USAID/USEA ETAG Upcoming Events

 

February 4-5       USAID/USEA Southeast Europe Distribution System Operator Security of Supply Working Group Meeting Budapest, Hungary

 

 

February 6-7       USAID/USEA Southeast Europe Cooperation Initiative Transmission System Planning Project (SECI) Working Group Meeting Budapest, Hungary

 

 

February 18         USEA Technology Briefing – “The “Smarter” Grid: Today vs. Yesterday.” 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM, USEA Executive Conference Room Washington, DC

 

 

March 3               Stakeholder Workshop Reporting on the Findings of the USAID/USEA Romania-Ukraine-Moldova (RUM) Transmission Interconnection Study Chisinau, Moldova

 

 

March 4               USAID/USEA Black Sea Regional Transmission Planning Project (BSTP) Working Group Meeting on Implementing the ENTSO-E Cost Benefit Assessment Methodology for Candidate Transmission Lines of Regional Significance Chisinau, Moldova

 

 

March 5               Joint Meeting: USAID/USEA Black Sea Regional Transmission Planning Project (BSTP) & USAID/NARUC Black Sea Regulatory Initiative (BSRI) on Incorporating Clean Energy Policy & Regulatory Drivers in Regional Transmission Planning Scenarios Chisinau, Moldova

 

 

March 6               USAID/USEA Armenia-Georgia Network Integration Working Group Meeting Chisinau, Moldova

 

 

Albania

Infrastructure remains a priority for bilateral cooperation between Albania and Montenegro- Source– (Balkans) On January 23, 2014, Mr. Ditmir Bushati, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, on an official visit to Montenegro, during which he had meetings with the President of the Republic…

The Future of Hydroelectricity and Coal Consumption in Albania – (Yale) Albania receives about 90 percent of its energy from a renewable source: hydropower. Like Iceland, Paraguay, and other high-ranking countries in the Trend in CO2 Emissions per Kilowatt-hour indicator, a heavy reliance on clean electricity gives little room for Albania to improve the current carbon intensity…

Macedonia: The controversial Macedonian energy project alerted Albania, cross border problem? – (Serbia Energy) Albania's interior ministry saidon Thursday an explosion that damaged a power pylon was aterrorist act apparently prompted by anger over higher...

 

Bulgaria

Turkey reassures Bulgaria on nuclear plants– (World Bulletin) The nuclear energy activities of Turkey does not need to cause anxiety in Bulgaria, said Taner Yildiz, Turkish Energy Minister on Friday in Sofia, Bulgaria.  During the press conference at Turkish Embassy to Bulgaria, Yildiz stated that prepatory works related with building nuclear energy plants focused on 4-5 regions…

Bulgaria grid operator, Turkish company to establish joint venture for electricity export – (Focus) Bulgarian National Electricity Company (NEK) and a company proposed by Turkey will establish a joint company to facilitate the electricity export…

We cannot have competitive economy without competitive energy sector: minister – (Focus) Europe has forgotten industry. It invested EUR 5 billion in the banking industry. Without banking industry there is no economy, which is natural, yet how much money was allocated for European economy – 0%,“ Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy Dragomir Stoynev said speaking at a round table themed “Reindustrialisation through Competitiveness“, FOCUS News Agency reported…

Bulgaria and Turkey agree to build a gas pipeline to link their networks– (Balkans) Bulgaria and Turkey agreed on Friday to set up a joint company and build a gas pipeline to link their networks and enable imports, Bulgaria's economy and energy minister said. "We took a concrete decision for building an interconnector Bulgaria-Turkey that will be a key source of diversification of natural gas deliveries…

Bulgaria-Turkey gas interconnector may be built in 2 years – (Focus) Gas interconnector between Bulgaria and Turkey may be constructed in a two-year deadline. Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy, Dragomir Stoynev, announced the information during the meeting with his Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Taner Yıldız, who is on a visit to Bulgaria, FOCUS News Agency journalist reported…

Bulgaria Starts Talks on Gas Grid Interconnection with Turkey – (Novinite) Bulgaria starts talks for the construction of a gas grid interconnection with Turkey. Bulgarian Economy and Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev will meet with Turkey's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz on Friday in Sofia, according to reports of the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR)…

