Weekly collection of energy news articles for the region

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USAID/USEA ETAG Upcoming Events

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September 8-9, 2014           USAID/USEA Black Sea Regional Transmission System Planning Project (BSTP) Working Group Meeting Yerevan, Armenia

September 10, 2014            USAID/USEA Armenia-Georgia Sub-Regional Transmission System Planning Project (BSTP) Working Group Meeting Yerevan, Armenia

September 11-12, 2014       USAID/USEA Armenia Model Gride Code Project Working Group Meeting Yerevan, Armenia

Albania seeks bids to rehabilitate and modernize 11 dams – (Balkans) Albania's Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Administration seeks bids for civil construction to rehabilitate and modernize 11 dams in Albania's Drin-Buna and Semani river basins. Bids are due September 9.The ministry recruited consultants in June to supervise rehabilitation and modernization of the 11 dams, located in Kukes, Berat, Fier, Korca and Murriz Thana…

Albania seeks civil construction to rehabilitate 11 dams – (Hydro World) Albania's Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Administration seeks bids for civil construction to rehabilitate and modernize 11 dams in Albania's Drin-Buna and Semani river basins. Bids are due September 9. The ministry recruited consultants in June to supervise rehabilitation and modernization of the 11 dams, located in Kukes, Berat, Fier, Korca and Murriz Thana. The government took responses last year in a similar solicitation for work on the 11 dams and three others…

Albania Seeks Bids to Rehabilitate and Modernize 11 Dams – (IENE) Albania's Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Administration seeks bids for civil construction to rehabilitate and modernize 11 dams in Albania's Drin-Buna and Semani river basins. Bids are due September 9…

Bulgaria

Energy Ministry Starts Renegotiation of Thermal Station PPAs and RES Subsidies – (Publics) The current deficit in the power system of BGN 3 billion (about EUR 1.5 billion) could not be diminished in a month or two, thus prompting for a gradual electricity price increase plan which should be followed by the governments to come, interim economy and energy minister Vasil Shtonov said in an interview for Bulgarian newspaper 24 Chasa…

Decision on Bulgaria, Westinghouse Nuclear Deal Postponed – (Publics) Bulgaria’s caretaker government will not take any further actions for moving forward the deal for the construction of a new unit at Kozloduy nuclear station with U.S. company Westinghouse, leaving the crucial decision to be taken after the scheduled elections on October 5, economy and energy minister Vasil Shtonov said today during the official inauguration of his deputies…

Bulgarian energy watchdog takes action after the WB report on problems in energy sector (ROUNDUP) – (Focus) The State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC) has taken action in relation to the report of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), which outlines a number of issues in the energy sector in Bulgaria. The report also mentions measures of the government supporting decisions for improving the public confidence in the management of the energy system…

Bulgarian regulator initiated inspections in the RES sector in relation to the World Bank report – (Focus) State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission initiated inspections in renewable energy sector, which has not yet been completed, as interim reports indicate problems that are in the process of analysis of wrongdoing. This was announced by the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission report on the occasion of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), which identified a number of problems in the energy sector in Bulgaria…

Oettinger Pledges Full Support for Bulgaria's Energy Board – (Novinite) EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger has told Deputy Prime Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva he entirely supports the establishment of an energy board in the country.  Oettinger commented on the latest developments in Bulgaria's energy sector while meeting Zaharieva and interim Economy Minister Vasil Shtonov in Brussels…

Keyword in the Bulgarian energy system is ‘high emergency’: energy expert – (Focus) “The keyword in the Bulgarian energy system is ‘high emergency’. That means that we may expect power cut in the most unsuitable moment, which is worse than energy rationing.” That is what energy expert professor Atanas Tasev said for Radio FOCUS…

Bulgaria's Energy Board to Start Functioning in а Week – (Novinite) Bulgaria's energy board is to be structured by the end of next week, according to Ekaterina Zaharieva, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister.  The developments surrounding the energy board were reported after a meeting of Zaharieva and caretaker Economy and Energy Minister Vasil Shtonov with representatives of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) and the Podkrepa Labor Confederation…

Bulgaria Suspends South Stream Project – (inSerbia) Bulgaria’s Minister of Economy and Energy Vasil Shtonov has ordered Bulgaria’s Energy Holding to halt any operations on the South Stream gas pipeline project, according to the official statement…

Bulgaria says it has ‘frozen’ South Stream, but pipes continue to arrive – (Euractiv) The European Commission said Thursday (21 August) that it was aware that a video reveals that room has been made at Bulgaria's Varna harbour for pipes to be used for the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline, in spite of the assurances by the country’s government that the project has been frozen…

