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 (BSTP) Project Working Group Meeting Bucharest, Romania

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 invest 50 mln dollars to improve energy distribution– (Global Post) 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 gov't gets WB support on fight against electricity theft – (dtt-net) World Bank said Albanian government should continue with its punitive measures and reforms in energy sector aimed improving country’s devastated sector inherited from previous cabinet…

Albanian Government Gives Green Light to New Power Sector Law – (Energetika) The new Power Sector Law will transpose the EU’s Third Energy Package into Albanian legislation. According to the draft law, Albania will liberalise its power sector by 2018. ʺThe market for customers connected…

Albania launches more punitive penalties over unpaid electricity by citizens– (dtt-net) Albanian government adopted today a new draft-law which could see citizens and other consumers loose their properties and businesses if caught by authorities for unpaid electricity bills…

Bulgaria

The view from Sofia: Bulgaria's energy security needs to gain prominence – (European Council on Foreign Relations) There's this thing about peripheries. They are either peaceful and godforsaken (and thus ignored) or they are volatile and challenging (and thus stand a higher chance of being taken seriously)…

Kerry Presses Bulgaria to End Dependence on Russian Energy – (Bloomberg) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Bulgaria at NATO’s eastern edge today to press the country to reduce its almost total dependence on energy from Russia and warned against Russian retaliation.  The push for energy independence is “not directed against any country,” Kerry said at a press conference today…

Plevneliev: Bulgaria Should Speed Up Its Integration in European Gas Market – (Energetika) ʺPlans for building an energy hub and for a 'grand slam' do not impress me. I will be really impressed when the Bulgarian energy sector starts enjoying stable development and serves the interests of the people...

AP: John Kerry Urges Bulgaria to Step up Energy Diversification, Anti-Graft Efforts – (Novinite) Reducing Bulgaria’s dependence on Russian energy supplies and curbing corruption in the Balkan state were in the focus of Thursday’s visit by US Secretary of State John Kerry in Sofia, the AP said…

US to Work on Boosting Bulgaria's Energy Security - Secretary of State Kerry – (Novinite) The US is committed to Bulgaria's energy security and to curbing its energy dependence, US Secretary of State John Kerry has said while on a visit to Sofia.  In a press conference with Prime Minister Boyko Borisov following their meeting on Thursday, Kerry announced Washington would send an energy expert to work with…

Bulgaria President calls for Bulgaria’s accelerated integration into Europe’s gas market (ROUNDUP) – (Focus) Bulgarian President called for the accelerated integration of Bulgaria and the region into the European gas market, for diversification of energy sources and routes and for a balance as regards energy suppliers, the press centre of the President’s Office announced…                                           

Bulgaria to Host EU 'Energy Summit' - Deputy PM Tomislav Donchev – (Novinite) A summit-level meeting of all EU energy ministers is to be held in Bulgaria in three weeks' time, the country's Deputy PM for EU Funds and Economic Policy Tomislav Donchev announced on Sunday…

Bulgaria to Host EU 'Energy Summit' - Deputy PM Tomislav Donche – (IENE) IENE’s Annual General Assembly took place on Wednesday, January 14, 2015, in Athens. The agenda of the General Assembly mainly focused on the approval of IENE’s activities report for 2014 and on informing the Institute’s Board of Directors on current activities…

Members of Bulgaria's Energy Watchdog to be Elected by Parliament – (Novinite) The members of the State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR) will be no longer elected by the Council of Ministers, but by the Bulgarian Parliament. The members of parliament approved the proposed changes at first reading on Thursday, electronic daily Dnevnik reports…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Federation BiH Grants a Permit for Electricity Production – (Energetika) FERK has also adopted a draft plan for a work permit for the electricity production of the company NINO-HA, and a draft plan for a work permit for the electricity supply of the company Primorka. Both plans are…

Croatia

Romania and Croatia, interested in finding projects meant to guarantee the energy security in the region – (ACT Media) State Secretary for European Affairs George Ciamba held consultations with a Croatian delegation led by Foreign and European Affairs Ministry Assistant Minister Zeljko Kupresak on Monday; topics included bilateral cooperation and the European Union expansion process, the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) informed in a media release…

Bulgaria Wants an LNG Terminal in the Black Sea, Croatia is Calm – (Energetika) Bulgaria wants to take advantage of its geostrategic location and is considering the use of Juncker's Investment plan to help finance the project. In parallel, Croatia is planning to build its LNG terminal with...