Natural gas pipeline to be built between Turkey and Bulgaria – (Cihan) 144 kilometers of pipeline will be constructed between Turkey and Bulgaria under a decision taken by Turkish Energy and Natural Sources Minister Taner Yıldız and Bulgarian Economy and Energy Minister Dragomir Stoney in a meeting…

Bulgaria's Energy Minister: Europe Abandoned Industry– (Novinite) European industry has been forsaken, according to Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy Dragomir Stoynev. "Since the beginning of the financial crisis, the EU has been pouring money into bailing out the banking sector, but no funding was allocated…

Energy Ombudsman of CEZ Bulgaria organises Open Doors Day in Lom – (Focus) First Energy Ombudsman of CEZ Bulgaria, Radoslav Dimitrov, organised a Day of the Open Doors in the Bulgarian town of Lom, the press office of the company announced. Mr Dimitrov met with clients of the company at the open reception room in the town…

Bulgaria energy minister to meet with Turkish counterpart – (Focus) Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy, Dragomir Stoynev, is to meet with Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Taner Yıldız, the press office of the Bulgarian ministry announced…

Bulgaria's Sofia Heating Utility Future Unclear – (Novinite) The future of Sofia heating utility Toplofikatsiya Sofia remains unclear, according to Elenko Bozhkov, member of Bulgaria's State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation. "It is too early to say whether or not the State Commission for Energy and Water…

Bulgarian Energy Minister to open Reindustrialisation through Competitiveness round table – (Focus) Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy is to open a round table themed “Reindustrialisation through Competitiveness“ at 9.30 a.m. at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan, the press centre of the Ministry of Economy and Energy announced…

Bulgaria eyes LNG deal with Qatar to diversify Balkan supply sources – (Gulf-Times) Bulgaria expects to sign an agreement with Qatar for liquefied natural gas supply even as it seeks Qatari investment in a major LNG terminal project in Greece that will diversify supply source to many Balkan countries in Europe…

Nikolay Valkanov: Bulgaria needs cheap natural gas and electricity – (Focus) In order for re-industrialisation to be possible, Bulgaria requires cheap energy sources, Nikolay Valkanov, Chairperson of the Management Board of Minstroy Holding, told the Presa daily. In his words, natural gas in Bulgaria is too expensive and regardless of what the production is - its selling price is high. At the same time Bulgaria holds a great future wealth - shale gas - that could produce miracles if developed, he said…

Bulgarian Power Distributor Fined for Unfair Competition – (Novinite) Bulgaria's Commission for Protection of Competition has imposed a BGN 266 000 fine on Energo-Pro Grid AD for the abuse of a dominant market position…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

EC-Bosnia and Herzegovina conclusions on energy related matters - Ministerial Meeting – (European Commission) Deputy Director General for Energy of the European Commission, Mr Fabrizio Barbaso, on the one hand, and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr Boris Tučić, and the two Prime Ministers, of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina…

 

 

 

Approval granted for wind farm at Bosnia Herzegovina "Skradimovac" location – (Balkans) Government of Bosnia Herzegovina's Zapadna Hercegovina Canton has accepted the report of the Commission for Concessions of ZH Canton on the implemented procedures for granting concessions for the construction of: 1. wind farm at the site "Skradimovac" in the Municipality of Glamoc, and 2. solar parks for production electricity…

 

 

Croatia

Croatia plans to publish tenders for offshore gas and oil exploration – (Balkans) Croatia will publish tenders for offshore gas and oil exploration in the central and southern Adriatic in the second quarter of this year, probably in April, after a survey revealed promising deposits there, according to a report…

HEP Announces Tenders for Two Biomass Cogeneration Plants – (Energetika) “HEP announces an international tender according to the German development bank KfW’s procedure for construction works on building a biomass cogeneration plant Osijek and a biomass cogeneration plant Sisak…

Croatia has oil and gas reserves more than the country needs, economy minister says – (Croatian Times) New research shows that Croatia has got more reserves of oil and gas than the country needs, economy minister Ivan Vrdoljak has revealed…

 

Kosovo

Albania and Kosovo form strategic partnership – (SETimes) Kosovo and Albania signed an agreement for co-operation and strategic partnership, enabling the two governments to implement joint political, socio-economic and cultural policies…

 

 

 

