USEA Upcoming Events

February 4-5, 2015: USAID/USEA Southeast Europe Distribution System Operator (DSO) Security of Supply Working Group Meeting Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

February 6, 2015: USAID/USEA Southeast Europe Cooperation Initiative Transmission System Planning Project (SECI) Working Group Meeting Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

March 2015: USAID/USEA Black Sea Regional Transmission System Planning Project Working Group Meeting Bucharest, Romania

Energy security is a topic of growing concern to the Western Balkans – (Balkans) Energy security is a topic of growing concern to many EU countries and the Western Balkans, here defined as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia,  could play a role in improving that security through possible investment in liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals and new gas pipelines…

The Western Balkans and EU energy security – (The Financial) Energy security is a topic of growing concern to many EU countries and the Western Balkans, here defined as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia, could play a role in improving that security through possible investment in liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals and new gas pipelines…

Albania to invest 50 mln dollars to improve energy distribution – (Shangahai Daily) Albania's energy distribution company said on Wednesday that it would invest over 50 million U.S. dollars this year to improve its distribution network.  "We will start an investment plan of over 50 million U.S. dollars aiming at the improvement of the distribution network, the quality of supply and reduction of technical losses," said Adrian Cela, administrator of Albanian Energy Distribution Network Operator (OSHEE)…

Albania's energy distribution plans to invest over 50 million US dollars this year to improve its distribution network – (Balkans) Albania's energy distribution company said on Wednesday that it would invest over 50 million US dollars this year to improve its distribution network.  "We will start an investment plan of over 50 million US dollars aiming at the improvement of the distribution network, the quality of supply and reduction of technical losses," said Adrian Cela, administrator of Albanian Energy Distribution Network Operator (OSHEE)…

Albania to modernize electricity system for halting theft, over-billing – (Dtt-Net) Albanian government today announced a new five-year plan to modernize its electricity system aimed at ending theft by consumers but also over-billing by distribution companies…

Bulgaria

Bulgaria’s Energy Ministry, Watchdog Mull Measures to Prevent Power Price Hike in April – (Novinite) Svetla Todorova, Chair of Bulgaria’s State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR), has assured that the Energy Ministry is doing its best to adopt short-term measures aimed at preventing an increase in power rates in April…

Electricity companies kept to rules on billing periods – energy minister – (The Sofia Globe) Checks of energy distribution companies had established that in more than 99 per cent of cases, the companies kept to the rule that the billing period could not be longer than 31 days, Bulgaria’s Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova said…

Bulgaria may face electricity supply shortages in February – (ICIS) Traders fear potentially tight electricity supply on Bulgaria’s free market in February because of low sales from state-owned utility NEK.  NEK is one of the three main sellers on the market. It offers non-standard and peakload volumes, usually via monthly tenders…

Bulgaria energy watchdog proposes cut in preferential purchase prices of wood biomass energy (ROUNDUP) – (Focus) Bulgaria’s State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC) proposes a decrease in the preferential purchase prices of electric energy produced from wood biomass, it became clear at Thursday’s sitting of the institution, which was dedicated to a public discussion of a report on setting preferential prices of electric energy produced from renewable energy sources, FOCUS News Agency reported…

Bulgarian MPs Approve Splitting Energy Watchdog into 2 Subsections – (Novinite) Bulgaria's energy regulator DKEVR could be divided into two subcommittees, one on energy and one on water, under a new bill approved at a first reading on Tuesday.  The new draft legislation could also result in changes to how its members are being appointed. Currently they are picked by the government, but the main ruling party, conservative GERB, had been planning for some time to redirect this function to MPs…

BULGARIA: PM BORISSOV WARNS OF ENERGY ‘CATASTROPHE’ – (Eurasia Review) Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov paid a visit to the European Commission today (12 January) to sound the alarm over his country’s energy resources, following the freezing of the South Stream project. In particular, he warned that if Russia drags its feet over the rehabilitation of Bulgaria’s two nuclear reactors, this would be a “catastrophe” for the country…

