Albania

CEZ's Albania unit to increase power imports from August - Czech CEZ's Albania unit will increase energy imports from August to meet rising demand as the weather cools and consumption grows, the CEZ unit said…

Albania: Consumers that do not pay electricity will not be supplied by CEZ - Consumers that do not pay electricity will not be supplied by CEZ. All citizens that result debtors and those that have made illegal connections will be left without power…

Albanian co Erma launches 1.5 mln euro HPP Carshova - econ min - TIRANA (Albania), August 1 (SeeNews) - Albanian company Erma launched a new 1.5 mln euro ($1.8 million) hydro power plant in the south of the country, the economy ministry said…

Bulgaria

Bulgaria's Energy Minister: Natural gas is our hope - "Natural gas is Bulgaria's big hope for energy independence," Bulgaria's minister of economy, energy and tourism, Delyan Dobrev stated in an interview for ITAR-TASS, cited by the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA)…  

Nuke power plant to cost each Bulgarian BGN 1,000: socialist- Sofia. “If it turns out that it is impossible to organise a referendum [on Belene NPP project] after all the efforts we made, it will mean an end to the democratic process in Bulgaria,” said Anton Kutev, secretary of the National Council of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and MP with the Coalition for Bulgaria, speaking at a press conference themed ‘Elections and rules for their organisation’, FOCUS News Agency reporter informs…

Bulgarian State-Owned Energy Companies Struggle with Shrinking Revenues - The worsening economic environment has had its impact on the situation in state-owned gas company Bulgargaz and NEK among others…

Bulgarian Energy Minister: N-Plant Is Unbearable Burden - The price to construct a second Nuclear Power Plant in the Danube town of Belene is an impossible burden for Bulgaria, and will be the double of all assets of the country's energy sector…

Bulgarian Professor Snubs FT over Fracking - A Bulgarian professor from the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy in the capital Sofia has criticized a Financial Times article on fracking prospects in the country…

Belene NPP costs almost twice the price of Bulgaria’s entire energy sector: minister - Sofia. “People should know the facts around Belene NPP and they should cast a well-informed vote,” Bulgarian Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism Delyan Dobrev said in a commentary for the Bulgarian National Television (BNT)…

UT fracturing study echoes in Eastern Europe - The Bulgarian government's environmental policy inspired protests last January in Sofia, Bulgaria, where a University of Texas report was used to argue for hydraulic fracturing…

Renewable-energy tax hike can be justified: Gerard Wynn - Developers have made big returns from subsidies on renewable energy projects, raising the question whether new tax increases are justified in a continuing financial crisis or merely state opportunism…

Bosnia

Bosnia's EPBiH invites bids for a 450 MW coal-fired unit - Bosnia's top power utility EPBiH invited on Friday potential bidders to express interest in building a 450 megawatt coal-fired unit at its Tuzla plant at an estimated cost of 1.5 billion Bosnian marka ($949 million)…

Bosnia region picks RWE unit as best bidder for hydro project - The energy ministry of Bosnia's Serb Republic said on Friday it had shortlisted RWE Innogy, a unit of German utility RWE, to build four hydro-power plants on the Drina river with a combined capacity of 238 megawatts…

BiH Hydroplant Plan Could Cost the Environment - The construction of three hydroelectric power plants on the Neretva River in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) would have a "drastic impact on hydrology and ecology in the area and grave consequences for the local population in both Croatia and Bosnia," Zoran Mateljak, a World Wildlife Foundation co-ordinator for BiH, said last week…

Croatia

National electricity company calls for investors in €800 million Polmin C project - According to the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship's Annual Energy Report for 2010(1) 18,869.9 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity were supplied in Croatia in 2010 (with reported transmission and distribution system losses representing 2,021.9GWh)…

Construction of HPPs to be the strategic interest of Croatia - Construction of HPPs should be strategic interest of Croatia, said Dragan Marcinko from Monitoring Center for investments in Energy sector, during the second panel discussion at the first regional conference on energy future… 