Where is the proof that South Stream is beneficial to Bulgaria? – (The Sofia Globe) The South Stream gas pipeline is suffering from the “Belene syndrome” – despite uncertainty about the project’s progress, the “expenditure” is clearly on the rise. We are constantly being told that the project is beneficial for Bulgaria…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia attracts Turkish energy firms – (World Bulletin) Turkish energy minister has encouraged Turkish firms to bid for several tenders in the Bosnian energy sector announced by the Balkan government last week…

In Bosnia, Green Light for Guaranteed Prices for Renewable Electricity – (Energetika) Cogeneration range from 0.12373 to 0.29030 Bosnian marka (KM) per kWh for hydro power plants, from 0.14766 to 0.37124 KM/kWh for wind power plants, and from 0.01811 to 0.39320 KM/kWh for solar power plants…

Federation of BiH to Extend Oil and Gas Cooperation with Shell – (Energetika) Prime Minister of Federation BiH, Nermin Nikšić, and the Federal Minister of Energy, Mining, and Industry, Erdal Trhulj, have been authorised to sign the extension of the memorandum.  At the beginning of August…

Croatia  

Croatian HEP Searches for Strategic Partner for HPP Kosinj/Senj – (Energetika) HEP will select the partner that submits the most economically advantageous outline proposal for the realisation of the project through two phases. In the first phase, HEP and the chosen strategic partner will…

Croatia's HEP seeks partner on Kosinj/Senj HPP project – (SeeNews) Croatian state-owned energy utility HEP has invited expressions of interest from potential strategic partners for a new Kosinj/Senj hydro power plant (HPP) project, a public notice indicated on Wednesday…

Crude from Iraqi Kurdistan arrives in Croatia –paper – (Reuters) A delivery of crude oil from Iraqi Kurdistan has arrived at the Croatian Adriatic port of Omisalj, Croatia's Jutarnji List daily reported late on Saturday. "A tanker with 80,000 cubic meters of crude oil has arrived at the Omisalj terminal and it should be unloaded on Sunday", the Jutarnji List daily reported on its website, citing a source from the state-owned oil transport operator Janaf…

Kosovo

KCC proposes a reduction of VAT on electricity – (Balkan EU) Kosovo Chamber of Commerce (KCC) has reacted today (19.08) against warnings for an increase of the price of power supply, saying that such measure will have a negative impact in the economy of Kosovo.  Nevertheless, KCC has proposed a drop in the VAT on power supply, as an alternative to a possible increase of the price of electricity…

Macedonia

Macedonian TE-TO Skopje Searches for Insurance for its Cogeneration Plant – (Energetika) The CCPP is located in the vicinity of the Skopje city centre. Average capacity of the power plant is 220 MW for electricity generation and up to 160 MW for heat production.  TE-TO Skopje is the first Independen…

Macedonia Adopts Feasibility Study for Gas Network – (Energetika) According to Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Peshevski, public calls regarding the public-private partnership for the gas distribution network will be published by the end of next month.  “Total invest…

FYROM Adopts Feasibility Study for Gas Network PPPs – (IENE) FYROM's government has adopted a feasibility study for the establishment of private-public partnerships for the construction of a 150 million euro ($200 million) gas distribution network in the country, the transport ministry said on Friday…

Montenegro

In Montenegro, Public Discussion about Energy Law – (Energetika) As the ministry explained on its website, the EU has substantially revised the Union's legal framework in the energy field since the adoption of the Energy Law in Montenegro. ʺWith the adoption of new directive…

After Decades Montenegro Avoids Energy Deficit in 2013 – (Energetika) Its revenues amounted to EUR 27.5 million, a decrease of EUR 2.5 million, and were largely attributed to the use of the transmission network (EUR 22.4 million) and capacity allocation (EUR 3.7 million)…

Montenegrin TPP Pljevlja from Loss to Profit – (Energetika) Their operating income amounted to EUR 44.35 million, a decrease of slightly more than EUR 2 million, the company announced on the Montenegro Stock Exchange…

Energy Development Strategy of Montenegro: Investors are Key – (Energetika) The strategy aims to comply with the EU energy policy in order to achieve the objectives related to security of supply, competitiveness, and sustainable energy sector development…

104 Years of Montenegrin EPCG – (Energetika) Electricity in Montenegro is distributed through 4573 transformer substations of different voltage transformation (110/10 kV, 35/10 kV, 10/0.4 kV) and different strengths, and more than 20,000 kilometres…

Romania

Cogeneration keeps the 2% share in renewable energy, hampered by the blockage of GC system – (ACT Media) Romania has a huge, but unused potential not only when it comes to economic growth. In the area of electricity and heat cogeneration projects, Romania has several biomass production capacities, but they are not used even at their average potential. Investments in cogeneration projects require two-three…