Republic of Kosovo delegation engages in energy talks with European Union representatives – (The Republic of Kosovo) The delegation of the Republic of Kosovo, consisting of Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri and KOSTT Director Naim Bejtullahu, met in Brussels with representatives of the European Union, Jean-Eric Paquet, Director of the Enlargement Department of the European Commission, Nicholas and Anna Maria Boura Cendrowicz…

 

 

Macedonia

World looks at proposed FYR Macedonia Lukovo Pole Hydropower Project– (Balkans) In 2011, at the request of the Government of FYR Macedonia, the World Bank agreed to consider support for the proposed Lukovo Pole Hydropower Project. The proposed project aims to increase FYR Macedonia’s reliance on renewable energy and improve water storage capacity to reduce vulnerability to variations in rainfall…

 

Macedonia Secures New Investments And Infrastructure Projects– (Eurasia Review) Macedonia declared 2014 is a year of new investments and infrastructure projects that will ensure sustainable growth and reduce unemployment.  The government announced the construction of two hydro-power plants in Lukovo Pole and Boshkov Most, a railroad to Bulgaria, a highway connecting Skopje with Shtip and another connecting Ohrid and Kicevo…

 

Monteneg

New energy facility in Montenegro: A project long awaited for 35 years – (Independent Balkan News Agency) After more than thirty years, Montenegro has finalized the preparations for the  construction of the new energy facilities. The project for the construction of the second block of thermoelectric power…

Spain's Fersa Energias could start building Montenegro's first wind farm in May 2014 – (Energy Central) The consortium of Spanish company Fersa Energias Renovables and local firm Celebic, which won back in 2010 a contract to build a 46MW wind farm in Montenegro , could finally start works on the project by mid-May 2014 , daily Pobjeda reported…

Montenegrin Renewable Energy gets a Boost from Government in 2014 – (NTRealty) The Montenegrin Government, chaired by Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, recently passed a decree on compensation to encourage production of electricity from renewable energy sources and co-generation...

 

Romania

Romania, Turkey sign memorandum on electric energy transport – (Agerpres) The two ministers approached the latest developments in the energy sectors of the two countries, regional cooperation topics and the strategic interconnection projects, the release reads…

Electricity production capacity will grow by 20% until 2020 – (ACTMedia) Electricity production capacity in Romania will grow in the next 6 years by 19%, when units of 5,000 MW are commissioned and low capacity power plants are taken out of use.“Upon commissioning an investment that represents a new electricity production unit, an existing unit equivalent to 25% of the capacity of the new unit is put out of use,” according to a government ...

State – owned Nuclearelectrica sues Romanian energy authority ANRE over regulated energy prices– (Romanian-Insider) Romania’s electricity producer Nuclearelectrica has started a lawsuit against Romania’s energy authority ANRE, arguing that the institution had asked the company to deliver energy to the population at a fixed price, below the market price…

Schachter: (IMF) Energy and transport are the most deficient sectors in Romania– (ACTMedia) Romania has deficiencies in infrastructure, especially in the energy and transport sectors, which must be solved, Andrea Schachter, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation in Romania said at the New Year's Reception of the Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Romania), at the Parliament Palace…

Romania's Hidroelectrica is suing the National Authority for Energy Reglementation– (Balkans) Romania's Hidroelectrica is suing The National Authority for Energy Reglementation, arguing that the institution fixed prices below production costs for the electricity it delivered to the population this year, Agerpress writes…

Romania spends 2.5 times more energy on GDP unit than the EU average – (Balkans) Romania spends 2.5 times more energy on GDP unit than the EU average and could save in the long run betwen EUR 5 and 7 bln by employing energy-saving measures…

Minister Nita: Romania can play important role in providing electric energy to Southeast Europe – (Financiarul) Romania should play an important role in Southeastern Europe as an electric energy provider, considering that, following the shutting down of various plants and big production units, the system records an energy surplus, Minister-delegate for Energy Constantin Nita said in Cluj-Napoca (northwestern Romania) on Monday…

Romania picks adviser for Hidroelectrica IPO – (Reuters) Romania picked a consortium made of Raiffeisen Capital & Investment and Morgan Stanley to advise in the upcoming initial public offering of state-owned power producer Hidroelectrica, the energy ministry said on Monday…