Kosovo

Head of Kosovar Energy Union presses for labor protections in World Bank projects - Independent Syndicate of Energy of Kosovo (SPEK) meets with World Bank and U.S. government officials to discuss the effects of a new coal power plant project and the privatization of Kosovo's electricity grid…

Electricity theft undermines economies, rule of law - The theft of electricity by consumers in the region has cost electrical distribution companies millions of euros, but analysts hope enforcement measures by foreign power companies will change that…

Macedonia

Macedonia Launches $92 Million USD Sveta Petka Hydropower Plant -  SKOPJE, MACEDONIA — Macedonia’s $92 million USD Sveta Petka hydropower plant on the Treska River produced its first kilowatts of electricity on August 1…

Macedonian hydropower plant Sveta Petka to start dam filling on Aug 1 - Macedonian PM Nikola Gruevski announced that the filling of the dam of the Sveta Petka hydropower plant will start on August 1, a release on the cabinet's website informs…

Romania

Romania H1 energy production down 1.8 pct y/y - Romania's energy production fell 1.8 percent on the year in the first half, while imports were down 4.7 percent, data from the National Statistics Board showed on Wednesday…

Romanian hydropower producer Hidroelectrica cuts power output on severe drought - Romanian hydropower producer Hidroelectrica activated on Tuesday the force majeure for a second year in a row and will reduce its power output in August by more than one quarter due to a dramatic decrease of the flows of the Danube and other interior rivers…

Romania's Petrom opens 860 MW power plant - Romania's Petrom has started to produce electricity at its 860-megawatt Brazi gas-fired power plant, which could supply 8-9 percent of the country's market, it said on Thursday…

Romania’s EnergoBit To Invest $49 Million In Wind Farm, ZF Says - Romanian energy-equipment maker EnergoBit Group SA plans to invest 40 million euros ($49 million) in a wind farm in the southeast of the country, Ziarul Financiar reported, citing one of the company’s owners…

Romania’s Hidroelectrica To Cut Power Supplies Starting Tomorrow - Hidroelectrica SA, Romania’s state- owned hydropower generator, will cut electricity supplies starting tomorrow after a drought lowered river water levels…

Romania’s entry for international solar powered house competition goes on auction - A 100 percent energy independent house will be on auction this Thursday, July 26, in the Leroy Merlin store’s car park, starting at 20:00. The starting price is EUR 50,000 and the house’s value is estimated at EUR 125,000…

Serbia

Serbia’s great chance for development in energy sector - Serbia's Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic said yesterday that Serbia can overcome the crisis with new projects and investments…

Pending Energy projects in Serbia, unexplored potentials will have to be activated to secure energy supply - Because of crisis, all projects that started five or six years ago are waiting, despite liberalization of market, and very favorable business conditions…

Italy is interested in energy investments in Serbia - Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said in talks with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić in Belgrade that Italy was interested in energy investments in Serbia and that bilateral relations should be promoted further…

Armenia

Russia, Armenia Agree Gas Price Deal - Russia and Armenia have agreed on prices for natural gas supplies to Yerevan, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said on Wednesday…

Azerbaijan

TAP makes progress in discussions with Italian and Greek governments - Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) makes progress in discussions with Italian and Greek governments on the project's support, TAP External Affairs and Communications Director Michael Hoffmann told Trend on Wednesday…

Europe's plan to control Azeri gas supply in jeopardy -  Europe's plan to secure and control a supply of Azeri natural gas, backed by legal agreements, is in jeopardy as Azerbaijan joins forces with Turkey to own and operate the main export pipeline…

Baku Electric Network rose assets and capital - Baku, Fineko/abc.az OJSC Bakıelektrikşəbəkə (Baku Electric Network) , leading retail power supplier in Azerbaijan, has announced rise of assets and equity capital in 2011…

This June Azerbaijan almost stopped financial power export -Baku, Fineko/abc.az. In May, Azerbaijan, which keeps on remaining a net exporter of electric power for the fourth year running, almost stopped  financial cost of power export  resumed in February…

Georgia

Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey can jointly ensure security of infrastructure facilities - Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey can jointly ensure security of infrastructure facilities such as pipelines and railways, Georgia Ambassador to Azerbaijan Teymuraz Sharashenidze believes…