Romania’s largest electricity producer expects EUR 225 mln profit this year – (Romanian-Insider) State-owned Hidroelectrica, Romania’s largest electricity producer, expects a gross profit of over EUR 225 million this year, some 10% higher than in 2013, according to Ziarul Financiar…

Electrica is planning investments of 6.2 billion lei by 2018 – (ACT Media) Electrica’s board has an investment plan of 6.2 billion lei (1.4 billion euros) from 2014 to 2018, mainly in the business of electricity distribution. “Any delay in the implementation of the investment plan, amendments to it…

Romania Seeks New Nuclear Partners – (Industrial Info) Romania's state-owned Nuclearelectrica (Bucharest) is looking to create a joint venture to get the delayed project back on track…

State-owned companies subordinated to Department for Energy, compelled to draw up development strategies for at least 10 years – (ACT Media) The state-owned companies subordinated to the Department for Energy will be compelled to draw up development strategies for at least 10 years, but also a transparent system for granting sponsorship, reads an Order issued by Minister-Delegate for Energy, Razvan Nicolescu…

Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline, to be officially inaugurated at the end of August – (ACT Media) The Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline, to link Romania with the Republic of Moldova, will officially be inaugurated at the end of August this year, following the first gas exchanges to be operated in early September, according to a Department for Energy release.Representatives of Transgaz (Romania) and Vestmoldtransgaz (the Republic of Moldova)…

The cost of caring for Europe's elderly nuclear plants – (ACT Media) Europe's ageing nuclear fleet will undergo more prolonged outages over the next few years, reducing the reliability of power supply and costing plant operators many millions of dollars. Nuclear power provides about a third of the European Union's electricity…

Ponta Hopes that Gas Reserves in the Black Sea Will Secure Energy Independence – (IENE) Natural gas resources in the Black Sea might be instrumental for ensuring Romania’s energy security. That is why Romania's Prime Minister Victor Ponta has recently visited the Ocean Endeavour rig in the Romanian waters of the Black Sea, where Exxon Mobil and Petrom are drilling for gas, approximately 200 km from the shore, and 800 deep into the sea…

Serbia

Romanian company to export coal daily to Serbia for a year – (Romania-Insider) Romanian state-owned energy company Complexul Energetic Oltenia will start exporting coal to Serbia this month, based on a one-year contract. About 20,000 tonnes of coal will be delivered daily.  ‘The contract is a breath of fresh air for the company,’ said Daniel Antonie, the company’s mining division head. The company was close to sending its miners into technical unemployment for lack of contracts…

Gazprom’s “Plan B” for South Stream Pipeline – (Greek Reporter) Russian business newspaper Vzglyad published an article by journalist Oleg Makarenko, claiming that Gazprom has a “plan B” in case Bulgaria continues to obstruct the construction of the South Stream pipeline.  The newspaper published an article suggesting that the Kremlin-favored South Stream gas pipeline could drop Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and Slovenia for its route…

Armenia

Armenian PM greenlights construction of gas power plant – (Cistran Finance) Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan chaired a cabinet sitting last Thursday to approve the main provisions for construction and operation of a 540 megawatt (MW) gas power plant.  Anaklia IEP Holding asked the Armenian government for a license to build the gas power station in Armenia and showed a willingness to finance the construction of the power plant…

Gas turbine power plant to be constructed in Armenia – (PanoramaAM) A 540 MW-capacity gas turbine power plant will be constructed in Armenia, Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Yervand Zakharyan said at the cabinet meeting on Thursday…

540-megawatt gas turbine power plant to be built in Armenia – (ARKA) A new, 540-megawatt gas turbine power plant will be built in Armenia, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Yervand Zakharyan said Thursday at a regular Cabinet meeting…

Sale of Vorotan Cascade hydro power plants’ property may drive electricity prices up – (ARKA) Vazgen Safaryan, chairman of the Union of Domestic Commodity Producers, thinks the sale of the property of the Vorotan Cascade Hydro Power Plants may drive electricity prices up.  “I am opposed to any sale – it will be the government’s property, since it is a system generating the cheapest electric power in Armenia,” he said at a news conference on Wednesday…

Azerbaijan  

Azerbaijan reduces electricity exports – (Trend) In January-July 2014, Azerbaijan exported 383.45 million kilowatt hours of electricity under customs declaration, versus 491.21 million kilowatt hours in the same…

