Albania

Albania wants to withdraw licence of ČEZ daughter firm by end-Jan  -(Prague Monitor) Albanian authorities will strip from licence energy company CEZ Shperndarje, run by Czech power company CEZ, by the end of January, Albanian state energy regulator spokeswoman Entela Cipa announced Thursday…

Albanian hydropower plant receives $17m finance for upgrade – (Penn Energy) The Komani hydropower plant in Albania is subject of a $17m finance package aimed at upgrading the dam, as part of a safety programme…

Steelmaker to boost output in Albania after buying hydro plants – (Reuters) Turkey's Kurum, Albania's only steelmaker, plans to increase output by 20 percent after the purchase of four hydro power plants to secure a stable supply of electricity, its general manager said on Friday…

Albania to get EBRD financing of EUR 12.7mn for dam safety project  - (HydroWorld) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said it will fund a EUR 12.7mn project for upgrading the Koman hydropower dam on the Drin River, the bank said in a statement…

Dam Safety in Albania to Improve with EBRD Financing – (HysroWorld) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development issued the following news release: With over Euros180 million invested in improving Albania's power sector operation to date, the EBRD has now turned to boosting the country's dam safety… 

Bulgaria

Bulgaria's Energy Minister Vows Oil, Gas Exploration in All Black Sea Blocks – (Novinite) Bulgaria will concentrate efforts on oil and gas exploration in its entire Black Sea aquatory, according to Economy and Energy Minister Delyan Dobrev…

Bulgarian Cabinet approves renewable energy plan, offshore drilling tender – (Sofia Globe) In separate decisions on January 9, Bulgaria’s Cabinet approved a long-term renewable energy development plan, setting out targets for 2020 and a series of measures to meet those goals, and authorised the start of a tender for drilling rights on a large section of its Black Sea shelf…

Bulgaria's Belene Prays for 'Yes' on Nuclear Referendum – (Novinite) A prayer for prosperity and for the success of the forthcoming national referendum on the future of nuclear energy in Bulgaria will be served in the Danube town of Belene Saturday…

Nuclear energy discussion to take place in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv – (FOCUS) A discussion titled Nuclear Energy – Prospects and Benefits for Bulgaria is to take place in the southern Bulgarian city of Plovdiv on Monday, at 5:00 p.m. local time, announced the local office of Bulgarian Socialist Party…

First television debate scheduled for Bulgaria’s referendum on nuclear energy – (Sofia Globe) Public broadcaster Bulgaria National Television will host the first television debate on January 9 2013 on the country’s forthcoming referendum on the future of nuclear power in the country. Eighteen days ahead of the January 27 referendum, the debate will be broadcast after the 6pm news… 

Bosnia

Reservoir Granted Concessions for 18 MW Cehotina Hydroelectric Project in Bosnia – (Market Wire) "Reservoir" or the "Company" is pleased to report that the Government of the Republika Srpska (an autonomous region of Bosnia and Herzegovina) has granted 30-year concessions to the Company's wholly owned subsidiary REV d.o.o. Foca ("REV"), to develop and build three run-of-river hydroelectric power projects ("HPP") on the Cehotina River. The three projects have a combined capacity of 17.76 megawatts ("MW") and an projected output of 69.61 gigawatt hours per annum ("GWh/yr")…

Germany helps Bosnia and Herzegovina in energy efficiency – (Balkans) Delegation of German Economy in BiH, with the support Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology of Germany will organise a delegate travel to Germany from 25 February to 1 March. The topic will be ‘Energy efficiency in public sector’… 

Bosnia and Herzegovina grants 10 000 BAM for solar energy project – (Balkans) Grants worth 10 000 BAM for the project ”Solar energy as the future of our sustainable development” have been awarded to ”Termorad” company from Banovići. This company has previously received the same amount of money for starting the production and installation of solar systems… 

Croatia

Grid-connected renewables in Croatia up to 172,981 kW in 2012 – (Cogenerations) The combined installed capacity of grid-connected power generation facilities in Croatia using renewable energy sources (RES) rose to 172,981 kilowatts (kW) at the end of 2012 from 108,320 kW at the beginning of the year, the economy ministry said on Tuesday…

Croatia to unbundle electricity TSO from HEP by 1 July 2013 – (ICIS) Croatia will unbundle its electricity transmission operator (TSO) HEP Operator Prijenosnog Sustava (HEP-OPS) from state-owned utility HEP by 1 July 2013… 

Croatia's HEP plans to start exporting electricity in 2017 – (Balkans) While presenting the Business plan for 2012-2016, which was accepted yesterday by the Supervisory Board, CEO of HEP Zlatko Koračević said that despite the current large investments electricity price will not go up, and that HEP will become a net exporter of electricity in 2017… 

Underground Dubrovnik hydroplant too good to be true? – (Setimes) It seems almost too good to be true: an underground hydroplant. And so it is, said Jagoda Munic of the environmental organisation Green Action in Croatia: "This project is insane.".. 