Georgian energy company Telasi sees net profit fall 33pct in H1 - Interfax reported that Tbilisi-based power distribution company JSC Telasi which is controlled by Russian energy company Inter RAO UES generated net profit of GEL 11.8 million in the first half of 2012 or 33.3% less than in the same period of last year…

Turkey's Calik to build Georgian power plant - Calik Holding, a Turkish energy company, said on Friday it haD signed a deal with Georgia's state-owned Partnership Fund to build a $200 million power plant near Tblisi…

Bulgarian company to help to the study Georgian energetic potential - Energy Development Fund of Georgia and the Bulgarian company Vaptech signed a cooperation agreement…

Russia

Russian energy consumption up 0.8% in July - Russian energy consumption up 0.8% in July (Part 2) Energy consumption in Russia grew 0.8% year-on-year to 75.5 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) in July, OJSC UES Systems Operator (SO UES) reported…

EBRD extends loan to Russian state power generator and energy trader - he EBRD has committed to lend Russia’s electricity generator and international energy trader  Inter RAO UES 9.6 billion roubles (equivalent to around EUR 240 million) through a five-year convertible loan to help prepare this major state-controlled holding in the Russian power sector for a potential international public offering…

Energy Ministry wants control over private gencos' investment programs - The Russian Energy Ministry wants to secure control over private generating companies' investment programs, according to draft changes to Article 21 of the federal law 'On electricity,' which have been published on the Economic Development Ministry's website…

Putin vows to privatise, defers Sechin's electric dreams - Russian President Vladimir Putin spurned the ambitions of close ally Igor Sechin on Tuesday, deferring a proposal to make energy holding company Rosneftegaz the state's vehicle for investment in government-owned utility companies…

Old dam fails in Karelia, Russia — 25,000 without power - Heavy rains in the Russian Republic of Karelia have left 25,000 people without electricity and have affected transport links in the region. Some communities in the region have been flooded…

Rosneft, Exxon march toward Russian arctic - Russian oil company Rosneft said it teamed with Exxon Mobil to work on exploration plans in the arctic regions of Russia…

State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM : The delegation of ROSATOM has visited the Hungarian enterprise of Atomenergomash - the Russian delegation headed by Deputy Director General for development and international business of the State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM Kirill Komarov visited the Russian-Hungarian enterprise Ganz EEM (Budapest)…

Kaliningrad tests energy independence - Demonstrating its potential energy independence from mother Russia, on the night of Aug. 1 Kaliningrad performed operational tests with its isolated power system…

Turkey

Electricity production in Turkey increases - Turkey's electricity consumption to increase by 2020 ... Electricity production in Turkey increased by 7.8 percent in July 2012 compared to the...

Turkish solar plant incentives low - The Energy Market Regulatory Authority's (EPDK) decision to begin accepting license applications for solar power plants as of June 2013 will boost solar energy investments in Turkey, according to a report from Deloitte Turkey…

Minister: Turkey to continue policy of energy sector privatization - Turkey intends to continue policy of privatization of energy sector, in particular electricity and gas distribution sector, the Ihlas agency quotes Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Taner Yildiz as saying on Wednesday…

SGS Conducts End of Warranty Inspection of Borusan Wind Power in Turkey - In January 2012, SGS was appointed a contract to conduct end of warranty inspection services for twenty Vestas V90-3MW wind turbines by Borusan EnBW Energy…

Poultry manure to produce electricity - A 20 million Turkish Liras biogas facility to be established in Bandırma, one of the leading poultry centers in the northwestern province of Balıkesir, will produce energy out of the manure of around 2.5 million chickens…

ENERGY MARKETS REPORT INCLUDING: A blast in Turkey overnight on the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline has halted oil flow - A blast in Turkey overnight on the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline has halted oil flow, according to Turkish energy ministry officials. Repairs on the pipeline are to be completed within 10 days…

