Albania

Albania's power corporation warned that the country faces a fresh energy crisis this winter – (Balkans) Albania's power corporation warned that the country faces a fresh energy crisis this winter because the country's electricity distributor has failed to cover grid losses with imports… 

Bulgaria

Bulgarian minister says TAP important for his country – (Azernews) Bulgarian Economy and Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev said that the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project may turn into a key source of gas supplies for Bulgaria through an association with the Bulgaria-Greece gas grid interconnection, Sofia News Agency reported…

Bulgaria's Energy Minister: Diversification, Security of Gas Are Top Priorities – (Novinite) Economy and Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev has assured representatives of the "Trans Adriatic Pipeline", TAP, project, that the Bulgarian government considers gas supply diversification a top priority…

Bulgaria to Lose EUR 90 M in EU Funding in Energy Sector – (Novinite) Dragomir Stoynev, Bulgaria's Minister of Economy and Energy, has cautioned that Bulgaria's energy sector may lose EU funding of EUR 30 M by end-2013, which could swell to EUR 60 M by 2014…

Schneider Electric awarded service contract for PV plants in Bulgaria – (Renewable Energy Magazine) Schneider Electric, has been awarded a major multi-year service contract for a total of 42 MW PV power plants in Bulgaria. The company had previously served as electrical equipment provider for the facilities…

Bulgaria to produce electricity from coal for at least another 72 years – (Focus) Bulgaria will be capable of producing electricity from its local coal production at least for the next 72 years, according to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2013…

Top-Level Reshuffle in Bulgaria's Electricity Sector – (Novinite) Bulgaria's Electricity System Operator (ESO) and the National Electric Company (NEK) have undergone a reshuffle of senior staff amid a scandal over the delayed separation of ESO from NEK and potential penalties by the European Commission…

CEZ Bulgaria gives 25 more free electricity bills to clients – (Focus) Twenty-five more clients of CEZ Bulgaria won free electricity bills for BGN 1,035 within the Loyalty Pays Back campaign, the press office of the company announced…

Anti-monopolies agency: no fair competition in the electricity sector – (Standart) The Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) has brought proceedings for possible violations by the energy companies with respect to the procedure and conditions of the switching current…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Chinese company wins bid to build 390 MW power plant in Bosnia – (Reuters) Swiss-based KTG AG and authorities of the Bosnian town of Zenica said on Tuesday they have picked China's Sepco III Electric Power Construction Corp to build a 390 megawatt (MW) gas-fired power plant in the central Bosnian town…

Bank seeks small hydro projects design review on Bosnia's Neretva River – (Hydro World) The World Bank invites expressions of interest from consultants to review preliminary design of small hydro projects proposed for the Upper Neretva River in Bosnia and Herzegovina…

World Bank tenders review of preliminary design for small hydro projects in Bosnia Herzegovina – (Balkans) The World Bank invites expressions of interest from consultants to review preliminary design of small hydro projects proposed for the Upper Neretva River in Bosnia and Herzegovina…

Croatia

Croatian islanders fight for low-carbon future – (DW) Croatia’s stunning coastline and islands are a major draw for tourists. Environmentalists on the island of Krk want to make it the Mediterranean’s first carbon-neutral island and say they are facing violent backlash…

Croatia's HEP seeks partners for wind power projects – (Climate Spectator) Croatian power board HEP invited existing wind power developers to indicate their interest in jointly taking on new projects as the new European Union member seeks to improve its energy mix and reduce reliance on imports…

Slovenian power provider says its offer for Croatia remains best – (Dalje) The Slovenian company GEN-I said on Monday that its "Cheap Electricity" offer would remain the best on the Croatian market even if the competition lowered their prices, and that more than 4,000 customers had opted for its offer so far… 

Croatia utility flags new wind plans – (ReCharge) Croatian state power company HEP has invited wind developers to indicate their interest in jointly taking part in new projects…

Foreign companies promise cheaper electric energy supply – (Croatian Times) Croatia's energy market has become the centre of debates this week as foreign companies will soon be allowed to offer electric energy supply to Croat citizens…

Montenegro

Montenegro modernizes water infrastructure – (DW) Tourism in Montenegro is booming, putting a strain on already scarce water resources. The country is now overhauling its water infrastructure to meet the growing demand for electricity…

Montenegro plans to overhaul its water infrastructure to meet the growing demand for electricity – (Balkans) Project goal: Modernizing hydro power plants, building a modern water network with pumpstations, waste water pipelines etc.Project size: Two hydro power plants supply 658 megawatts of electricity…

Romania

Romania's State-owned Hunedoara Energy, a power generator, has absorbed the National Coal Company Petrosani  -(Balkans) Romania's state-owned Hunedoara Energy Holding, a power generator, has absorbed the National Coal Company Petrosani, in a move to cut production costs…