Macedonia

Macedonia's ELEM to wrap up 32 mln euro HPPs upgrade by end-2014 – (HydroWorld) 01/15/2013 SKOPJE (Macedonia), January 14 (SeeNews) - Macedonian state-owned power producer ELEM said the 32.1 million euro ($42.6 million) upgrade of its six hydro power plants (HPPs) will be completed by the end of 2014…

Macedonia's Balkan Energy Group wins Skopje heating energy licences – (Balkans) SKOPJE (Macedonia), January 2 (SeeNews) - The Macedonian energy regulator said it had awarded licences to local company Balkan Energy Group for supply of heating energy in most parts of Skopje previously held by heating utility Toplifikacija… 

Montenegro

Montenegro adopts 2013 Energy Balance – (Balkans) Government adopted Energy balance for year 2013, where gross consumption is planned to be 3,634 thousand gigawatt hours, which is 8, 08% less than this year estimation of accomplishments…

Renewable energy in the center of Montenegro's energy sector reform – (Balkans) Montenegro pays special attention to the energy sector reform, as one of its greatest development potentials, in which renewable resources, primarily hydro and solar energy, take central stage, Prime Minister Milo Đukanović underlined Sunday in his speech at the opening of the 3th General Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), that takes place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from 13-14 January… 

Romania

Wind energy developer foresees more projects in Romania, describes investment environment as attractive – (Romania Insider) Romania could look forward to two years of increasing investments in wind farm projects, according to Monsson Group, a major wind energy developer in the country…

Insolvent Romanian energy producer Hidroelectrica signs 10 year lease on four floors of tower center international – (Romania Insider)   Insolvent State – owned Romanian company Hidroelectrica, Romania’s largest state owned firm, recently signed a lease on 3,200 sqm of office space in the Tower Center International building, over 10 years and will move into the new offices at the end of March this year… 

Romanian Energy Minister Re-Affirms Commitment to Wind Energy – (ECOSEED) "All those who wish to invest in energy will have the necessary support from government". This is the quote today from the Romanian Energy Minister, Constantin Nita, less than a week ahead of the largest wind energy event in the country to be held on the 15-16 January at the Marriott Grand, Bucharest… 

Romania’s Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant unit resumes operation – (Energy Business Review) State-owned Nuclearelectrica announced that Unit 2 of Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Romania has resumed operation on 10 January 2012, after it was automatically disabled by emergency system… 

Romanian TSO sheds light on electricity export cost rise – (ICIS) Romania's zonal tariffs have increased by 12% on average year on year. The rise of this component translates into total export costs to neighbouring countries rising by more than 9%, according to clarification from Transelectrica and trading sources active in the region…. 

Serbia

Serbia Complains About High Price of Russian Gas – (RiaNovosti) Serbian Energy Minister Zorana Mihajlovic has reiterated that the price of imported Russian natural gas was too high considering the level of friendly relations between the two countries…

Investors: Serbia's decrease of renewable energy incentives not a fair treatment – (Balkans) The decision on reducing incentives for the production of electricity from wind energy without any consultation with us, along with the deterioration of all other conditions, cannot be called a fair treatment, say investors. We are working hard to meet the interests of the investors, but the state’s interest must come first, says the Minister of Energy. It ain’t over till it’s over! This is not surprising in Serbia when it comes to investments… 

Serbia's wholesale gas prices to rise by an average 10.4 pct – (Reuters) Serbian energy regulator AERS has approved an average 10.4 percent increase in wholesale gas prices for consumers supplied by the country's gas monopoly Srbijagas, its spokesman said on Wednesday… 

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani energy operator prepares for construction of new power station – (Trend) Azerbaijani energy operator prepares for construction of new power ... Azerenergy (production and distribution of electricity in Azerbaijan) told…

Need for KfW loan for alternative energy development in Azerbaijan to be determined in 2014  -(Trend) On February 19, Baku will host the meeting of the subcommittee of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU… 

Azerbaijan increases electricity generation in 2012 – (Trend) Azerenergy, (production and distribution of electricity in Azerbaijan) generated 21,3 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2012, compared to… 

Baku Electric Network invites bids for auditor for 2012 – (abc.az) The main retail supplier of electricity in Azerbaijan - JSC Bakıelektrikşəbəkə (Baku Electric Network; BEN) has announced a tender procedure for audit services on its financial and economic activity in 2012… 

Azerbaijan increases electricity production in 2012 – (News.az) In 2012, the system of JSC Azerenergy generated more than 21.3bn kW/h of power, which is 6.5% more than in 2011… 

