Albania

CEZ puts troubled Albanian unit on the block – (BNE) With the Albanian energy regulator due to rule on a request by the government to revoke CEZ's operating license in the country, the Czech utility said on December 17 that it is putting its troubled Albanian subsidiary up for sale. However, CEZ could find it tricky to negotiate a route out of the country… 

Albanian regulator to revoke CEZ's distribution licence – (Power Engineering) Albanian energy regulator ERE is starting a procedure to revoke Czech utility CEZ's electricity distributor licence in Albania, ERE confirmed on Monday…

 TAP plans to start offshore surveys in Adriatic Sea – (Trend) Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) plans to start offshore surveys in the Adriatic Sea this winter in order to collect additional data and samples to identify optimal offshore routing, TAP reported on Wednesday…

Bulgaria

Bulgarian Energy Experts Expect New Power Price Hike in 2013 – (Novinite) Bulgarian energy experts predict a new increase in electricity prices in 2013. In July 2012, power rates went up by 13%, not by 10%, as initially expected…

Bulgarian President Opposes Recommended Nuclear Energy Policy – (Oil Price) As the global nuclear energy industry at present is recovering from the potential death blows of the 11 March 2011 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that destroyed Japan’s six reactor Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex, the battleground for nuclear power’s future seems increasingly to be shifting to Central and Eastern Europe…

Bulgarian Energy Holding Probed by EU Over Power Contracts – (Bloomberg Business Week) Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD faces a formal antitrust probe by European Union regulators over possible monopoly abuse in the electricity industry…

Construction of Bulgaria-Greece Gas Link to Start in March 2013 – (Novinite) The construction of the Bulgaria-Greece gas grid interconnection is to start in March 2013, according to Prime Minister Boyko Borisov…

Mechel sells Bulgarian CHPP Toplofikatsia Rousse for 27.7 mln euro – (Cogeneration) OJSC Mechel (RTS: MTLR) has signed an agreement to sell 100% of its combined heat and power plant (CHPP) Toplofikatsia Rousse to the private Bulgarian energy company Toplofikatsia Pleven for 27.7 million euro based on the value of share capital, Mechel said in a press release…

Bosnia

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Forum on solar energy to be held in Tuzla – (Balkans) Forum on solar energy, “Possibilities and prospects of solar energy in BiH” will be held today in Tuzla.  The forum will take place in two segments, as panel discussions designed into three thematic sections and as an exhibition, demonstration workshop for the production of solar panels…

Poland's Rafako eyes energy projects in Bosnia and Serbia – (Balkans) Rafako, which has recently entered the short list of contractors for building Tuzla power station in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is also interested in the planned construction of two power units of a total capacity of up to 800 MW in Nikola Tesla power station in Serbia, Polish News Bulletin reported…

Bosnia and Herzegovina: New Generation Power plans to invest billions of dollars in HPPs – (Balkans) US power company New Generation Power has agreed to invest billions of dollars to build hydropower plants in the Serb half of Bosnia-Herzegovina, local media reported on Friday, Xinhua reported…

Croatia

Croatia’s bold energy plans face uncertain future – (Business News Europe) Croatia is one of the world's most energy-import dependent countries, yet there's an increasingly mixed outlook for the ambitious investment…

Italy's ABS wants more favourable terms for energy supply from HEP – (Dalje) The Italian Acciaierie Bertoli Safau (ABS) company, a division of the large industrial holding Danieli company and new owner of the Sisak Steel Mill in Croatia, recently launched a trial production run in the Sisak Steel Mill and before investing some EUR 100 it is necessary to resolve a series of problems, such as obtaining numerous permits and making a deal with the Croatian power company HEP about the steel mill's status as a large electricity consumer, was said after today's meeting between ABS officials and Sisal-Moslavina County Prefect Marina Lovric Merzel…

Macedonia

The Biggest Macedonian Energy Company Chose Grah Lighting LED Solutions – (Solid State Lighting design) Macedonian energy company Makpetrol has been continuing joint project with LED lighting manufacturer Grah Lighting, which they started together last year. The first petrol station along the highway Skopje–Gevgelija was an important stepping stone for further collaboration…