MOL contracts Prospectiuni to search for oil in Western Romania – (Romania-Insider) Panfora Oil & Gas, a MOL Group subsidiary in charge of local exploration and production activities, contracted Romanian company Prospectiuni SA to perform surface measuring operations in the EX-6 Curtici perimeter in Western Romania, and identify conventional hydrocarbon resources, according to a statement of the company…

Romania exports electricity to three neighbors in 2013 – (Romania-Insider) Romania has again become a net electricity exporter in 2013, after having to import electricity in 2012, a year affected by drought. Romanians used 5 percent less energy in 2013, and the country managed to sell its surplus electricity abroad…

NEWS: Garanti Bank finances Smart Energy Group's 5 MW PV Park in Romania – (PV Magazine) Smart Energy Group, a renewable energy investment and EPC company, is pleased to announce that Garanti Bank, one of the most innovative and dynamic banks in Romania and owned by Turkiye Garanti Bankasi A.S…

The production capacity of green projects in Romania increased 82 percent in 2013 – (The Diplomat) The production of green energy reached a record level at the end of 2013 to 4.255 MW, 82 percent more compared to the end of 2012, according to the National Authority of Regulating in the Field of Energy…

 

 

Serbia

Contracts signed for South Stream offshore pipeline supply – (PennEnergy) The South Stream Transport B.V. headquarters in Amsterdam (the Netherlands) hosted today the signing of contracts with regard to supply of 75 thousand 12-meter pipes for the first line of South Stream's offshore section…

Serbian Consumers Shocked by December Bills – (Energetika) Minister of Energy Zorana Mihajlović let the citizens know, that the Ministry respects the report by EPS Snabdijevanje (electricity utility power company Elektroprivreda Srbije), which states that no system…

Accountable Directors in Serbia Replaced Because of Too High Electricity Bills – (Energetika) On the initiative of the Serbian Minister of Energy Zorana Mihajlović and on the proposal from the acting Director-General of EPS Aleksandar Obradović, the director of newly established company EPS Snabdevanje…

DOD Center talks energy security in Serbia – (Dvids) Energy security and its implications on the region led a discussion here by a faculty member of the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies Jan. 23…

Serbia's quick response to European Parliament's criticism regarding renewables utilization – (Energetika) Furthermore, the European Parliament underlines the need for transparency and regrets the Serbian authorities’ failure to take into account “the views of international financial institutions in the adoption of…

Small Hydro Power Plants – (Serbia Energy) The energy potential of low water flow streams suitable for constructed of small hydro power plants (SHPP), amounts to 0.4 million toe or 3% of total renewable energy potential in Serbia…

 

Armenia

Power output drops in Armenia– (Vestnik Kavkaza) The production of electricity in Armenia dropped by 4.1% in 2013, according to the National Statistical Service, Tert.am reports.  It has been the first time production of electricity dropped. Normally, the output rises annually by an average of 8-10%. Purchases of Armenian electricity abroad dropped…

US company buys Armenian power plants in $250mn – (Business Recorder) US power company ContourGlobal said it will acquire three hydroelectric power plants in Armenia in a $250 million deal…

ContourGlobal Signs Agreement With Government Of Armenia To Acquire The 405 MW Vorotan Hydro Cascade For $180 Million USD And Make $70 Million USD Capital Investment To Modernize The Plants – (SYS-CON) ContourGlobal and the Government of Armenia announced today that they have signed an agreement for ContourGlobal…

ContourGlobal purchases Armenian Vorotan hydro cascade for $180 million – (ARKA) The US-based ContourGlobal and Armenia’s government have signed today an agreement for ContourGlobal to purchase and modernize the Vorotan Hydro Cascade, a series of three hydroelectric power plants totaling 405 MW on the Vorotan River in southern Armenia, for a purchase price of $180 million…

Russian Energy Giant Captures Armenian Market – (Institute for War & Peacekeeping) Armenia has ceded control over all its natural gas infrastructure to the Russian energy firm Gazprom, with a commitment not to buy elsewhere until 2043. In return, gas prices will be held down…

Armenia: Citizens Feeling Gouged by High Cost of Russian Gas – (Eurasianet) Armenia is experiencing a Russian-style winter this year, and despite Yerevan’s plans to join the Moscow-led Customs Union, consumers are not catching a break when it comes to the cost of Russian gas…