Iraq oil seen flowing from Wednesday after blast: Turkey officials - ANKARA (Reuters) - Oil flow on the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline from Iraq to Turkey's Mediterranean coast was expected to begin on Wednesday on a second line unaffected by an explosion at the weekend, Turkish energy ministry officials said on Tuesday…

Poor Energy Policy, Pricing Model Cost BOTAŞ Dearly - The lack of a coherent government energy strategy combined with an inefficient pricing mechanism are responsible for over TL 1.32 billion in loss by the state-owned Turkish Pipeline Corporation (BOTAŞ), observers argue Today`s Zaman reported…

SOCAR Turkey Energy plans to increase export up to $5 bln - Exports of SOCAR Turkey Energy will amount to $5 billion by 2023, while the company's turnover is planned to be increased up to $20 billion, Anadolu agency quotes SOCAR Turkey Energy head, Petkim petrochemical complex board member, Kenan Yavuz as saying on Monday…

Pipeline blast stops Iraq oil flow to Turkey- An explosion overnight on a pipeline carrying about a quarter of Iraqi crude exports from oilfields near the city of Kirkuk has knocked out flows and repairs are expected to take up to 10 days, Turkish Energy Ministry officials said on Monday…

Turkish power: coal or gas? - You might not expect a foundation laying ceremony for a new power plant to make national news but in Turkey, where demand for power has been growing at 8 to 9 per cent a year for most of the last decade, the question of how it is generated is of great public concern…

Ukraine

Ukraine to Privatize Major Thermal Power Plants - Ukraine plans to privatize the country's four major heat and power plants to reduce Ukraine's energy dependence on expensive Russian natural gas and push the plants to modern coal-burning technologies, according to a government order published on Tuesday, RIA Novosti said…

Boiko: Naftogaz pays $930 million to Gazprom for July gas - National company Naftogaz Ukrainy has paid Russia for natural gas imports in July 2012 by transferring $930 million to Gazprom, Ukrainian Energy and Coal Minister Yuriy Boiko told journalists in Kyiv on Wednesday…

SOCAR acquires 26 gas stations and oil storage in Ukraine - SOCAR Energy Ukraine (the managing company of SOCAR Ukraine Group companies) will acquire 26 filling stations and oil storage Hatikva Estate, which owns part of the business assets of the Kalina, SOCAR Energy Ukraine said on Wednesday…

Ukraine Reducing Gas Imports from Russia - Ukraine's gas imports from Russia decreased around 45 percent in the first seven month of this year, official data showed…

Cub Energy starts production in Ukraine - Cub Energy Inc. (TSX:V.KUB, Stock Forum) said commercial production of the Makeevskoye-21 (M-21) well in Ukraine has begun at an initial rate of 1.7 million cubic feet per day…

RIA Novosti: Ukraine to privatize major thermal power plants - According to RIA Novosti Ukraine plans to privatize the country’s four major heat and power plants to reduce Ukraine’s energy dependence on expensive Russian natural gas and push the plants to modern coal-burning technologies…

Cub Energy's Ukraine well cased to total depth, stock soars 35% - Cub Energy Inc. (TSX:V.KUB, Stock Forum), reports the Makeevskoye-20 well in east Ukraine has been cased to total depth…

Lukoil and Exxon-led group bid for Ukraine offshore exploration - Russia's Lukoil Overseas and a group led by ExxonMobil have put in bids for oil and gas exploration in Ukraine's Black Sea Skifska field, but no bids have been forthcoming for a second field at Foroska, Ukrainian officials said on Friday…

Ukraine Gets Responses from Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), Lukoil for Gas, Oil Exploration - Ukraine has received responses from global energy majors such as Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) and Lukoil for oil and gas exploration in its Black Sea Skifsa filed, a senior minister in the government said on Friday…

Ukraine to Achieve 1,800 MW Solar Power Capacity by 2016 - According to recent forecasts from Macquarie Research, Ukraine will increase its solar power capacity by 400 MW in 2012. The current solar capacity of Ukraine stands at 200 MW…

Ukraine to produce 10 to 20 percent power from renewable sources by 2030 - The energy sector of Ukraine is of fundamental importance for the national economic development…