Albania

TAP submits ESIA to Greece’s authorities  -(Azernews) Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) has submitted its comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) to the ministry of energy, environment and climate change of Greece…

Bulgaria

Bulgaria ex-energy minister: Bulgarian energy is a very ill sector, says the latest report – (Focus) “Report on the current state of the Bulgarian energy sector, which was presented by Minister of Economy and Energy Dragomir Stoynev, shows a very ill sector, which needs to be healed with very serious and deep reforms…

Bulgarian Minister Decries Plight of Energy Sector – (Novinite) Bulgaria's energy sector is experiencing an extremely difficult situation, according to a report of Economy and Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev…

Bulgaria’s energy sector is in extremely poor condition: minister – (Focus) Bulgaria’s energy sector is in an extremely poor condition, Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy Dragomir Stoynev said, while presenting a report on the condition of the country’s energy sector, FOCUS News Agency reported…

Three leading banks in Bulgaria to join energy efficiency facility – (Balkans) The EBRD has signed credit lines promoting energy efficiency in the residential and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) sectors, as well as trade finance facilities with the three leading Bulgarian banks – Postbank, Piraeus Bank Bulgaria A.D…

EBRD supports Bulgarian trade and energy efficiency - (Trade Finance) The EBRD has provided credit lines to three Bulgarian banks to support trade finance and energy efficiency in the country…

State-owned energy companies’ results worsen – (The Sofia echo) The first-half reports of Bulgaria’s state-owned energy companies show shrinking revenue and rising debts. The finances of National Electric Company (NEC) are sinking and Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) is turning into a main source of cash for its subsidiaries…

Bulgarian Energy Minister: Maritsa Iztok Miners to Keep Their Jobs – (Novinite) Bulgaria's minister of Economy and Energy, Dragomir Stoynev , has assured that discharges will not be made in the Maritza Iztok Complex – the largest energy complex in Bulgaria, located in Stara Zagora Province.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sepco III Electric Power Construction to build 390MW gas power plant in Bosnia – (EBR) China-based Sepco III Electric Power Construction will build a 390MW gas-fired power plant in the central Bosnian town.

Macedonia

Macedonia Russia sign South Stream Agreement – (MINA) Macedonia has signed the agreement with the Russian Federation over cooperation in the construction of South Stream gas pipeline. Macedonia is included in the project through a branch, with company "Gazprom" to decide whether the gas would be distributed through Serbia or Bulgaria…

German support for ELEM energy projects – (MINA) Germany will provide support in the amount of EUR 35 million for two energy projects of Macedonian Power Plants (ELEM). EUR 15 million will be used for completion of the Wind Farm Bogdanci, whereas the remaining EUR 20 million for revitalization project of Spilje 2 hydro plant…

Has TAP Ended Pipeline Wars In Southern Corridor? – (Eurasia Review) The Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP) project was announced in November of 2011. On 26 June 2012, Azerbaijan and Turkey signed an official agreement in Istanbul…

Romania

Romania pushes back energy listings to 2014 – (Reuters) Romania has pushed back a pledge to sell minority stakes in a raft of state-owned energy companies to next year, a draft letter of intent to the International Monetary Fund showed, according to the Ziarul Financiar newspaper…

Renewable energy: Romania and legislative instability – (Hot News)  The Romanian business environment is currently in turmoil due to the recent series of legislative acts amending Romanian law in the field of energy, specifically renewable energy…

INSCOP: More than half of Romanians supporting their country's energy independence – (Act Media) Romania's energy independence is seen with good eyes by a majority of Romanians, as they believe falling prices and job creation will be among the positive outcomes of such independence, reveal the findings of a recent opinion poll conducted by INSCOP Research, commissioned by daily Adevarul…

OMV Petrom commissions EUR 40 mln gas desulfurization unit at Petrobrazi refinery in Romania – (Romania Insider) Oil and gas company OMV Petrom recently commissioned the new gas desulfurization and sulfur recovery unit at its Petrobrazi refinery, following a EUR 40 million investment…

Serbia

Serbia's Srbijagas to raise Q4 wholesale gas prices by 6.4 pct – (Reuters) Serbia's government has allowed the main gas distributor Srbijagas to increase wholesale prices in the last quarter of 2013 by 6.4 percent, a move that will mean higher bills for consumers, the energy regulator AERS said on Tuesday…

Report calls for energy efficiency in urban transport – (Setimes) Serbia's capital and two cities in Turkey are part of a new International Energy Agency report that advocates improved energy efficiency in urban transport systems in order to save $70 trillion (53 trillion euros) on transport infrastructure, fuel and vehicles by mid-century…

"By the end of the month both agreement and government" –(B92) For now, the Serbian Progressive Party has not talked about it, told the Minister to reporters in Resavica where she put methanometric station into operation in the Directorate of the Underground Coal Exploitation (EIA) Resavica…

