USEA Upcoming Events

March 25-26 2015: USAID/USEA Black Sea Regional Transmission System Planning (BSTP) Project Working Group Meeting Bucharest, Romania

March 27 2015: USAID/USEA Black Sea Regional Transmission System Planning (BSTP)/Black Sea Regulatory Initiative (BSRI) Joint Project Working Group Meeting Bucharest, Romania

Albania vows to rescue privatization of state oil company Albpetrol, diversify energy market – (Winnipeg Free Press) Albania's prime minister said Tuesday his government is determined to conclude the troubled privatization of state oil company Albpetrol by the end of the year, in an appeal to investors to seek opportunities in the country's energy market…

Albania to Build a LNG Terminal – (Energetika) Gas is of great benefit to the economy, Arun Trivikram of Shell Albania said. According to Trivikram, Shell wants to be a constructive partner in the gasification of Albania. Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Energy…

IFM praises Albania gov’t efforts on stabilizing energy sector – (dtt-net) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Albanian government is doing well on reforms in energy sector including collection of revenues and the fight against massive electricity theft which has been reduced recently but still remains high…

Albanian PM: We Are Opening Up the Energy Sector to Competition – (Energetika) “What we need is reforms and harmonisation of rules across sectors, both at state and regional levels. At state level, we have already started implementing a series of reforms that promise to bring positive…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnian region approves first wind farm projects – (Reuters) The government of Bosnia's autonomous Bosniak-Croat Federation on Wednesday gave approval to three companies to start building wind farms with combined capacity of 138 megawatts (MW), the first such renewable energy projects in the Balkan country…

Bosnia's Federation oks issuing energy permits for three wind park projects – (SeeNews) The government of Bosnia’s Muslim-Croat Federation said on Wednesday it has endorsed issuing energy permits for three wind park projects…

Bosnian utility EPBiH's 2014 profit falls more than tenfold – (Reuters) Bosnian utility EPBiH's 2014 profit plunged more than tenfold to 3.2 million Bosnian marka ($1.73 million) due to falling power prices and poor hydro power generation…

Bosnia's Amitea II applies for permits to build two SHPP – (SeeNews) Bosnian company Amitea II has applied for permits to build two small hydro power plants (SHPP) in the Muslim-Croat Federation, the entity's energy ministry said on Thursday…

Bulgaria

All settlements in Bulgaria’s Nedelino Municipality without electricity, snowdrifts and fallen rocks block roads– (Focus) Nedelino. Snowdrifts and fallen rocks have closed roads in Nedelino Municipality. All settlements in the Municipality are without power supply. That is what officer on duty at the Municipality Hall in Nedelino told Radio FOCUS – Smolyan…

Bulgaria’s National Electric Company Spends Most on Green Electricity– (Novinite) Bulgaria’s National Electric Company (NEK) spends the most on renewable energy and the least on electricity produced by the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), according to Petar Iliev, Executive Director of NEK…

Power supply in Bulgaria’s Smolyan district to be resumed by the end of the day: regional governor – (Focus) The power supply in Smolyan district is expected to be resumed until the end of the day, as there are only around 10-15 villages without electricity. That is what regional governor of Smolyan district Nedyalko Slavov told Radio FOCUS Smolyan…

1,179 settlements without power supply on first day of disaster: Bulgaria energy minister – (Focus) “According to the information of the Electricity System Operator (ESO), the grids that stopped functioning were 44 on March 7, 2015, 9 of which resumed work by the end of the day. The substations that were not working were 15. According to the power distribution companies, 890 settlements were left without electricity on March 7 on EVN’s territory – [this is] 184,800 clients…

Bulgaria Energy Min Assures South Stream Construction not Underway – (Novinite) No operations related to the South Stream gas pipeline are ongoing in Bulgaria, the country's Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova has said. While in Parliament on Thursday, Petkova used the rostrum to fend off speculation that activities are still being carried out…

Dusan Ryban, CEZ Bulgaria: We have to join forces and find adequate solutions for the future of Bulgaria’s power distribution network – (Focus) Mr Ryban, speaking of the latest troubles with the power supply throughout the country, is it only the snow that paralysed half of Bulgaria last week…