Kerry to Travel to Bulgaria to Discuss Energy, Trade: US State Department – (Sputnik International) US Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Bulgaria next week to discuss energy, security and trade issues, US Department of State spokesperson Jen Psaki said in a statement on Friday.  "Secretary Kerry will travel to Sofia, Bulgaria, to discuss security cooperation, energy diversification, and the bilateral trade and investment relationship," Psaki announced…

Kerry focus on energy, security, corruption in Bulgaria – (Reuters) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will encourage Bulgaria to rely less on Russian energy and to tackle corruption on Thursday as the two NATO allies announced the launch of an annual strategic dialogue…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia, Montenegro agree to comply with EU electricity rules – (Dtt-Net) Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Montenegro have agreed to be part of the Europe's electricity body which manages and coordinates allocation of electricity capacity for cros-border exchange/transport, thus avoiding penalties from the EU's Energy Community agency…

Croatia

Croatia: EFT Gets Permit for Power Trade Extended – (Energetika) HERA also approved the new Rules on the Natural Gas Market Organisation (MORE).In October 2014, HERA extended the permits of GEN-I and RWE (MORE)…

Zagreb to Borrow HRK 2.3 Million for Energy Efficiency Projects – (Energetika) The funds will be used for financing the Zagreb Energy Efficient City (ZagEE) project, the government said on Thursday. The goal of this project is to reach annual energy savings amounting to 33,526 MWh…

Kosovo

Kosovo citizens protest against electricty prices hike – (dtt-net) Thousands of vulnerable Kosovan citizens protested today in capital Prishtina against new increase of electricity prices with three of protesters arrested by the police…

World Bank signs Kosovo loans on healthcare, energy efficiency – (dtt-net) World bank and Kosovo signed today two loans on healthcare reforms and energy efficiency projects, both worth of Euro 45 millions…

Macedonia

Macedonia to design a 30 year energy strategy – (Dtt-Net) Macedonian economic chamber and energy agency are to launch consultations to design a proposal to the government on country's energy strategy for 2015-2035 period…

Montenegro

Electricity Consumption of Montenegrin Households up 19% – (Energetika) The bills of household consumers averaged EUR 40.2. In November the average electricity bill for households was EUR 34.40.About 1.6% of households had to pay more than EUR 150 for their electricity…

Share of RES in Electricity in Montenegro Reaches 49%, in Serbia 37.8% – (Energetika) Serbia aims to achieve a 27% share of RES in gross final energy consumption in 2020. According to data from Serbia's Ministry of Mining and Energy, its share of RES is falling. In 2012, the share of energy from…

Montenegro's CGES to Auction Transmission Capacities for February 2015 – (Energetika) The submission of bids is scheduled for 9:00 to 11:00 AM. All non-used monthly capacities will be offered on daily auctions.Find information about the available capacities…

Energy Community Closes Dispute Settlement Procedures against BiH and Montenegro – (Energetika) The infringement proceedings were initiated with opening letters sent on 20 January 2011 to Albania, BiH, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. According to the Energy Community, these proceedings concern…

Romania

Romania’s shale opportunities and public perception – (Azernews) Quite recently, in the middle of the presidential campaign, Romanian Prime Minister Ponta said that there was no shale gas in the country, despite the research not yet having been analysed or finished. Mr Ponta himself had said earlier that preliminary exploration of the reservesshould take around five years…

E.ON merges distribution companies in Romania – (Romania-Insider) Romania’s first integrated distributor of natural gas and electricity, E.ON Distribution Romania, began operations on January 1.  The new company operates a natural gas distribution network of over 20,000 km, an electricity distribution network of over 80,000 km, and has about 3 million customers…

Serbia

Serbia's Kostolac power plant restarts 350 MW unit after upgrade – (The Economic Times) An upgraded 350 megawatt (MW) unit at Serbia's Kostolac B coal-fired power plant, taken offline for a planned overhaul on Feb. 28 last year, was reconnected to the grid at full capacity on Wednesday, the plant's spokesman said…