Macedonia gets three candidates for Skopje district heating licences –( Cogenerations) Three candidates have applied for licences to providing district heating to the Macedonian capital city of Skopje, Dnevnik daily reported. Bids were invited after Skopje-based heating utility Toplifikacija gave up its licence for producing…

Montenegro

Montenegro granted observer status at Energy Charter organization – (dtt-net) The tiny Western Balkans country became on Tuesday an observer member of the Energy Charter organization, which… 

Heavy snow keeps Balkans in deep freeze – (the Miami Herald) Blizzards blocked roads, stranded villages, disrupted power supplies and temporarily shut down an airport in the Balkans on Tuesday, the fourth straight day of tough winter weather in the region of southeastern Europe…

Romania

Romanian power market operator OPCOM trades almost 1 mln green certificates in 2012 – (Romania Insider) Over 30,000 green certificates were traded in the first session in December 2012 on the centralized Green Certificate Market, according to data publishes by the Romanian power market operator OPCOM…

Statistics: Romania's electricity resources decrease 3 percent, in first ten months – (Actmedia) Romania's electricity resources decreased 3 percent, from January to October 2012, while final consumption increased 0.2 percent, as reveal the provisional data released by the National Institute of Statistics (INS)…

Romania opens Europe’s biggest onshore wind farm – (PEI) The CEZ Romania-owned wind park is powered by 240 GE turbines and is the largest onshore wind power project on the planet…

Black Sea "Perfect Storm" Damages Romanian Nuke Plant, Wind Farm – (Oil Price) Unprecedented storm wreaks havoc on Romania’s energy sector – yet another sign of changing global weather patterns?  Ever since an earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011 effectively destroyed Japan’s six reactor Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex, and more recently, Hurricane Sandy forced the shutdown of NPPs along the eastern seaboard of the U.S., increasingly violent weather patterns have become a matter of rising concern to operators of NPPs worldwide…

Gildemeister wins €29.2 million deal for PV plants and energy storage technology – (PV Tech) Gildemeister will deliver PV power plants and energy storage technology in Romania, Germany and Italy. Image: Gildemeister.  The Energy Solutions division of German technology manufacturer Gildemeister has been awarded contracts worth €29.2 million (US$38.5 million) to deliver PV power plants and energy storage technology in Romania, Germany and Italy…

Romanian wind energy on a high as 600MW onshore wind farm comes online – (Renewable Energy Focus) Czech developer CEZ Group has brought Europe’s largest onshore wind farm into full operation…

CEZ 600MW wind farm goes live in Romania – (Newnet) CEZ Group’s 600MW Fantanele/Cogealac wind park is now fully operational, providing over one million Romanian households with clean energy per year…

Serbia

Serbian grid operator, EPEX mull setting up SEE power exchange – (Reuters) Serbian grid operator EMS and the Paris-based EPEX power exchange are exploring how to set up a regional Southeast Europe power exchange to boost competition and security of supply in the Balkans, EMS said on Friday…

Serbia Sees Up to $16 Billion in Energy, Environment Investments – (Bloomberg) Serbia expects investments in its power and recycling plants may be worth 7 billion euros ($9.2 billion) to 12 billion euros over the next 10 years…

Serbia raising incentives for hydroelectric development – (Hydro World) A new renewable energy development plan could reward small hydroelectric development with higher incentives, HydroWorld.com has learned…

Serbia and Bulgaria ink EU-funded pipeline deal – (B92) BELGRADE -- Serbian and Bulgarian PMs Ivica Dačić and Boyko Borisov signed a EUR 120 million contract for the construction of a gas pipeline…

Serbia Lifts Hydro Power Incentives, Cut Wind, Solar Fees – (Bloomberg) Serbia plans to increase incentives for electricity produced in small hydroelectric plants and cut feed-in tariffs for wind farms and solar parks to boost power generation from renewable sources…

Gazprom Neft Unit to Build Wind Farm in Serbia – (The Moscow Times) A Gazprom Neft-controlled energy company will help build Serbia's first wind farm, the company said.  Naftna Industrija Serbia, which is 56.5 percent controlled by Gazprom Neft, signed a deal last week with Serbian Energowind to build a wind farm in Plandiste, Serbia…