Zhoghovurd: Plants operate at loss due to high gas price – (Aysor) Following the rise in the prices of gas and electricity, the owners of some bakeries in Yerevan and Armenia have begun complaining not only about the high price of natural gas, but also its low calorific value, ‘Zhoghovurd’ paper says…

Armenian government to continue subsidizing gas price for poor – (ArmeniaNow) Social vulnerably groups in Armenia will continue to enjoy a subsidy on the natural gas price, the Armenian government announced on Thursday…

Armenian government to go on subsidizing gas price for vulnerable groups – premier – (ARKA) Armenia’s government will continue subsidizing gas price for socially insecure families, Armenia’s premier Tigran Sargsyan said at a government meeting Thursday…

 

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan to strengthen its position in world as important energy partner– (Trend) Construction of the Trans-Anatolian (TANAP) and the Trans Adriatic (TAP) gas pipelines and export of Azerbaijani gas from the Shah Deniz to the European market will give a new impetus to the economic development of Azerbaijan, the CEO of SOCAR Romania, Hamza Karimov said in an interview with SOCAR Plus magazine…

 

 

 

Azerbaijani TPP generates over 7.5 billion kilowatt hours electricity in 2013 – (Trend) Azerbaijani Thermal Power Plant (TPP), which accounts for a major part of electricity produced in the country, generated over 7.63 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in 2013, a message from Azerenergy JSC (production and distribution of electricity in Azerbaijan) said…

 

 

 

Azerbaijan’s power generation at hydroelectric power plants exceeded 6.6% of total power generation – (ABC.AZ) The State Statistics Committee reports that the hydropower plant crisis in Azerbaijan which started in 2012 only increased in 2013.  The Committee informs that power generation at hydroelectric power plants (HPPs) reached only 1.369 bn kWh for 2013 that is by 21.7% below that for 2012…

 

 

 

Janub thermal power station generates over 1 bln kilowatt hours of electricity in Azerbaijan for first six months – (Trend) Janub thermal power station generated about 1.17 billion kilowatt hours of electricity for the first six months of operation (as of January 1, 2014), Azerenergy (generation and distribution of electricity in Azerbaijan) said on Monday…

 

 

 

Azerbaijani hydroelectric power plants reduce electricity generation by over 20 percent – (Trend) Azerbaijan generated 20.63 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in 2013 or 0.6 percent more than in 2012, the State Statistics Committee told Trend today…

 

 

 

Roughly 5 bln manats invested in Azerbaijan's oil sector – (Azernews) Over 4.82 billion manats were invested in Azerbaijan's oil sector in 2013, which is 24.2 percent more than in 2012, Azerbaijan's State Statistics Committee has said…

 

 

 

Azerbaijan to be key element of transit in region– (Azernews) Azerbaijan launched its biggest energy project, a project of supplying gas from Shah Deniz field to Europe in late 2013. Although the transportation volumes are only expected to hit about 10 billion cubic meters of gas at the first phase, the project is very important from the point of view of opening the Southern Gas Corridor, which may bring additional gas volumes from other producers in Azerbaijan and beyond it in the future…

 

 

 

Azerbaijan’s gas extraction grew by 9.7% in December– (ABC.AZ) In December 2013 Azerbaijan’s gas production increased by 9.7% compared to November. The State Statistics Committee (SSC) informs that in 2013 in Azerbaijan it was produced 17.857 bn cu m of marketable gas that exceeded by 3.6% the 2012 index. In December 2013 gas extraction was 1.69 bn cu m (month’s best index for 2013) and in the 4th quarter of 2013 - 4.78 bn cu m…

 

 

 

Number of violations in gas usage rules reduced in Azerbaijan in 2013 – (Trend) In 2013 the Azerigas Production Association (PA) part of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), drew up 11,376 acts with regard to violations in the rules of gas usage, according to a message from the SOCAR…

 

 

 

Reason for gasoline imports to Azerbaijan announced – (Trend) SOCAR (the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) will stop operation of a catalytic cracking unit at the Baku Oil Refinery named after Heydar Aliyev in April for a month for reconstruction, a source in SOCAR told Trend today…

 

Georgia

New HPP commissioned in Georgia – (Trend) The opening ceremony of a new hydropower plant, Larsi HPP was held in Kazbegi region (north Georgia, the border with Russia) on Jan.24. Georgian Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze attended the opening ceremony and emphasized the significance of the new HPP for the country's energy and the local population…

Georgia to build three new power plants – (Azernews) Three new hydroelectric power plants will be constructed in Georgia.  Large-scale Alpana and Sadmeli hydroelectric power plants will be among them, Georgian Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze said after a government meeting on January 27.