Serbia's TENT power plant delays restart of 305 MW unit again – (Reuters) Serbia's largest coal-fired power plant complex, Nikola Tesla (TENT), said on Thursday a 305 megawatt (MW) unit would remain offline until Jan. 22 due to delays during work on the electro-filter…

EPS Fixing Tenders For Billing Of Electricity? – (inNews) Electric Power Industry of Serbia (EPS) announced a tender for a contract worth 15 million euros in which contains conditions suitable only to one foreign company while domestic companies are eliminated, Serbian daily “Blic” reports…

EBRD and EIB Consider Financing Alibunar A Wind Farm in Serbia – (Energetika) The consultant will have the role of lenders’ engineer and provide possible lenders with a report on the technical aspects and risks of the project in order to enable them to assess whether the company will…

Serbia: Construction of Unit B3 of Kostolac TPP to Start in First Half of 2015 – (Energetika) ʺWe are making final corrections and adjustments of functional groups and production processes in Unit B1. We expect that this thermal power plant will start operating in a few days following the large revital...

Russia's Gazprom to use same gas monopoly strategy in Turkey as it did with Bulgaria, Serbia – (dtt-net) Russian gas giant Gazprom has launched the same monopoly strategy with its recently announced gas pipeline through Turkey mainly aimed reaching EU consumers by approaching it near the EU borders, Greece, as it did with failed South Stream project in Bulgaria and Serbia…

Armenia 

Electric power prices in Armenia unlikely to be raised – energy ministry – (ARKA) Electric power prices in Armenia are unlikely to be raised, Armenian Energy and Natural Resources Minister Yervand Zakharyan told journalists today.  On August 1, 2014, consumer prices for electricity in Armenia were raised from 38 drams to 41.85 drams per one KWh for daytime consumption and from 28 drams to 31.85 drams for nighttime consumption…

Energy Minister on possible increase of electricity and gas prices – (Panorama AM) Electricity producing companies, electric networks and companies supplying energy carriers suffer losses due to the depreciation of the national currency, Yervand Zakharyan, Armenia’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, said on Wednesday…

Construction of new power unit of Armenian nuclear power plant to begin in 2018 – (Trend) The construction of the new power unit of the Armenian nuclear power plant will begin in 2018, Armenian Energy Minister Yervand Zakarian was quoted by the Armenian media at a press conference Jan. 14.  He recalled that the Armenian-Russian intergovernmental agreement was signed in Moscow on January 20, 2014…

Reconstruction of Armenian nuclear power plant to begin in 2017 – (ARKA) The reconstruction of the Armenian NPP will begin in the spring of 2017 and will last for about six months, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Yervand Zakaryan told a news conference today…

Nairit Plant to re-launch if CB approves – (ARMENPRESS) The specialists of the World Bank will shortly arrive in Yerevan and hold technical audit in the nairit Plant.  This was stated by the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Armenia…

U.S.-Armenian Energy Deal ‘Back On Track’ – (Azatutyun) The Armenian government said on Wednesday that it is close to completing the sale of the country’s largest hydroelectric complex to a U.S. energy company, which was controversial delayed last year.  Under the takeover agreement signed in January 2014, the New York-based group ContourGlobal was to pay $180 million for three hydroelectric plants making up the Vorotan Hydro Cascade and invest another US$70m in their modernization…

Vorotan hydro cascade deal to be finalized within month – minister – (ARKA) Vorotan hydro cascade deal will be finalized within a month, Armenia’s minister of energy and natural resources Yervand Zakharyan told reporters on Wednesday…

Russia loans Armenia $270 million for power plant expansion – (Interfax) Russia has approved an export loan of $270 million to Armenia to finance the development of an extension project at the Metsamor nuclear power plant.  The debt will mature over a 15-year tenor, according to a statement by the Russian government…

Azerbaijan

Technical losses in Baku electric system for 2014 reached 7.4% – (ABC.AZ) Main retail electricity supplier of Azerbaijan, Bakıelektrikşəbəkə OJSC (Baku Electric Network) has published the preliminary results for 2014.  According to the Company, last year technical power losses in the BEN network amounted to 7.4%...