Serbia: EPS To Raise Prices For 10.9 Percent Starting August 1 – (In Serbia) Households in Serbia will see a rise of 10.9 percent in electricity prices, and economy an increase of 12.8 percent on average as of Thursday, Tanjug reported…

Serbia's mining industry recorded an increase of 4.7% - (Balkans) Serbia's Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said tonight that the Company "Power Plants and Mines Kostolac" is an example of how investments can solve an economic crisis and increase the number of employees, which is now the most important task of the government of Serbia…

Armenia

European Integration Unlikely To End Armenia's Alliance With Russia – (Radio Free Europe) Armenia's traditionally strong relationship with Russia is facing arguably its biggest-ever test as Yerevan is inching closer to a historic Association Agreement with the European Union…

Prices for services in Armenia rise 5% in July – (ARKA) Prices for services in Armenia rose 5% in July, compared with June, mainly due to 12.1% increase in prices for utilities, the National Statistical Service of Armenia reports…

Azerbaijan

World oil and gas industry leaders to discuss latest developments and opportunities in Azerbaijan – (Trend) Thought to be the oldest oil-producing region in the world, it is unsurprising that "Today, offshore Caspian has become one of the world's leading hydrocarbon provinces", Oliver Kinross company reported…

Azerbaijan increases production of electricity – (APA) In July of this year, about 1.8 billion kW / h electricity has been produced in Azerbaijan’s energy system (+5.9%), Azerenerji told APA.  This figure soared 20% compared to June, 2013…

Number of gas consumers in Azerbaijan increases by over 5 percent – (Trend) As of August 1, the number of gas consumers amounted to 1,561,750, of which 1,542,742 belong to the category of the population, while the remaining 19,008 are subscribers from other categories, according to a statement released by SOCAR's production association (PA) Azerigaz on Tuesday…

TAP submits Environmental and Social Impact Assessment to the authorities in Greece – (APA) After almost four years of intensive pipeline route selection and refinement in Greece, TAP has submitted its comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) to the Ministry of Energy, Environment and Climate Change, the consortium told APA-Economics.

Output stabilises at main Azeri oilfields – (Reuters) Output from Azerbaijan's crucial Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG) oilfields has stabilised this year near average 2012 levels, with first-half output of 672,000 barrels a day up from 662,000 in the first quarter, official figures confirmed this week.

Over 12 billion kW/h of electricity generated in Azerbaijan in Jan.-July – (Trend) In January-July, Azerenergy JSC (production and distribution of electricity in Azerbaijan) generated more than 12.6 billion kilowatt/hours of electricity compared to about 12.8 billion kilowatt/hours over the same period in 2012, according to a statement released by Azerenergy on Wednesday…

Gas and Grid Codes to appear in Azerbaijan after adoption of laws on electricity and gas supply – (abc.az) Azerbaijan does not refuse from its obligations as a participant of the European Energy Charter.  A government source says that Azerbaijan has already started creating the legal framework for the application of the third energy package of the EU…

Azerbaijani oil prices down on August 6  -(Trend) On August 6, the price of AZERI LT CIF Augusta was $111.66 per barrel, or $1.13 per barrel less, compared to the previous price, according to…

Georgia

Georgia Seeks Expanded Role as Caspian Energy Corridor – (Oil and Price) For energy bereft countries, the next best thing is to position your nation as a transit nation crisscrossed by a skein of pipelines, in order to extract transportation fees from producers and end market consumers…

Georgia needs a competent energy strategy – (Democracy & Freedom Watch) Georgia is an energy dependent country – with 65% of energy demand being covered from external sources. Despite the richness in hydropower resources Georgia still has a negative balance even in electricity import-export…

Progress Through Pragmatism in Georgia – (Wall Street Journal) Five years after a disastrous conflict with Russia in August 2008, a fifth of Georgia's territory remains occupied, behind barbed wire…

Moldova

Relations between Romania and R. Moldova, in constant ascension – (Bsanna) The relations between Romania and the Republic of Moldova are 'in constant ascension' and the main objectives aim at the assistance Bucharest grants to Chisinau in the process of European integration and in implementing the bilateral energy projects, Ambassador Iurie Renita told Agerpres…

Rompetrol increases the number of petrol stations in the Republic of Moldova and Bulgaria  - (Act Media) The Rompetrol group, controlled by KazMunayGas from Kazahkstan opened this year 12 petrol stations in the Republic of Moldova and Bulgaria, reaching 114 filling stations in the two states, and intends before the end of the year to open another six…

Russia

Siemens wins major power order for Yamal LNG project in Russia – (Penn Energy) Siemens (NYSE: SI) will deliver the key components for a power station that is going to supply the future Yamal LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) production plant in Northern Russia with electricity and heat…