Three new hydroelectric power plants to be built in Georgia – (Trend) Three new hydroelectric power plants will be built in Georgia. "Large-scale Alpana and Sadmeli hydroelectric power plants will be among them," Georgian Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze said after a government meeting on Monday…

Azerbaijan ensures 30 percent of Georgian oil import – (Trend) Georgia imported 295,740 tons of oil and oil products worth $275.69 million from Azerbaijan in 2013, the Georgian National Statistics Service said today…

 

 

Moldova

On Energy Security, Eastern Europe Is Often Its Own Worst Enemy– (Carnegie Europe) Russia is having a good run in Eastern Europe.  Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, clinched a major energy deal with Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian conservative prime minister, who visited Moscow two weeks ago. The Russian state atomic energy corporation Rosatom agreed to help build a nuclear power plant in Paks, Hungary. It will also provide €10 billion ($13.7 billion) in loans…

MOLDOVA INCREASES BY 72% UKRAINIAN POWER CONSUMPTION IN 2013– (INFOTag) In 2013, Ukraine supplied to Moldova 1.455 billion kW/hour of electric energy, which is 72.1% (609.9 million kW/hour) more than in 2012…

 

Turkey

Romania, Turkey sign memorandum on electric energy transport – (ACT Media) Minister-delegate for Energy Constantin Nita and Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the development of interconnections in the electric energy sector…

SLOVAKIA SUPPORTS TURKEY ON A 10 BILLION DOLLAR POWER PLANT PROJECT – (MMD) The Slovak Republic Prime Minister Robert Fico sent their country's official letter to the Republic of Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to begin their final stage of a Country to Country Agreement for a 5000 Megawatt Electrical Power Plant Project in the Konya/Karaman area of Turkey…

Alstom to supply two shunt reactors to boost Turkish transmission lines' grid stability – (EBR) Alstom Grid has been awarded a turnkey contract to supply shunt reactors to TenneT, for improvement of grid stability across the company's transmission lines in Turkey…

Bulgaria, Turkey agree new gas interconnector – (Daily News) Bulgaria and Turkey agreed on Friday to set up a joint company and build a gas pipeline to link their networks and enable imports, Bulgaria's economy and energy minister said…

Bulgaria-Turkey gas interconnector may be built in 2 years (ROUNDUP) – (Focus) Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy, Dragomir Stoynev, is to meet with Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Taner Yıldız, on Friday, January 24…

Bulgaria, Turkey to Sign Gas Grid Interconnection Contract in March – (Novinite) Bulgaria and Turkey are to sign an agreement stipulating concrete deadlines and parameters for the construction of the gas grid interconnection in March…

Turkish currency tumble raises fears in energy sector – (Daily News) Turkey is likely to face more struggles to fund its already-mounting energy bill due to the political problems that have emerged with a corruption investigation that has driven Turkish currency to record lows…

Turkey: Energy Sector In Turkey And The Central Importance Of EPIAŞ – (Mondaq) Turkish economic growth that had been going on for more than a decade have created a strong economy that is based on high demand for energy. The demand has reached to such a high extend that energy sector had turned in to one of the most important sectors that have been contributing to the current account deficit of the country…

 

Ukraine

Putin: Russia Will Honor Ukraine Loan, Energy Deals – (Radio Free Europe) President Vladimir Putin has pledged that Russia will honor its new economic deals with Ukraine -- even if the Ukrainian government changes as a result of the unrest roiling the country…

 

 

 

Putin instructs Russian gov't to fully honor all loan, energy deals with Ukraine – (The Voice of Russia) Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed the government to make sure that all financial and energy agreements with Ukraine are honored in full…

 

 

 

Putin Signals Pause on Ukraine Deal as Medvedev Warns on Gas – (Bloomberg) Russia will wait until Ukraine forms a new government before honoring agreements to reduce natural gas prices and channeling the remainder of a $15 billion rescue package to its neighbor, President Vladimir Putin said…