Croatia's HEP to Build a New Cogeneration Plant in Zagreb – (Energetika) The new plant will have a 130-MW electricity capacity, and a 100-MW heat capacity. According to HEP, the production of electricity will be secondary.HEP obtained the location permit for a new combined-cycle power…

SEE CAO Publishes Results of Capacity Auction for February – (Energetika) From the direction of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to Croatia, 351MW of capacity was offered, of which 334MW of Physical Transmission Rights were allocated. The number of successful participants was 10.From the...

Kosovo

Oil prices in Albania, Kosovo still too high despite worldwide plunging – (dtt-net) Oil prices in gas/oil stations in Albania and Kosovo remain too high for consumers, as local traders and distributors refuse to lower prices to a regional normal average despite the worldwide huge price fall since last summer…

Kosovo's power company CEO charged in corruption probe – (Reuters) A European Union prosecutor in Kosovo has indicted seven people on corruption charges, including the chief executive of the state-owned power utility KEK, officials said on Friday…

World Bank and Kosovo Sign Agreement for Energy Efficiency and RES Project – (Energetika) The other project is Kosovo Health Project.ʺWe have approved yesterday (on Wednesday; author's note) the Government’s Annual Plan, and energy and health are the two areas that are a priority for the Government...

World Bank, Kosovo Sign Agreements on Energy Efficiency, Health Projects – (IENE) The World Bank said it has signed with Kosovo two agreements onefficiency and health projects with total value of $56.5 million (48.6 million euro).  The Kosovo Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Project, with a total value of $31 million, aims at reducing energy consumption and fossil fuel use in public buildings, the World Bank said in a statement posted on its website on Thursday…

Serbia and Kosovo Fighting over Trepça Mines – (Energetika) According to Sertić, about 56% of the capital of Trepça is owned by the Development Fund of the Republic of Serbia, and it has debts of around USD 400 million (EUR 344.5 million). Trepça was formally among the…

Macedonia

Gas Pipeline Greece-Macedonia-Serbia as South Stream Alternative – (Mina) Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Wednesday an alternative gas supply route for Serbia and Hungary could come from Greece through Macedonia, Tanjug reports.  This scenario is considered after the recent cancellation of the South Stream gas pipeline project…

EU Parliament asserts Energy Community’s role in Europe’s energy security strategy – (Energy Community) The European Parliament underlined the Energy Community’s role in Europe’s energy security strategy in a resolution on the situation in Ukraine adopted in Strasburg on 15 January. The Parliament called on the Energy Community “to develop a cooperation agenda with Ukraine, as well as with Southern Caucasus, Central Asian, Middle East and Mediterranean countries...

Montenegro

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…

Montenegro's EPCG Sold ʺPeakʺ Electricity for Average 58.35 EUR/MWh for Q1 – (Energetika) According to Delibašić, the price of electricity sold is EUR 0.18-0.57 per MWh higher than the price of electricity on the Hungarian power exchange HUPX. ʺThus, EPCG, achieved on average EUR 0.4 more per MWh…

Romania

Romania: Fracking Could Affect Cernavoda NPP – (Energetika) In order to assess the impact of the use of fracking at the nuclear power plant, in 2013 Cernavoda NPP requested an ʺassessment of the impact of shale gas exploration on the seismicity of the location of the…