Azerbaijan increases number of small hydropower plants – (Trend) The Azerenergy JSC (production and distribution of electricity in Azerbaijan) will complete construction of several small hydropower plants in… 

Georgia

Georgian Energy Ministry begins to monitor quality of electricity supply to population – (Trend) The Georgian Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources has begun to monitor the quality of electricity supplied to the population, the Ministry said…

Georgian Winds Cut Power for 15,000 People, Interpressnews Says – (Bloomberg) Heavy winds in Georgia have damaged power lines, leaving almost 15,000 people in the east of the country without power, the electricity distributor said, according to the news service Interpressnews… 

Georgia to launch electricity exports to Turkey this spring – (Trend) Georgia plans to launch electricity exports this spring as a part of the "Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey Energy Bridge" project, the Georgian Deputy… 

Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation reveals oil transit statistics via Georgia – (Trend) The Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation (GOGC) has released information on oil transit through Georgia in 2012. According to the GOGC… 

Russia

A look at the facts and figures behind Russian energy giant Gazprom – (Fox news) Russian energy giant Gazprom is spending billions to expand its already massive footprint in Europe. Born out of the Soviet gas ministry in the rush of Russian privatizations, Gazprom is effectively the country's gas industry, accounting for about 80 percent of the country's natural gas output…

To privatise or not to privatize – (the Economist) IN THE 1990s privatisation in Russia was meant to be a way to wipe clean the vestiges of the Soviet economy and to create a new class of property owners… 

Turkey

Privatization of Turkey’s energy sector as a step towards EU – (Trend) Turkey's progress in the next wave of privatization of the energy sector is obvious. Practical implementation of the privatization are transferred to the ownership in 2012 and actively developing Petkim petrochemical holding, Seyitomer thermoelectric plant, Gediz and Akdeniz network companies…

Turkey Beating Norway as Biggest Regional Oil Driller: Energy – (Bloomberg) Turkey is drilling for oil and natural gas with more rigs than any European country and plans new rules in 2013 to speed exploration of energy supplies for the fastest-growing major economy after China… 

Turkey plans to increase electricity imports from Iran – (Trend) Turkey has announced a tender among companies importing electricity in the country to increase the electricity supply from Iran by existing available electric power facilities, the statement published on the website of Turkey's Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) said… 

Turkey's big thirst for new power – (The National) Turkey is in a rush to grow its energy sector. And recent news that the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, known as Taqa, will invest heavily in Turkish coal-fired power plants shows how serious Ankara is taking this commitment… 

Turkey to invest $250 billion in 10 years to energy, transportation – (World Bulletin)  Turkish Economy Minister Caglayan says in the next 10 years Turkey will invest $250 billion in the fields of energy and transportation… 

EFET contracts make progress in Turkish power, gas sectors – (ICIS) A total of 20 Turkey-based electricity companies are thought to have signed the master agreement developed by the European Federation of Energy Traders (EFET), raising hope that activity on the over-the-counter market may increase this year, EFET's representative said… 

Turkey wind power sector outlook 2017 - sector continuing to gradually expand – (Your Renewable News) Turkey wind power sector has been expanding gradually in recent years. The rising electricity demand and government focus on renewable energy has resulted in series of favorable transformation for wind power sector… 

Ukraine

Ukrainian energy ministry to choose company to build LNG terminal by February – (NRCU) Ukraine's Energy and Coal Industry Ministry plans to decide before next month what company will be building a terminal for the re-gasification of liquefied natural gas (LNG), Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavytsky said…

Ukraine readies giant shale gas deal with Shell – (EurActiv)  Ukraine took a step closer to a breakthrough shale gas deal with global energy major Royal Dutch Shell when local authorities in the eastern Donetsk region approved a planned production sharing agreement… 

Ukraine moves closer to $10 billion shale gas deal with Shell – (KyivPost) Ukraine took a step closer to a breakthrough shale gas deal with global energy major Royal Dutch Shell on Wednesday when local authorities in the eastern Donetsk region approved a planned production sharing agreement… 

Ukraine slightly ups electricity consumption in 2012 – (KyivPost) Electricity consumption, including in-process losses in the Ukrainian grids, in 2012 grew by 0.4%, or by 764.4 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), year-over-year, to 188.436 billion kWh… 

Ukrenergo To Auction 3.9 GW Of Electricity Export Capacity In February – (Electric Light & Power)  Ukrenergo national power company (Kyiv) will auction access to power transmission lines with a total capacity of 3.9 gigawatts for exporting electricity in February, Ukrenergo has announced in a statement about the auction, which is scheduled for January 15… 

Energoatom edges electricity output down 0.1% in 2012 – (Power Engineering)  Power generation by all plants run by Ukrainian National Nuclear Generating Company Energoatom dropped by 0.1% to 90.3 billion kilowatt-hours in 2012, the company said…

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