Armenia

Gazprom increases price for Armenia – (The Messenger Online) Armenia’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister– Armen Movsisian, said on December 13, Russian state controlled company Gazprom is planning to increase the price of natural gas for Armenia…

Gazprom insists on raising the price of gas for Armenia in 2013 – (Public Radio of Armenia) Russian Gazprom Company insists on raising the price of the gas supplied to Armenia in 2013, Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan told reporters today…

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan's energy potential discussed in Washington – (News.az) The US policy in the South Caucasus, Russia's role in the regional balance of power, the prospects for peace efforts in Karabakh and the EU Southern Corridor - these topics were the focus of discussion in Washington on Monday at an international conference organized by the Jamestown Foundation, reports The Voice of America…

Azerbaijani President renews alternative energy challenge – (abc.az) Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The 25.2 MW Fizuli hydropower station was opened in Azerbaijan with the participation of President Ilham Aliyev. Construction of the station was started in 2008 by Azenco…

Azerbaijan makes important contribution to Europe's energy security – envoy – (News.az) The Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be resolved on the basis of two principles of international law - territorial integrity and self-determination…

SOCAR touts TANAP at Westminster meeting – (UPI) The president of Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR says it is ready to move ahead with a trans-Anatolian natural gas pipeline after parliamentary approval…

Azerbaijani minister attends Energy Charter Conference – (News.az) From Azerbaijan, the event was attended by Industry and Energy Minister Natig Aliyev, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Poland Hasan Hasanov and department head of the Industry and Energy Ministry Ramiz Rzayev, Gun.Az reports referring to the Azerbaijani Embassy in Poland…

EU-Azeri energy ties lauded in Brussels – (UPI) Cooperation between the European Union and Azerbaijan in the energy sector is "bearing fruit," a European diplomat said…

ADB ready to include alternative energy in its strategy on Azerbaijan– (abc.az) Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is ready to include alternative energy in its strategy on Azerbaijan.  ADB country representative Olli Noroyono has stated that use of renewable and alternative energy sources in view of its economic importance may be one of the priorities of the 5-year Country Partnership Strategy (CPS), which the Bank hopes to adopt in 2013…

Fears not eased over Armenian nuke plant – (News.az) Armenia’s Metsamor nuclear plant remains a great concern for Turkey and neighbors…

Georgia

Georgian Energy Minister examines energy system transition schedule – (Trend) Georgian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Kakha Kaladze is visiting the Gardabani 500 substation. The Ministry of Energy reported that the minister has examined the current operations being conducted at the substation…

'Azerbaijan and Georgia successfully implement infrastructural projects' – (News.az) The statement came from Transport Minister of Azerbaijan Ziya Mammadov at a reception on the 20th anniversary of relations between the two countries…

Georgia’s negations with Russian Inter RAO on electricity tariffs nearing completion – (Trend) Negotiations on tariffs for electricity with the Russian company Inter RAO are underway and a statement will be made in the coming days, Georgian Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze said on Tuesday…

Georgian Telasi company’s employees go on strike – (Trend) All offices of Tbilisi electricity distribution company Telasi, owned by the Russian company RAO UES were closed in Tbilisi on Tuesday. All the employees of the company, except those who ensure supply of electricity to the city and emergency crews, went on strike…

Georgia not to abandon major HPP construction – (Trend) Georgia does not abandon the projects on major HPP construction, Georgian Deputy Energy and Natural Resources Minister Marika Valishvili…

Director General of Georgian Telasi appointed – (Trend) The Supervisory Board of JSC Telasi confirmed the head of generating enterprises of the INTER RAO UES in Georgia, (Ltd Mtkvari Energy, JSC Hrami HPP-1 JSC and Hrami HPP-2) Devi Kandelaki as the new CEO, the company said…

Russia

The Russian Power Revolution – (Power) In recent years, while Europe and the U.S. grappled with the problem of securing future environmentally sound energy supplies, the booming economies of China, India, and Brazil stole the global power spotlight with frenzied activity to expand their power infrastructures to meet exploding demand. Meanwhile, the Russian Federation shares the predicaments of all these regions…