Azerbaijan has prepared a state program on technical regulation of energy efficiency – (ABC.AZ) The State Committee for Standardization, Metrology & Patents of Azerbaijan has developed the Draft State Program on Technical Regulation of Energy Efficiency.  According to the Committee, the Draft State Program of Technical Regulation, Standardization & Conformity Assessment System Development in the field of Energy Saving & Energy Efficiency…

Will oil price decline impact development in Azerbaijan? – (Turkish Weekly) Azerbaijan had been making a gradual transition to a more liberal economy. Turkey, as one of its most important trading partners, was getting the full advantage of the transition, particularly involved in the development of the Shah Deniz gas field in the Caspian Sea and the construction of the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline…

Southern Gas Corridor to go ahead with no delay – (Azernews) Declining oil prices in the global markets has contributed to hot debates over the realization of major energy projects. But the recent developments in the oil and gas market have not affected the implementation of the projects in the Southern Gas Corridor, launched in Baku last September…

Azerbaijan prepares for construction within major gas pipeline project – (Trend) In Azerbaijan and Georgia, contractors have already begun all the necessary to diversify its hydrocarbon supply sources and strengthen energy security and…

Russia buries South Stream and plans to cease gas transit through Europe – (Vestnik Kavkaza) Russia has been forced to adapt to new rules set by the West, as stated by Chairman of the Gazprom Board of Directors Alexey Miller, adding that the topic of the South Stream was closed for good and gas transit through Ukraine will end. Russia and Europe will resume the energy dialogue, their foreign ministers will meet on January 19…

Turkey, Azerbaijan hail TANAP Project – (Turkish Weekly) Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey and Azerbaijan will boost their strategic importance though the Trans Anatolia Natural Gas Pipeline, or TANAP…

Azerbaijan declares 22% fall in its oil and gas resources – (ABC.AZ) Azerbaijan has announced that in December prices for its oil and gas resources fell by 22.4%.  According to the State Statistics Committee, last month wholesale industrial prices in the country declined by 19.6%, including in the extractive industry by 22.3% and in manufacturing by 2.1%...

Georgia

Georgia Wary of Russia’s Moves on Poti Oil Port – (Silk Road Reporters) Ten months on from Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the impact of Western and Russian countervailing sanctions is becoming more and more evident.  But for nations of the post-Soviet space, their ongoing geographical proximity to Russia has produced policy shifts from the realpolitik of that reality….

Georgia to build an energy hub in Supsa, but without Russia’s involvement – (The Messenger Online) Giorgi Chanturia, the former head of the Georgian gas corporation, says Georgia has a great potential to be turned into a regional energy hub. Chanturia has been working on developing the idea for some time now. The potential energy hub once again became a topic of discussion after Chanturia’s interview was released by the Russian media sources…

 

Georgia plans to build refinery in Poti – (Trend) The government of Georgia plans to build an oil refinery not in Supsa, but in Poti, the First Deputy Economy Minister of Georgia Dimitry Kumsishvili told reporters Jan.8.  He was commenting on the information of the ex-head of the Georgian International Oil Corporation (GIOC) Giorgi Chanturia that it is planned to create an energy hub in Supsa, including the construction of a refinery…

Investments in oil production in Georgia for 2 years exceed $135.4 M – (Trend) The volume of investments made in the field of oil and gas in Georgia for 2 years, exceeded $135.4 million, said the report of the ministry of energy of Georgia…

Moldova

Ukraine still bans power exports to Belarus, Moldova due to power shortage, says ministry – (Interfax) The Energy and Coal Industry Ministry of Ukraine has retained the temporary ban on exports of electricity to Belarus and Moldova, to held balance supplies for the Ukrainian power grid, and ensure consumers aren’t affected by blackouts, reads a ministry report issued on Wednesday…