 

 

 

Russia not to revise arrangements with Russia due to Azarov’s resignation – (ForUm) Russia does not intend to review the decision on allocation of credit and gas prices due to the resignation of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, Russian President Vladimir Putin told journalists after the "EU-Russia" Summit…

 

 

 

Putin: Russia won't rescind loans, gas price cuts for Ukraine– (UPI) Moscow won't rescind the loans and gas price cuts it signed with Ukraine despite its change in government, Russian President Vladimir Putin said this week…

 

 

 

Putin: Russia not to seek gas deal revision if opposition comes to power in Ukraine – (Russia & India Report) Russia will not initiate a revision of its gas agreements with Ukraine, which has been hit by anti-government protests, even if the opposition in that country comes to power, Russian President Vladimir Putin told a news conference after the Russia-EU summit in Brussels on Tuesday…

 

 

 

Ukraine holds promise for shale gas despite uncertainty – (Christian Science Monitor) Ukraine will host a summit in May to explore European shale oil and natural gas. Despite an uncertain political future, Ukraine is still one of more promising shale areas in the region, Graeber writes…

 

 

 

Ukraine unrest: the energy connection – (The Christian Science Monitor) Ukrainian protesters seized an administrative building in Kiev Friday, before President Viktor Yanukovych appeared to offer concessions to ease growing unrest. Ukraine's energy challenges – dependent on fickle Russia for natural gas and unable to yet develop its own resources – make a difficult situation worse…

 

 

 

Ex-minister: Ukrainian power system should be depoliticized – (forUm) Ukrainian power system should be separated from politics in order to fully meet the needs of the population, former energy minister of Ukraine, chairman of the Supervisory Board of PJSC "Kyivenergo" Ivan Plachkov told a round table…

 

 

 

Protesters seize Ukraine's Energy Ministry building – (Fox News) A group of opposition demonstrators seized control of the Energy Ministry building in the Ukrainian capital on Saturday, while other protesters occupied a government headquarters in the city of Vinnytsia, local media reported…

 

 

 

Kiev protesters siege energy ministry building as Donetsk holds pro-govt rallies – (RT) Some 100 radical activists armed with clubs briefly entered the Ukrainian Energy Ministry building in Kiev and then blocked its main entrance. In Donetsk, thousands rallied in support of President Yanukovich’s government, protesting against the unrest…

 

 

 

Ukraine protestors take over energy ministry in Kyiv – (BNE) As violence continues to rage in the Ukrainian capital, radical protestors have seized the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry, the second ministry to fall in Kyiv. This follows a pattern across the west and centre of Ukraine over the past two days, where anti-government…

 

 

 

Ukraine: Opposition Occupies Ministry of Energy – (Prensa Latina) Opposition demonstrators occupied the headquarters of the Ministry of Energy and Charcoal Industry, in this capital, the second occupation of a government building over the past 24 hours, amid violent incidents taking place in the country…

 

 

 

Protesters take over Ukraine’s Fuel and Energy Ministry – (PanArmenian) Protesters have occupied Ukraine’s Fuel and Energy Ministry in downtown Kyiv, an opposition leader said Saturday, Jan 25, according to RIA Novosti…

 

 

 

New energy efficiency project launched in Ukraine– (forUm) The Ukrainian cities are competing to participate in a new international energy efficiency project Municipal Energy Reform Project (MERP). Client: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Contractor: International Resources Group (IRG)…

 

 

 

Ukraine unrest to speed up South Stream talks – (The Voice of Russia) The unrest in Ukraine threatens Russia's gas supplies to Europe. The threat of explosions at hydro and nuclear power stations by radicals has sharply increased. The Ukrainian Ministry of Energy has placed all the energy facilities on high alert…

 

 

 

Medvedev: Ukraine asks for gas payment break – (UPI) Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said the Ukrainian government has requested a delay in paying its debt for purchases of Russian natural gas…

 

 

 

Ukraine Reduces Gas Consumption By 8.1% To 50.4 Billion Cubic Meters In 2013 – (UN.UA) Ukraine reduced consumption of natural gas by 4,417.0 million cubic meters or 8.1% to 50,357.6 million cubic meters in 2013 as against 2012…

 

 

 

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.