Romania Planned New Power Capacities Idle Due to Subdued Demand – (Bloomberg) Romania doesn’t need to invest in new power capacities in the next 10 years as demand will be capped by shrinking industrial production, officials from Fondul Proprietatea SA and consulting firm AT Kearney Inc said…

DISPATCHES: Where next for Romania's renewables roller coaster? – (ReCharge) Romania has been on quite a roller coaster ride with renewable energy in recent years, and with a new national president in place the sector hopes the next steep curve will be upwards.  From just 13MW of installed wind capacity in 2009 the country had 2.8GW by last year, including one the world's largest onshore wind farms, Czech utility CEZ's 600MW Fantanele Cogealac…

Minister Gerea: the National Energy Strategy is one of our priorities for the period 2015 – 2035 – (ACT Media) The completion of the Energy Strategy and the continuation of the energy sector's structural reform are this year's priorities Minister of Energy and SMEs Andrei Gerea announced on Wednesday at a press conference organised at the Bucharest Stock Exchange headquarters…

Serbia

INTEREST SOUGHT FOR MAJOR WASTE TO ENERGY & RECYCLING PPP IN BELGRADE, SERBIA – (WMW) Serbia’s capital city, Belgrade, has issued an Invitation for Expression of Interest in a proposed Public Private Partnership (PPP) to develop waste treatment, recycling and energy recovery facilities…

Doubts over Serbian plan to reform gas utility – (Reuters) A Serbian plan to reform its indebted gas utility falls short of European Union requirements and could hinder accession talks, an organisation tasked with extending the bloc's energy policy to would-be members has told Reuters…

Serbia outlines Srbijagas liberalisation plan – (Interfax) Serbia is moving ahead with plans to liberalise its gas market, with state-owned utility Srbijagas due to be unbundled this year according to a recent government resolution aimed at bringing the country in line with EU legislation…

Serbia's Energy Ministry Searches for Banks Willing to Finance Biomass Projects – (Energetika) According to the ministry, the overall objective of the project is the sustainable use of energy through diversification of energy sources and development of the biomass market for energy use in Serbia…

Serbia shuns solar – (PV Magazine) Belgrade government hopes to entice energy project investment, and impress the EU, by liberalizing electricity market but is still only aiming for 10 MW of new solar…

Armenia 

Armenia Eyes $5B Nuclear Unit Project Start In 2018: Report – (Law 360) An Armenian official reportedly said on Wednesday that the country plans to begin construction in 2018 of a new power unit estimated to cost as much as $5 billion at its Metsamor nuclear power plant…

Construction of new power unit of Armenian nuclear power plant to begin in 2018 – (World News Report) 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…

Energy Prices Set For Another Rise – (World News Report) Utility regulators will likely sanction another increase in the prices of electricity in Armenia because of continuing losses incurred by the Russian-owned national power distribution company, Energy Minister Yervand Zakharian said…

Minister: Government told to prevent electricity tariff rise in 2015 – (Armenia Now) The Armenian president ordered the government to do everything in their power to prevent electricity tariff increase this year, despite the fact that the only company providing electricity has accumulated huge debts, as well as the national currency’s devaluation implies a price rise, according to the country’s energy minister…

Azerbaijan

Merkel: Azerbaijan plays major role in energy security of Europe, including Germany – (APA) Fuad Gulubeyli - APA. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with Chancellor Angela Merkel as part of his working visit to Germany.  Following the meeting, Angela Merkel said at a press conference that they had fruitful discussions, APA’s special correspondent reports from Germany…

Azeri oil exports down 3.5 percent in 2014 – (Business Recorder) Azerbaijan's oil exports dropped 3.5 percent in 2014, a source at the State Customs Committee said on Friday, driven by falls at fields operated by BP. The source said Azerbaijan exported 33.04 million tonnes of oil last year, down from 34.25 million in 2013…

Can Eurasian Energy Compete? – (The National Interest) Cheaper oil, government interference and market dynamics jeopardize the future of Russian and Caspian energy. To be globally competitive, the big four Eurasian producers—Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan—should let the private sector play a greater role and make more decisions on commercial, rather than political grounds…