After insolvency exit, Romania’s energy producer Hidroelectrica posts unexpectedly high profit in first half of 2013 – (Romania Insider) Romania’s largest energy producer Hidroelectrica recorded a profit of around EUR 109 million (RON 481 million) in the first half of 2013, compared to a loss of RON 202 million reported in the same period in 2012, according to the company…

Romania to delay IPO of nuclear energy company Nuclearelectrica – (Balkans) The IPO of Romanian nuclear energy company Nuclearelectrica is being postponed at least until late July after a dispute erupted between union members and the company's minority stakeholder Fondul Proprietatea…

IMF is urging Romania to tap into its natural energy resources – (Balkans) The International Monetary Fund's managing director is urging Romania to tap into its natural energy resources and European Union funds to improve its sluggish economy…

Enel Green Power connects their first photovoltaic plants in Romania – (PV Tech) The two new plants hope to generate 29 million kWh annually. Picture: Enel Green Power

Enel Green Power Romania, the local renewable energy subsidiary of Enel Group, has connected its first PV plants in Romania…

Serbia

Electricity price increase of 10.9% approved – (B92) The Energy Agency of the Republic of Serbia has approved the request of the Electric Power Industry of Serbia (EPS) for a price increase…

Serbia Will Invest EUR 10 Billion In The Development Of Energy Sector – (In Serbia) Serbia’s Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said on Thursday Serbia will invest EUR 10 billion in the development of the energy sector in the next 8 years, which will complete a new investment cycle…

Serbia will invest 10 billion euros in the development of the energy sector – (Balkans) Serbian Prime Minster Ivica Dacic has stated that in the next eight years Serbia will invest 10 billion euros in the development of the energy sector, thus making a new investment unit…

Serbia: Increase Of 10.9 Per Cent In The Electricity Price Approved – (In Serbia) The Energy Agency of the Republic of Serbia (AERS) approved Tuesday the request of the Electric Power Industry of Serbia (EPS) for the price of electricity in households to increase by 10.9 percent, Tanjug learnt at the AERS…

Serbia will offer investors new power purchase agreements – (Balkans) Serbia will offer investors new power purchase agreements beginning next week, unlocking potential for investments in renewable energy generation units…

Armenia

Armenia to construct third energy block – (AzerNews) Armenia is currently in talks over the construction of a third energy block, Director of the Institute of Radiation Problems of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Adil Garibov said on July 16…

Azerbaijan

Ambassador Suleymanov: Caspian Sea Gas Pipeline Would Advance US Energy Interests – (Chamber of Commerce) In a long-awaited decision, the developers of the Shah Deniz natural gas field, a mega project in the Caspian Sea, have announced the route for the western end of the pipelines that will stretch from Azerbaijan to Turkey and then across Greece and Albania to Italy…

Expert cites need for nuclear program in Azerbaijan – (Azernews) The development of alternative energy, especially nuclear energy, is of great importance for some countries given the current depletion of natural energy resources in the world…

Gas pipeline from Caspian Sea would advance US energy interests – (Alaska Dispatch) In a long-awaited decision, the developers of the Shah Deniz natural gas field, a megaproject in the Caspian Sea, have announced the route for the western end of the pipelines that will stretch from Azerbaijan to Turkey and then across Greece and Albania to Italy…

European energy security unimaginable without Azerbaijan, Turkey: official – (AzerNews) Istanbul hosted a ceremony on July 13 to present the award of "President of Decade" in Turkic countries, the Middle East and the South Caucasus, which was won by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in a survey conducted by the Turkish Ekovitrin magazine, Azerbaijan's AzerTag state news agency reported…

President: EBRD ready to cooperate in energy efficiency with Azerbaijan – (Trend) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan in the field of energy efficiency, EBRD president Suma Chakrabarti said at a press conference, dedicated to his visit to the region, in Baku on Monday…

Azerbaijan’s energy company expands new gas storage – (Azernews) Azerbaijan's state oil company SOCAR has already entered the design depth on drilling the first appraisal well within the framework of creating an underground gas storage facility in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, source in the company told Trend…

TAP to change energy map of Europe: Azerbaijani official – (Azernews) The selection of Trans-Adriatic Pipeline as the South European route by the Shah Deniz consortium will change the energy map of Europe and open up new opportunities for cooperation, Azerbaijani Deputy Industry and Energy Minister Natig Abbasov said at a meeting with a European Parliament delegation that is on a visit to Baku…

New EBRD in Azerbaijan: women-entrepreneurs and energy efficiency – (abc.az) President of European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Sir Suma Chakrabarti completed his two day visit to Azerbaijan…

Georgia

Georgian State Electrosystem to build 500kV transmission line to Russia – (EBR) Georgia-based state owned transmission providing company, Georgian State Electrosystem (GSE), has announced to build a new 500kV transmission line towards Russia… 

Indian company to invest in Georgian energy system – (Azernews) Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has met with the heads of the Indian company "TATA Group" on July 16…