Power export from Azerbaijan declines again – (ABC.AZ) Azerbaijan’s export of electric power has reduced again. As a result, for Jan-Jul power export ensured 0.141% of export revenue for the country ($13.249 bn).  The State Customs Committee reports that according to electric meters’ data for Jan-Jul 2014 electric power export from the country totaled 134.02 million…

Azerbaijan’s power generation at hydroelectric power plants reached 7% of total power generation – (ABC.AZ) The Committee informs that power generation at hydroelectric power plants (HPPs) reached only 862.2 million kWh for Jan-Jul 2014. It was by 8.7% lower than that for Jan-Jul 2013. The share of hydropower that reached 6.63% of total electricity generation in 2013, made 6.87% over the reported period…

Azerbaijan increases electricity production – (Trend) In January-July 2014 Azerbaijan produced 12.53 billion kw/hours of commodity electricity, which is 3.5 percent more than the same period of 2013, says the…

Azerbaijani capital’s energy operator buys over 5 bln KW/h of electricity in Jan.-July – (Trend) Bakielektrikshebeke JSC, which sells and distributes electricity in Baku, bought about 5.23 billion kilowatt hours (KW/h) of electricity from Azerenergy JSC in…

EBRD further finances energy efficiency projects in Azerbaijan – (Azernews) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will allocate $5 million to Azerbaijan's Demirbank to finance energy efficiency projects in the country. "The funds will be used for on-lending to qualifying corporate and individual customers for industrial and residential energy efficiency projects and equipment," EBRD said on August 20…

EBRD to finance energy efficiency projects with $5 million loan to DemirBank – (Cistran Finance) Azerbaijan’s DemirBank will receive a $5 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to finance energy efficiency projects in the country.  The loan facility will allow for on-lending to qualifying corporate and individual customers for industrial and residential energy efficiency projects and equipment…

Azerbaijan's underground gas storage volumes reach $ 3 billion cubic meters – (Trend) Azerbaijan’s underground gas storage volumes reach $ 3 billion cubic meters…

Georgia  

Georgia suspends Russian gas supply to Armenia due to pipeline accident – (Trend) Georgia has temporarily cut off Russian gas supply to Armenia since August 20 due to the accident on the main gas pipeline, said the message of Oil and Gas Corporation of Georgia on Aug. 21.  The message notes that the Russian side has been informed about the accident…

Georgia landslide disrupts Russian supplies to Armenia – (Natural Gas Daily) A landslide in Georgia on Wednesday has cut gas supplies to Armenia, but Gazprom Armenia has stressed it will not disrupt the volume it delivers to customers…

Gas supplies to Armenia suspended due to breakdown – (ARKA) Gas supplies to Armenia are suspended as from August 20 due to a breakdown on the gas main, the website of Gazprom Armenia reported…

Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan strengthen energy transport security – (DFWatch) The defense ministers of Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan met Tuesday in the Azerbaijani enclave Nakhchivan, a landlocked region on the border between Armenia and Iran.  This is the first time defense ministers from the three countries hold a trilateral meeting but the presidents of the three states met in Tbilisi a few months ago…

Commentary: New format in ensuring regional security – (Trend) A meeting of the defense ministers of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR) and a number of important decisions taken at the meeting can be regarded as an important action to ensure the security of the region…

Georgia’s hydropower potential superior to similar opportunities of Canada, Norway – (Trend) Georgia has hydropower potential that is one of the highest in the world, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said in its strategy on Georgia.  EBRD said that in the area of renewable energy Georgia has the potential to produce 7.3 megawatts of electricity per capita. This greatly exceeds the capabilities of Norway and Canada, which have significant water resources…

Georgian energy minister inspects construction of Shuakhevi HPS – (Trend) Vice Prime Minister of Georgia, Minister of Energy Kakha Kaladze and the Chairman of Adjar government Archil Habadze familiarized themselves with the works on the construction of Shuakhevi hydroelectric power station (HPS) on Aug. 18…

Georgia seeks to head European Energy Charter – (Azernews) Georgian Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze met with Secretary General of the European Energy Charter Urban Rusnak.  The two sides discussed the issues of power transition in the region, strengthening relations between the member-states of the charter, the direction of investments and future prospects, the Georgian Energy Ministry reported…

Georgian minister presents energy plan – (Vestnik) Georgian Minister for Energy Kakha Kaladze has presented the plan for development of the energy sector and a report on electricity at the Prime Minister’s Economic Council, Trend reports…

Power sector development plan presented in Georgia – (Trend) Georgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Kakha Kaladze presented a plan of the country's power sector development at a meeting of the Economic Council under the Georgian Prime Minister.  Kaladze also presented a report on the country's power sector, the implementation of ongoing projects, the Georgian government told Trend Aug. 21…