Dusan Ryban, CEZ Bulgaria: 20% of power distribution lines in Bulgaria are under the ground – (Focus) 20% of the power distribution lines in Bulgaria are under the ground, while the remaining 80% - on power poles,” Dusan Ryban, Chairman of the Management Board of CEZ Distribution Bulgaria, in an interview with FOCUS News Agency…

We cannot allow Bulgaria’s NEK, energy sector to sustain losses: minister– (Focus) ”I want the employees of Vidachim company know the reason for their lay-offs is through no fault of the government. We simply have to find a way in which the energy sector could exit this collapse and implement the respective measures,” said Temenuzhka Petkova, Minister of Energy, speaking at a briefing, FOCUS News Agency reported…

EU position on Bulgarian state aid to energy sector still unclear – (ICIS) It is still unclear when the European Commission would formalise a position on Bulgaria’s complaints that long-term electricity purchase contracts and the renewable feed-in tariff scheme should be considered state aid…

Kosovo

Albania and Kosovo to Establish Common Energy Market – (Energetika) The Steering Committee approved the composition and constitution of the three working groups: group legal-regulatory matters; operating-technical group and financial-trading group…

Stakeholders give their views on how a future Energy Community should look like – (Energy Community) The results of the public consultation which gathered stakeholders’ views on options for the implementation of proposals made by the High Level Reflection Group in its report “An Energy Community for the Future” were published today…

Macedonia

Russian Stroytransgaz Starts Building Gas Pipeline in Macedonia – (Energetika) The official launch of the project was attended by Macedonia's Prime Minister, Nikola Gruevski, Deputy PM, Zoran Stavreski, Transport Minister, Mile Janakieski, Directors of joint-stock company Macedonian…

Russia to build Macedonia gas pipeline, possible Turkey route link – (Reuters) Russia's Stroitransgaz said on Thursday it will build a gas pipeline across Macedonia, which could eventually be used as part of a route to supply Europe with Russian gas via Turkey…

Vienna Forum on European Energy Law unites leading energy experts – (Energy Community) The 3nd Vienna Forum on European Energy Law took place at the premises of the Energy Community Secretariat on 13 March. The Forum, which is a joint initiative between the Florence School of Regulation and the Energy Community Secretariat, brought together over 140 experts from energy companies…

Montenegro

Montenegro's EPCG Plans to Generate 4% More Electricity in 2015 – (Energetika) The Perućica hydropower plant (HPP) generated 1,006,682 MWh of electricity in 2014, which is 8% more than planned. The Piva HPP generated 679,338 MWh of electricity, although the plan was to reach 749,000 MWh…

In February Consumption by Montenegrin Households Fell 13.5% Compared to January – (Energetika) The bills of domestic consumers averaged EUR 39.57 in February. In January the average electricity bill for households was EUR 45.12.About 1.8% of households had to pay more than EUR 150 for their electricity…

Romania

Romania's Day-Ahead Power Sales Volume Up 21.5% in February – (Energetika) The average price was 37.10 EUR/MWh, a decrease of 6.15% compared to January 2015, and an increase of 17.01% compared to February 2014.The value of transactions on the day-ahead market was EUR 73.69 million…

EBRD and EU celebrate Romanian firms’ use of energy efficiency and renewable energy – (The Financial) A cereal grower, a car-servicing company, a manufacturer of antique-style furniture, a fruit and vegetable processor, several bakeries, a paper producer, and south-eastern Europe’s largest oil and gas producer are among the 15 Romanian companies honoured by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) for promoting energy efficiency…

Romanian electricity market in ‘turmoil’ after supplier platform launch – (ICIS) Romania’s new dedicated trading platform for electricity suppliers is mired in controversy after just one day of operation, with Monday’s prices on the auction-based system well above those on equivalent over-the-counter (OTC) products…

Opinion: Romanian Energy Center, on the Romanian energy market and the most significant player, the population – (The Diplomat) The Romanian Energy Center expressed its opinion on the local energy market, after it had considered specific analysis on the market, delivered by different institutions…

Serbia

Despite Agreement with IMF in Serbia Electricity Price Will Not Rise from April– (Energetika) The government also said that it would support EPS in preparing a plan for financial consolidation, Blic wrote. The government will adopt this plan by the end of March. After the financial consolidation…

Serbia Sets New Rules for Solar Installations up to 30 kW– (Energetika) According to the Regulation on the Conditions and Procedure for Acquiring the Status of a Privileged Power Producer, if the holders of the temporary status of a privileged producer under this regulation have no...