Bank of Georgia, Energy fund to finance construction of hydroelectrict power plants – (Azernews) Georgian Energy Development Fund and Bank of Georgia signed a memorandum on cooperation on July 10. According to the memorandum, the fund will carry out the construction of seven hydroelectric power plants in different regions of Georgia…

Georgian minister: To convince KazTransGas to lower gas tariffs is difficult – (Trend) It will be difficult to convince "KazTransGas" to lower gas tariffs, Georgian Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze said at a press-conference today… 

Bank of Georgia to finance construction of seven hydroelectric power stations – (Turkish Weekly) The Georgian Energy Development Fund and "Bank of Georgia" signed a memorandum of cooperation today. According to the memorandum, the fund will construct seven hydroelectric power stations in different regions of Georgia…

Georgia and Russia to establish new electricity links – (The Messenger Online) Georgian authorities aired the information on the possible construction of 500 kilowatt electro-transmission line between Georgia and Russia in the near future…

EBRD to invest $200 million in Georgia's economy – (Trend) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) intends to invest $200 million in Georgia in 2013, EBRD president Suma Chakrabarti said during his meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Bidizina Ivanishvili…

Russia

Russia. Govt Outlines National Objective for Energy-efficiency by 2020 – (Black Sea Grain) The Russian government has outlined as a national objective the goal of Russia becoming 40 per cent more energy-efficiency by 2020…

Russian Energy Ministry awaits final proposal from Rosneft – (Steel Guru) Interfax reported that the Russian Energy Ministry is waiting for a final proposal from Rosneft on routes for additional oil deliveries to China, which could go through Kazakhstan, in order to calculate the resource base…

Russia's InterRao to sell stakes in power assets – (Reuters) Russia's state electricity holding firm InterRao has agreed to sell some interests of its power assets to raise funds for its investment programme, newspapers reported on Friday, citing sources…

Georgia plans to build 500-kilovolt power transmission line towards Russia – (Trend) Georgia plans to build a 500-kilovolt power transmission line towards Russia.

It has not yet been decided where the substation will be built, Chairman of the Management Board of Georgian State Electrosystem Sulkhan Zumburidze told journalists…

Turkey

Atlas Copco Win Geothermal order in Turkey – (Herald On line) Atlas Copco (STO:ATCOA) (STO:ATCOB) won a second major order in Turkey to deliver equipment for two renewable energy geothermal power plants. The order value is circa MUSD 23 (MSEK 150)…

Iraqi Kurdistan and Turkey Proceed Slowly on Energy Cooperation – (ISN) While the Kurdistan Regional Government remains unable to resolve its differences with Iraq over the oil sector, its cooperation with Turkey is expanding…

European energy security unimaginable without Azerbaijan, Turkey – (Azernews) Istanbul hosted a ceremony on July 13 to present the award of "President of Decade" in Turkic countries, the Middle East and the South Caucasus, which was won by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in a survey conducted by the Turkish Ekovitrin magazine, Azerbaijan's AzerTag state news agency reported…

5.3 billion barrels of oil flowed through Turkey in 24 years – (Daily News) Over the last 24 years, 5.3 billion barrels of crude oil have been distributed via four pipelines in Turkey, according to the data from the state-run pipeline company BOTAŞ…

KRG to be illuminated with Turkish power – (The Daily News) A Turkish company will meet the electricity needs of the Kurdish region of Iraq, the electricity minister of the regional administration has told Anadolu Agency…

Ukraine

Exxon’s $735 Million Ukraine Pledge Shows Black Sea Zeal: Energy – (Bloomberg) Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM). is so confident of prospects in the unexplored Black Sea it will spend $735 million to drill just two deep-water wells off Ukraine’s coast…

Ukraine makes oil discovery – (UPI) An energy company in Ukraine announced an oil discovery in the Budyshchansky-Chutivsky field in the central Poltava region…

Ukraine to defend its position on world energy market – (Forum) Ukraine, as a buyer and a transporter of natural gas, will defend its position on the energy market, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said during the government meeting, ForUm correspondent reports…

Exxon (NYSE: XOM) Ukrainian Gas Investing – (Energy & Capital) Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) has so much faith in the potential for Ukrainian gas reserves that it plans to spend $735 million in a drilling operation off Ukraine’s coast…

Ukraine Agrees With Gazprom on Ensuring EU-Bound Gas Transit – (Bloomberg Business Week) Ukraine’s NAK Naftogaz Ukrainy and OAO Gazprom (GAZP) have come to a “mutual understanding” on how to ensure the stable transit of natural gas to European customers, according to Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Yuriy Boyko…

Ukraine cuts electricity consumption by 4.1% in Jan-June 2013 – (Interfax-Ukraine) Electricity consumption, including in-process losses in the Ukrainian grids, in January-June 2013 fell by 4.1%, or by 3.897 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), year-over-year, to 92.008 billion kWh…

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.