Gazprom wants special case for its pipelines from EU energy package – (RT) Gazprom wants its two major projects – South Stream and Nord Stream – to be granted exceptions from the EU third energy package, seeking to retain control over their transportation capacity…

RusHydro Bolstering Payout as Dividends Trail: Russia Overnight – (Bloomberg) OAO RusHydro (RSHYY), Russia’s state-run hydropower producer, is seeking to exceed a government target for shareholder payouts in the next five years, more than tripling dividend yields that are among the lowest of its peers…

Turkey

Turkey: Challenges in renewables – (Oxford Business Group) As the Turkish government drums up support for investment in renewable energy, international firms continue to face significant challenges in conducting environmental impact studies, securing funding and acquiring licences…

Anticipated Renewable Energy Targets for the Turkish Republic’s 100th Anniversary – (Balkanalysis) Turkey’s AKP government plans to base its election campaigning on the slogan “Turkey Is Ready: The Target is 2023.” The importance being given to the renewable energy sector by the government, which plans to accomplish impressive energy projects in time for the centennial anniversary of the Turkish Republic, is indicated clearly in the following quote..

Turkey's Energy Minister Says his Country is Environment Friendly – (Turkish Weekly) "Energy projects in Turkey are not realized despite the environment but with the environment. Almost 500 million tonnes of coal reserves have been discovered in Turkey recently, but they were not activated due to environmental concerns," Yildiz told a Turkey-Germany Renewable Energy Cooperation Forum in Istanbul…

Turkey privatisation plan boosted by sale – (FT) Turkey’s stuttering privatisation programme was given a well-needed boost with the sale on Friday of the country’s biggest regional electricity distribution company…

A Turkish-Kurdish Gas Deal Would Have Enormous Implications – (Rudaw) With or without Baghdad’s approval, in all likelihood Turkey will turn to Iraqi Kurdistan to feed a growing appetite for gas, and this will have enormous implications for the future of the energy-rich autonomous enclave…

Turkey to create energy market management company – (Trend) With regard to the energy exchange project, this has already been sent to the Turkish parliament for approval. The exchange can be created six…

ADB funded Jhampir wind project completed, over 106 MW wind power to be included in national grid system next month – (Business Recorder) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Funded 56.4 Megawatt Wind Power Project Jhampir would start generating electricity from next month as the implementing Company has completed all necessary work in this regard…

Ukraine

Bad weather leaves 577 Ukrainian settlements without electricity– (forum) During December 11 and at night of December 12, 577 settlements in five regions of Ukraine were left without electricity due to the unfavorable weather conditions, the press service of the Emergencies Ministry reports…

Energoatom borrows EBRD funds to enhance safety at Ukrainian nuclear power plants – (KyivPost) A loan borrowed by NJSC Energoatom from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will let the company fully implement a comprehensive program for enhancing safety at Ukraine's nuclear power plants (NPPs)…

Ensuring Ukraine's energy independence among Azarov's priorities – (KyivPost) Ukraine's Acting Prime Minister and newly elected premier Mykola Azarov has said that expanding economic freedoms and bolstering energy independence will be among his government's priorities…

Ukraine cancels gas talks ahead of EU-Russia summit – (EurActiv) Ukraine's president pulled out of gas price talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the last minute on Tuesday (18 December), raising concern about the reliability of supplies to Europe before a Russia-EU summit…

21 billions attracted in Ukraine’s energy efficiency – (Forum) Ukraine has attracted 21 billion USD of investment funds in field of energy efficiency and renewable energy for the last two years, chairman of the State Agency for Energy Efficiency Mykola Pashkevych told a briefing before the Cabinet’s meeting, ForUm correspondent reports…

Linc Energy studying potential for Ukraine underground coal gasification – (Proactiveinvestors) Linc Energy (ASX: LNC) has signed a deal with DTEK Oil and Gas to jointly evaluate potential underground coal gasification (UCG) projects in Ukraine…

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