Ukraine still bans power exports to Belarus, Moldova due to power shortage, says ministry – (Interfax-Ukraine) The Energy and Coal Industry Ministry of Ukraine has retained the temporary ban on exports of electricity to Belarus and Moldova, to held balance supplies for the Ukrainian power grid, and ensure consumers aren’t affected by blackouts, reads a ministry report issued on Wednesday…

Turkey

Turkey's wind power generation increases 11.65 percent – (Turkish Weekly) Turkey's electricity production from wind increased by 11.65 percent reaching to 8.367 million megawatt hours in 2014 compared to the previous year…

Wind power plants capacity up by 11.65 percent – (Daily Sabah) According to data released by the Turkish Electricity Transmission Company, the amount of electricity generated by wind power plants in Turkey last year reached 8,366,804-megawatt-hours, marking an 11.65 percent increase when compared to the previous year. Turkey has begun reaping the benefits of recent investments made in domestic and renewable energy resources…

Turkey failed to agree natural gas price with Gazprom – (World Bulletin) Turkey failed to reach agreement with Gazprom on natural gas prices for 2015, said Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister.  Turkey and Gazprom conducted two meetings on natural gas prices for 2015 without reaching an agreement, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz explained on Wednesday…

Turkish Energy Minister: Efficiency is key to growth – (Turkish Weekly) Energy efficiency is a key factor in economic growth, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said on Wednesday.  Realizing an energy-efficient market will help to bring in more income, to increase employment and to aid in development," Yildiz said, speaking at the 6th Energy Efficiency Conference and Fair…

Turkey's economy to be boosted by falling energy prices: analysts – (MEE)  Turkey's energy bill is expected to drop by half in 2015 if oil prices remain around the $50 per barrel mark, experts have said.  "Turkey's energy bill may decrease by $25bn in 2015 due to falling oil prices," said Muammer Komurcuoglu, an economist at the Istanbul wealth manager Is Yatirim…

Turkey, Azerbaijan intend to boost mutual trade to $15 billion by 2023 – (ITAR-TASS) The trade volume between Azerbaijan and Turkey currently stands at $5 billion and the two states plan to increase it, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a news conference on Thursday after talks with Azerbaijani leader Ilkham Aliyev.  “Our goal is to boost the trade turnover to $15 billion by 2023,” said Erdogan, adding that the two countries “have no political problems” between them. According to him, in the energy sphere, “the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP)…

Gazprom says new pipeline will secure gas for Turkey – (Hurriyet) The new planned Russian natural gas pipeline to Turkey will provide a “secure supply” for the country, Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said on Jan. 9.  In early December, Russia scrapped the South Stream project, which was planned to carry gas under the western Black Sea to Bulgaria and into European markets…

Turkey realized EU dream through energy: Latvia amb. – (Turkish Press) Turkey have realized the European dream of natural gas diversification without becoming a member of the European Union, according to Latvian Ambassador to Turkey, Iran and Iraq, Atis Sjanits.  "There is no doubt that Turkey is becoming more important as an energy transit country. I’m an ambassador of three countries and I follow these energy files. Turkey is becoming the main southern transit hub for natural gas, maybe also for oil," Sjanits said…

Turkey sees largest gas consumption in a single day – (World Bulletin) Turkey has consumed the highest volume of natural gas in a single day Tuesday in the country's history, with 213 million cubic meters used, Turkey's energy minister said Thursday.  "Consuming the highest volume of natural gas in a single day with 213 million cubic meters is a risk and we are responsible for eliminating this risk," Taner Yildiz said at a conference in Ankara…

Ukraine

Ukraine conflict: Crimea hit by shortages – (BBC News) Ties with Ukraine are at breaking point, and Western sanctions make life difficult, in what used to be a popular tourist destination.  There have been highly disruptive power blackouts, transport links with the outside world are strained, there is less choice in the shops, and the region's banking system has been crippled…