Serbia’s Electricity Price Part of IMF Deal – (Energetika) The IMF expects Serbia to honour the agreement. Murgasova also said that “this matter would be a topic of the next agreement review in mid-May”. Other topics include the future of the Petrohemija petrochemical…

Elektroprivreda Srbije Promises Ministry to Improve Its Efficiency and Productivity – (Energetika) In the meeting, Minister Antić drew attention to the two phases of EPS reorganisation. In the first phase until 1 July this year all the EPS’s daughter companies for the production of electricity and coal…

EPS Invites Domestic Producers to Take Part in Its Smart Meters Integration Project – (Energetika) Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) did not change the conditions of the tender for the procurement of IT and measurement infrastructure, devices and integration, which includes the purchase of electric smart meters…

Serbia's Public Tender for Selection of Reserve Electricity Supplier – (Energetika) Interested applicants should submit the application and a report in a sealed and-secured envelope. The application must be submitted by mail, or through registry office administrative bodies, indicating…

Armenia

Ambassador: Armenia energy sector is key domain for US government – (News.AM) The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Armenia, Yervand Zakharyan, on Monday received new US Ambassador Richard Mills.  First, the minister congratulated the American diplomat on his appointment and wished him productive work, informed the press service of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources…

Armenian government, EU sign energy sector-related documents – (Armenia Now) Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan on Monday was presented at the signing of three documents between the Armenian government and the European Union (EU)…

EBRD, Armenia sign contribution agreement on Armenia’s participation in E5P – (Public Radio of Armenia) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR) of Armenia have signed an agreement on Armenia’s participation in the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P)…

EBRD and government of Armenia sign a contribution agreement on Armenia’s participation in E5P – (The Financial) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR) of Armenia have signed an agreement on Armenia’s participation in the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P)…

EIB funds energy interconnection project between Armenia and Georgia – (EBR) European Investment Bank (EIB) will advance €10m in loan for financing the construction of a power transmission line and a high voltage direct current station connecting Armenia and Georgia…

Europe ready to finance energy efficiency in Armenia – (News.AM) The European Investment Bank is ready to finance energy efficiency in Armenia. This was stated by representatives of the bank at a meeting with Minister of Urban Development of Armenia Armen Gularyan…

EU to give 15 mln euro for energy efficiency in Armenia – (News.AM) The EU will allocate 15 million euro for energy efficiency and renewable energy in Armenia this year, Traian Hristea, head of the European Union delegation to Armenia, told reporters on Monday in Yerevan…

Armenia-Georgia power link project lent €95m – (Energy Live News) The power line linking Armenia and Georgia is getting a boost, thanks to a €95.2 million (£68m) loan announced today. The European Investment Bank (EIB) said it is providing €10 million (£7.2m) while German bank KfW is lending €85.2 million (£61m) for the project…

EU Lends 95 Million Euros to Armenia-Georgia Power Link Project – (Asbarez) The construction of a power line linking Armenia and Georgia is getting a boost, thanks to a 95.2 million euro (approx. $100 million) loan announced Monday.  The European Investment Bank (EIB) said it is providing 10 million euros (approx. $11 million) while German bank KfW is lending 85.2 million euros (approx. $90 million) for the project…

Armenia plans on building 30-70 megawatt solar power stations – (ARMENPRESS) In the next two to three years, Armenia will be building 30-70 megawatt solar power stations.  This is what Deputy Minister of Energy and National Resources of the Republic of Armenia Areg Galstyan informed during the session of the Committee…

Azerbaijan

Foundation laid for pipe to carry Azeri gas to EU – (Hurriyet Daily News) Turkey made the groundbreaking ceremony for the $10 billion Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Project (TANAP) project to pipe Azeri gas to Western markets on March 17, in line with a plan which could help the EU reduce its dependence on Russian energy even as Moscow touts its own alternative…

Turkey launches TANAP to pipe Azeri gas to Europe – (Today’s Zaman) The multi-billion-dollar Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) project, which aims to reduce Europe's reliance on Russian gas, has entered a new phase with an inauguration ceremony in which the presidents of Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan marked the start of the construction of pipelines in the northeastern province of Kars on Tuesday…

