukraine has been given €65 million (£47.3m) for a project aimed at improving the security of electricity supply in the country.  The nation’s national transmission network operator Ukrenergo will use the cash to build a 330kV substation and two 330kV lines, which will connect the new substation to the grid…

Ukraine exports electricity worth $35.3 mln, imports - $34.8 mln in Q1, 2015 – (Interfax-Ukraine) Ukraine in January-March 2015 exported electricity worth $35.333 million, in particular in March – worth $9.174 million.  According to the State Fiscal Service, Hungary in the first quarter of this year delivered electricity worth $34.473 million, Slovakia - $651,000, Moldova - $194,000, other countries - $15,000…

Cabinet of Ministers extends electricity sector emergency measures – (Ukrainian Journal) Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal made by the Energy and Coal Industry Ministry to introduce one-month emergency measures in Ukraine's electricity sector for the sixth time, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk said…

UPDATE: Poland to give Ukraine loan of EUR 100 million for energy reforms and border control – (Ukraine Today) Poland has extended a EUR 100 million loan to Ukraine, to help modernise its energy sector and improve border checkpoints. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko made the announcement late Wednesday during a joint briefing with his Polish counterpart Bronislaw Komorowski…

RPT-Ukraine challenges oligarchs' grip on energy companies– (Reuters) Ukraine's judicial authorities launched actions on Tuesday challenging tenders that gave big businessmen control over key power companies under ousted president Viktor Yanukovich in a new move by the government to curb the influence of the so-called oligarchs…

Ukraine challenges oligarchs' grip– (Business Report) Ukraine's judicial authorities launched actions on Tuesday challenging tenders that gave big businessmen control over key power companies under ousted president Viktor Yanukovich in a new move by the government to curb the influence of the so-called oligarchs…

EU to Host Russia, Ukraine Gas Talks April 14– (The Wall Street Journal) The European Union will host the next round of gas talks between Ukraine and Russia on April 14 in Berlin, the European Commission said on Tuesday.  Ukraine and Russia said last month that they would seek to negotiate a deal that would ensure natural-gas deliveries to Ukraine and the European Union until a dispute over unpaid bills has been settled. The first round of those talks took place in Brussels on March 20…

Ukraine gas transit volumes drop in Q1 – (Interfax) The volume of gas transiting Ukraine for delivery to Europe and Moldova fell in Q1 2015.  According to unconfirmed data from gas transport operator Ukrtransgaz, supplies in January-March 2015 were down by 31.4% on an annual basis, to 12.77 billion cubic metres – 5.85 bcm less than in Q1 2014…

Ukraine to buy cheaper Russian gas for next three months – (Reuters) Ukraine has signed an interim deal for cheaper supplies of gas from Russia for the next three months, providing a breathing space for both sides in their protracted wrangle over pricing, Ukrainian energy officials said on Thursday…

Ukraine agrees cheaper short-term gas deal with Russia – (BBC News) Ukraine has signed a new short-term agreement to buy gas from Russia at a lower price, despite the ongoing conflict in the east of the country.  Ukraine will pay $248 per thousand cubic metres over the next three months down from the $329 it had been paying in the first quarter of this year…

Ukraine requests to triple gas import from Russia – (Energy Voice) The Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Ukraine has requested one billion cubic metres of gas imports from Russia this month.  It would treble the amount received in March and comes after Naftogaz and Russia’s Gazprom signed an interim deal for cheaper supplies of gas from Russia…

Germany ready to invest in Ukraine's energy efficiency – (NRCU) The issue of Ukraine's energy efficiency has been raised during the meeting between Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities Hennadiy Zubko said at a briefing on Friday, Ukrinform reported…

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