Azerbaijan-initiated projects change Europe’s energy map – (Azernews) Azerbaijan and Germany have discussed the prospects for the development of bilateral ties during President Ilham Aliyev’s working visit to Berlin.  President Aliyev met Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel in Berlin on January 21, the Azerbaijani presidential administration reported…

Over 4 GW of Solar Power Plants to be Built in Central Asia Up to 2020 – (AltEnergyMag) In the next 5 years, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tadzhikistan and Iran will be in the spotlight of the largest international players of solar energy industry.  According to the plans for the development of the energy sector of these countries, more than 600 PV plants with the total capacity more than 4,000 MW will be built in the region up to 2020…

Georgia

Tbilisi Denies Talks with Sokhumi over Enguri HPP – (Civil) The Georgian Ministry of Energy has “strongly” denied remarks by head of the energy company in breakaway Abkhazia about having talks over Enguri hydro power plant with Tbilisi…

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…

The 2nd Annual South Caucasus Infrastructure & New Energy Investment Summit Will Be Held in Tbilisi, Georgia – (Financial) The Financial is pleased to announce that it is participating as the Main Media Partner to the 2nd Annual South Caucasus Infrastructure & New Energy Investment Summit organized by Euroconvention Global. The Summit will be held on 5-6 February 2015 in Tbilisi, Georgia…

Moldova

Ponta-Leanca talks about electricity exports for Moldova – (ACT Media) Premier Victor Ponta announced he would talk with his Moldovan counterpart Iurie Leanca to find solutions for exports of electricity from Romania to Moldova and showed the question of lack of sufficient transport capacities should be solved…

Turkey

Russia tells EU: No gas through Ukraine as of 2019, but only through Turkey – (dtt-net) Russia's government said gas supplies to the EU consumers as of 2019 will go only through Turkey, as Moscow is threatening to end the current supply route through Ukraine…

Erdogan calculating on EU gas imports from Azerbaijan to make Turkey ‘strategically important’ – (dtt-net) Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan calculates his country will have a further ‘strategic importance’ once the EU starts importing gas from Azerbaijani's Shah Denis field which must pas through Turkish territory, Greece and Albania to reach Italy and the rest of the EU as of 2019/20…

Erdogan: Turkey to be strategic in energy transmission-UPDATE – (World Bulletin) Turkey wants to exploit its strategic position between energy-rich countries and those who need these resources, the Turkish president on Tuesday. Speaking at the Energy Markets Summit in Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey is a bridge between regions that have abundant energy resources and countries which need those resources…

Erdoğan: Turkey to be strategic in energy transmission – (Daily Sabah) Turkey wants to exploit its strategic position between energy-rich countries and those who need these resources, said the president yesterday. Speaking at the Energy Markets Summit in Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Turkey is a bridge between regions that have abundant energy resources and countries that need those resources…

New energy war around European gas supplies – (Azernews) As Moscow is weathering the worst crisis since the 1998 defeault, it seems the plummeting oil price is only one among many other problems that the country is facing in 2015.  Russia can lose its position as the major gas supplier to Europe. It exports one third of the natural gas that Europe needs for heating its homes and running industries during the cold times…

Russia to Shift Ukraine Gas Transit to Turkey as EU Cries Foul – (Bloomberg) Russia plans to shift all its natural gas flows crossing Ukraine to a route via Turkey, a surprise move that the European Union’s energy chief said would hurt its reputation as a supplier…

New energy supply security dynamics of the EU-Russia-Turkey triad – (Turkish Weekly) The gradual rise in the complexity of the Ukrainian crisis in 2014 has necessitated a multidimensional review of relations between Russia and the West. Current circumstances have sparked the emergence of new parameters in the EU-Russia-Turkey Triad with regard to energy policy…