Intense fighting in Ukraine traps miners, wrecks power station – (The New Zealand Herald) Intense fighting has erupted around east Ukraine's main rebel-held city, wrecking a power station and briefly trapping more than 300 coal miners in one of Europe's largest pits…

Beneath the Front Lines of the War in Eastern Ukraine – (Time) The miners didn’t hear the impact of the shell and kept extracting coal from the earth more than half a mile below the battlefield. They continued their work for several minutes, oblivious to the danger they were suddenly facing…

Intense Ukraine shelling traps hundreds of miners – (Channel News Asia) Intense fighting erupted around east Ukraine's main rebel-held city on Sunday (Jan 11) that wrecked a power station and briefly trapped more than 300 coal miners in one of Europe's largest pits…

Energy minister: Ukraine imports about 70,000 tonnes of coal from Russia in 11 days of 2015 – (Kyiv Post) Ukraine imported about 70,000 tonnes of coal from Russia from January 1 to January 11, 2015, Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said at a meeting of the parliament's anti-corruption committee on Jan. 12…

Ukraine's loss after purchase of coal from South Africa exceeds UAH 846 mln, says PGO – (Interfax) After the signing of a contract on the supply of coal to Ukraine from South Africa, approved by Director of state enterprise Ukrinterenergo Volodymyr Zinevych, the state saw a loss of over UAH 846 million, the Prosecutor General's Office has reported…

Ukraine lost $56 mn on corrupt coal deal with South Africa – (ZIK) The coal supply contract with SAR signed by Ukrinterenerho head Volodymyr Zinevych was $56 mn over the commercial cost, prosecutor general’s office said Jan. 9, Interfax-Ukrayina reports…

Energoatom boosts electricity generation by 6.2% in 2014 – (Interfax) National Nuclear Generating Company Energoatom in 2014 boosted electricity generation by 6.2% or 5.156 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), to 88.573 million kWh, the company's press service has reported…

Eastern conflict pushes Ukraine coal output down 22 pct in 2014 – (Hellenic Shipping News) Ukrainian coal production fell 22 percent in 2014 to 65 million tonnes after the pro-Russian separatist conflict disrupted mining operations in the country’s eastern industrial heartland, deputy energy minister Yuri Zukov said…

Ukraine coal production down 22.4% last year, government reports – (Ukrainian Journal) Ukrainian coal mining enterprises in 2014 saw a 22.4% decline in production of raw coal, to 64.976 million tons, according to rough estimates, the Energy and Coal Industry Ministry said…

Belarus' Energy Ministry: No electricity supply contracts with Ukraine in 2015 – (BELTA) Belarus has not concluded contracts on electricity supplies from Ukraine in 2015, spokeswoman for the Energy Ministry of Belarus Zhanna Zenkevich told BelTA as she commented on the recent media reports on alleged cessation of electricity exports to Belarus by Ukraine…

EU Energy Crisis: Russia Cuts Off Gas Supplies through Ukraine To Six European Countries – (Global Research) Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian state energy giant Gazprom to cut supplies to and through Ukraine amid accusations, according to The Daily Mail, that its neighbor has been siphoning off and stealing Russian gas. Due to these “transit risks for European consumers in the territory of Ukraine,” Gazprom cut gas exports to Europe by 60%, plunging the continent into an energy crisis “within hours…

Gazprom Cuts Off Gas to Europe, accuses Ukraine of Siphoning – (MINA) Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian state energy giant Gazprom to cut supplies to and through Ukraine amid accusations, according to The Daily Mail , that its neighbor has been siphoning off and stealing Russian gas. Due to these "transit risks for European consumers in the territory of Ukraine," Gazprom cut gas exports to Europe by 60%, plunging the continent into an energy crisis "within hours." Perhaps explaining the explosion higher in NatGas prices (and oil) today, gas companies in Ukraine confirmed that Russia had cut off supply…

Russian Energy Min: no reason to change gas deal with Ukraine beyond March – (Reuters)  Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Wednesday there were no reasons to change terms for gas deliveries to Ukraine once current deal expires at the end of March…

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.