Moldova

Gas pipe between Romania and Moldova operational in fall – (Romania-Insider) The Romanian and Moldovan authorities have signed the agreement to commission the gas pipe between the Romanian city of Iasi and Ungheni in Moldova.  The pipe will be operated by Romanian state owned company Transgaz and by Vestmoldtransgaz. The cost of the pipe was some EUR 26 million, below budget, according to Romania’s energy minister Razvan Nicolescu…

Turkey 

South Stream ‘Plan B’ opts for route through Greece and Turkey – (Euractiv) A Russian newspaper has published an article suggesting that the Kremlin-favoured South Stream gas pipeline could drop Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, and Slovenia for its route, and instead reach its final destinations, Italy and Austria, through Turkey and Greece…

Turkey’s coal resource a potential economic boon – IEA report – (Pei) A report on the Turkish power sector has found that Turkey can significantly reduce its energy import bill by focusing its efforts on utilising its coal resources…

Turkey: Electricity Prices In Turkey And The Market Liberalization – (Mondaq) The recent growth of the Turkish economy that had sprawled to the entire last decade gave birth to a new phenomenon of energy price hikes. The country's growing appetite for ever more energy supplies necessitates a coordinated action on the part of the regulatory authorities to make the energy prices to stay in a stable and predictable course…

Kurdish oil sales via Turkey reach 6.5 million barrels, Turkish energy minister says – (Hurriyet Daily News) The amount of Iraqi Kurdish crude oil shipped to third countries via Turkey has reached 6.5 million barrels with the seventh tanker now sailing away, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yıldız has said. “The seventh tanker has been loaded and its delivery has been completed,” the minister said, answering reporters’ questions after hosting Turkey’s Union of Marble, Natural Stıne and Machinery Manufacturers (TUMMER) in Ankara on Aug. 18…

Turkey's Gama Enerji brings online 35 MW wind farm – (SeeNews) Turkish power producer Gama Enerji said on Thursday it has put into operation a 35 megawatt (MW) wind farm in western Turkey…

Ukraine 

Ukraine may have an energy problem besides nat gas – Pelicourt – (Coal and Steel) Pelicourt, the private equity firm, and Donbass Energy, which has operations ranging from coal mining to electricity generation, Ukraine could run out of coal supplies because of the destruction of the rail lines by Russian separatists…

Ukraine may have an energy problem besides nat gas – (CNBC) Ukraine is running low on coal because of violence wracking in the country, according to a Ukrainian coal producer and a private equity firm that makes energy investments in Ukraine…

European physical coal prices rise – (Business Recorder) European physical coal prices rose on Friday after Poland's foreign minister said the government was weighing the idea of curbing imports of Russian supply and on concerns that fighting may hurt Ukraine's exports. The rise in prompt prices on cargoes for delivery to Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp (ARA) came even though premiums over Australian supplies were above $8, close to levels where traders often take profits…

Gazprom says hopes Ukraine provides safe gas transit to Europe – (Reuters) Russia's top natural gas producer Gazprom said on Thursday it hopes that Ukraine will stick to its obligations and allow safe gas transit to Europe…

EU, Russia, Ukraine to resume gas talks on August 26 – (Panorama AM) The European Commission will restart gas negotiations with Russia and Ukraine at a Customs Union-Ukraine summit on August 26 in Minsk, an EC official said Wednesday, according to ITAR-TASS.

Russia, Ukraine, EU to Hold Talks on Gas, Trade – (The Wall Street Journal) The presidents of Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission will hold "consultations" on the gas and trade issues dividing them, the European Union said in a statement late Thursday…

Activ Solar says not aware of new green power rates in Crimea – (SeeNews) Vienna-based Activ Solar GmbH, a solar developer that has several large-scale solar parks in Crimea, said it has not been informed of the introduction of any new incentives for renewables on the peninsula…

Rostec unit to build power plants in Crimea – (Kyiv Post) Technopromexport (TPE), an engineering division of state corporation Rostec, will build thermal power plants in Crimea, business daily Vedomosti reported on Aug. 21…

Ukraine’s energy crisis centre urges households to switch from gas to alternative fuel – (ITAR-TASS) Ukraine’s newly-established energy crisis management centre is launching an awareness campaign to urge households to cut natural gas consumption in all possible ways and to switch to alternative fuels whenever possible. Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Groisman was appointed to chair the centre…

Ukraine to prepare tender by 2015 to attract partners to manage gas transport system – (Kyiv Post) Ukraine plans to prepare a tender by the end of the year to attract European and U.S. partners to manage its gas transport system (GTS) and underground gas storage facilities, Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Prodan has said…

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