Turkey: New Regulation On Electricity Facilities Project – (Mondaq) The Regulation on Electricity Facilities Project (the "Regulation") published in the Official Gazette on December 30, 2014 and numbered 29221 (Mükerrer), has gone into effect on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. The Regulation abolishes the Regulation on Electricity Facilities Project published in the Official Gazette on December 16, 2009 and numbered 27434…

EU is the culprit for Turkish–Russian energy rapprochement– (Hurriyet) It has always been “too little too late” when it comes to relations between Turkey and the European Union. In the 1990s Turkey’s reform efforts came in such bits and pieces that it took a long time for the EU to grant it candidate status and agree to start accession negotiations…

NEW ENERGY SUPPLY SECURITY DYNAMICS OF EU-RUSSIA-TURKEY TRIAD – ANALYSIS– (Eurasia Review) The gradual rise in the complexity of the Ukrainian crisis in 2014 has necessitated a multidimensional review of relations between Russia and the West. Current circumstances have sparked the emergence of new parameters in the EU-Russia-Turkey Triad with regard to energy policy…

Russia Presses Ahead With Plan for Gas Pipeline to Turkey– (The New York Times) President Vladimir V. Putin surprised the world in December when he aborted long-laid plans for a natural gas pipeline under the Black Sea to Europe, saying Russia would run pipes to Turkey instead…

Ukraine

Ukraine's wind power generation doubles in 2014 – (SeeNews) Wind parks in Ukraine produced 1.12 billion kWh of green electricity in 2014, nearly twice as much as in 2013, and accounted for 0.62% of the country’s total power output…

Ukraine's wind power generation doubles in 2014 – (See News Renewables) Wind parks in Ukraine produced 1.12 billion kWh of green electricity in 2014, nearly twice as much as in 2013, and accounted for 0.62% of the country’s total power output.  Fresh statistics by the the Ukrainian Wind Energy Association (UWEA) show that the total installed wind power capacity in Ukraine…

Yatsenyuk Says Electricity Deal With Russia Violates Country’s Interests – (Sputnik) Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has accused Ukraine's Energy Ministry of violating the country's interests when power company Ukrinterenergo signed a deal with Russian energy holding Inter RAO, the Ukrainskaya Pravda newspaper has reported…

Ukraine’s electricity exports drop 18% in 2014 – report – (SeeNews) Ukraine’s electricity exports fell by 18.4% on the year to 8.528 billion kWh in 2014, a source at the energy ministry told Interfax-Ukraine on Friday…

Ukraine exports of electricity reported down 18.4% last year – (Ukrainian Journal) Ukraine cut electricity exports by 18.4% in 2014 to 8.053 billion kilowatt-hours, the Energy and Coal Industry Ministry told Interfax-Ukraine.  Ukraine exported electricity worth $487.186 million in 2014, down 16% from $580.195 million exported in 2013, according to the State Fiscal Service…

Crimea Seizes Power Plant From Ukrainian Oligarch – (The Moscow Times) The Crimean government on Wednesday expropriated the region's biggest power generation and grid company from its Ukrainian oligarch owner after spats with Kiev caused severe electricity outages last month…

Poroshenko says Ukraine will become energy independent in two years – (Kyiv Post) Ukraine will become energy independent within two years, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has said…

Ukraine will become energy independent in two years – Poroshenko– (NRCU) "Earlier Ukraine consumed 70 billion cubic meters of gas per year; we have reduced this figure to 40 billion cubic meters. And this is just the beginning. I am quite sure that in two years we will ensure our energy independence from Russia. We will be able to build new ways for receiving Norwegian gas and gas from Europe, and Ukraine will also produce shale gas…

Ukraine 'to be energy independent from Russia in two years' – (Yahoo) President Petro Poroshenko said on Wednesday that Ukraine will be able to completely break its expensive natural gas dependence on Russia by 2017.  "I am absolutely sure that in two years' time, we will be absolutely energy independent from Russia," the pro-Western leader told the World Economic Forum in Davos…

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.