Energy Diet for Russian Regions – (Pravda) On August 1st, 2013, seven Russian regions will undertake another social experiment. The government introduced the social norm for consumption of electricity and, regardless of the outcome of the experiment, in 2014 social normalization will be implemented in all regions…

IFC supports renewable projects in Russia’s rural areas – (Energy Live News) The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has pledged to bring renewable energy to households in rural areas in Russia…

Russia’s Gas Exports to Europe Surge in July – (Energy Tribune) Gazprom increased gas exports to Europe, its main source of revenues, by almost a third in July, even as consumers in Europe struggle to loosen dependence on Russia’s top gas producer…

Russia's gas production has declined by 0.3 percent this year – (Russia Media) Gas production in Russia has since the beginning of the year declined by 0.3 percent to 381.7 billion cubic meters compared to the same period in 2012, reports the news agency ITAR-TASS…

Russia Tightens Grip as Armenia Moves Closer to Europe – (Asbarez) Like many former Soviet-states, Armenia has recently pursued closer relations with the EU, much to Russia’s displeasure. Hayk Hovhannisyan looks at Russia’s increasingly punitive stance towards Armenia, such as increasing gas prices and greater arms sales to Armenia’s rival, Azerbaijan…

Turkey

Energy bourse ‘should be based’ in Istanbul – (Daily News) Turkey’s planned energy bourse, which should especially be based in Istanbul, will make a significant contribution to the country’s potential to be able to make an annual $10 billion of investments in energy, chief-economist of the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Birol said yesterday…

Turkey's energy watchdog seizes control of Osmangazi power grid – (Daily News) Turkey’s energy watchdog has seized control of the Osmangazi Electricity Distribution Grid on the grounds that it has been failing to fulfill its duties…

Turkey’s Genel Energy Stands by Oil Contract in Kurdistan Region – (Rudaw) Turkey’s privately-owned Genel Energy says it stands behind its oil contract with the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), despite political tensions between Baghdad and Erbil over the issue…

Turkey's energy imports fall first time – (World Bulletin) Turkey's energy imports have fallen in the first half of 2013, a first since 2009 when a severe global economic crisis crippled world markets…

Has TAP ended the pipeline wars in the Southern Corridor? – (Turkish Weekly) The Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP) project was announced in November of 2011. On 26 June 2012, Azerbaijan and Turkey signed an official agreement in Istanbul…

Turkey has no plan to cut Iran oil imports: Energy minister – (Press TV) Speaking to reporters on Thursday Yildiz said Turkey’s oil imports from Iran stand between 5.5-6 million tons per day (around 105,000 barrels), noting, it “is not within our plans” to trim that figure…

Turkey, KRG pipeline to finish ‘end of 2013’ – (Daily News) The pipeline that will carry oil from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to Turkey will be completed by the end of this year, Anglo-Turkish oil and gas independent Genel Energy has said…

Voith lands €30m Turkish hydro – (Re News) German company Voith has landed a €30m deal to supply three 202MW Francis turbines for the Upper Kaleköy hydro plant in eastern Turkey…

Facility to transmit gas between Turkey’s east and west goes online – (Daily News) A natural gas compressor, which will enable the transmission of gas between Turkey’s east and west, started operations on Aug. 1.

Ukraine

Naftogaz Subsidies Bleed Ukraine as President’s Options Wane – (Bloomberg) Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych sees state-run NAK Naftogaz Ukrainy delivering energy independence. International lenders see the company as a money pit that posted losses for six of the past eight years…

Ukraine counts on WB support for new investment projects – (Forum) The Economic Development Ministry agreed with the World Bank to expand its portfolio of projects. The agreement was reached during a meeting between economic development and trade minister of Ukraine Ihor Prasolova with World Bank Director for Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, Europe and Central Asia, Mr. Fang Qimiao…

Is the next energy hub in Ukraine? – (The Christian Science Monitor) With energy as its motor and the EU as its guide, Ukraine appears to finally be poised to break with a history of domination from the East, Belinksi writes…

Government approves updated Energy Strategy of Ukraine until 2030 – (Kyiv Post) The Cabinet of Ministers at a meeting on July 24 approved the updated Energy Strategy of Ukraine until 2030, Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Eduard Stavytsky told reporters in Kyiv on Thursday…

Early success for Ukrainian fracking – (UPI) An energy company operating in Ukraine said it completed the first of nine stages of hydraulic fracturing operations in search of natural gas…

Newly Appointed U.S. Ambassador Arrives In Ukraine – (Ukrainian News Agency) The newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt, has arrived in Kyiv today, August 3, the press-service of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine said in the press-release…

Government approves updated Energy Strategy of Ukraine until 2030 – (NRCU) The Cabinet of Ministers at a meeting on July 24 approved the updated Energy Strategy of Ukraine until 2030, Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Eduard Stavytsky told reporters in Kyiv on Thursday…

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.