Azerbaijan’s power export increased sharply – (ABC.AZ) The State Customs Committee reports that according to electric meters’ data over Jan-Feb 2015 electric power export from the country totaled 67.795 million kWh that exceeds the 2013 same term’s index (18.057 million kWh) by 3.75 times. Delivery for power export reached 60.5 million kWh In January and 7.27 million kWh in February of the year…

Azerbaijan May Adopt Premium Payments for Power From Sun – (Bloomberg Business) Azerbaijan may start making premium payments for power generated from the sun as it plans to build out 2,065 megawatts of solar capacity by 2020…

Turkey-Azerbaijan-Georgia energy unity opens up new horizons – President – (APA) Today, the TANAP project’s foundation is being laid. TANAP is our joint project.  Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made remarks on March 17 during the opening of the Vocational and Technical Lyceum named after Heydar Aliyev in Kars…

Georgia, Turkey, Azerbaijan launch geopolitically important pipeline project – (Democracy & Freedom Watch) The presidents of Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan have agreed to start construction of a natural gas pipeline which will bypass Russia and reduce Europe’s energy dependence on Russia…

Turkey, Azerbaijan to start work on new mega gas pipeline – (Ekathimerini) Turkey and Azerbaijan will on Tuesday formally begin construction on a new gas pipeline costing over $10 billion which will pump gas from the vast Azerbaijani Shah Deniz 2 field across Anatolia to Turkish and EU consumers…

Georgia

E5P holds discussions of the benefits of Energy Efficiency Investments in Georgian municipalities – (The Messenger Online) The Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environmental Partnership (E5P), an international multi-donor fund managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), organized a seminar to discuss the implementation and funding of energy efficiency projects in Georgia…

E5P to Issue EUR 20 Million for Georgian Municipalities – (Financial) The Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P) is ready to finance municipal projects with grants worth EUR 20 million in Georgia together with further loan financing of approximately EUR 60 million…

Azerbaijani, Georgian Presidents In Turkey For TANAP Ceremony – (Radio Free Liberty) Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili were in Turkey on March 17 to attend a ceremony marking the start of the construction of the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP)…

Georgia, Abkhazia discuss Enguri Hydro Power Plant rehabilitation – (Agenda.GE) Georgian and Abkhazian officials are continuing to discuss the restoration of Enguri Hydro Power Plant (HPP), which sits on both sides of the de facto border of Georgia and breakaway Abkhazia…

Georgia to supply Abkhazia with power as Inguri Dam closes for maintenance – (Democracy & Freedom Watch) Abkhaz and Georgian representatives met Thursday to discuss the closing of Europe’s largest hydroelectric dam, Inguri, for several months to carry out maintenance work.  The power station is located partly on Georgia-controlled territory and partly on the Abkhazian side…

Caucasus Gas Pipeline Breaks Ground; U.S., Europe Condemn South Ossetia’s New Deal With Moscow – (TOL) The United States and European Union say they will not recognize the agreement planned to be signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and the South Ossetian leader in Moscow today…

Tbilisi switches to energy efficient outdoor lighting – (Agenda.GE) The Georgian capital, Tbilisi, is moving to modern, energy efficient outdoor lighting, which will save about 70 percent of the city‘s energy.  This news was voiced at Friday’s Economic Council Meeting chaired by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili…

Moldova

Projects with Moldova Priority for Romania, Great Potential Also in the Black Sea – (Energetika) Badea highlighted the potential of the Black Sea in strengthening regional security and called for greater EU involvement in supporting the development of these projects, especially in vulnerable regions such…

Turkey

Hat Trick In Southern Turkey For First Solar – (Clean Technica) The Turkish provinces of Muğla, Burdur, and Urfais (in southern Turkey) are supposed to soon see a big expansion in solar power, with the construction of three utility-scale solar PV plants on the way. This is thanks in part to US thin-film specialist First Solar…

Turkey: A Way To Avoid Unstable Electricity Market Prices In Turkey: Risk Sharing Contracts – (Mondaq) Following the privatization of energy market in Turkey, in last 10 years, many big investors have lined up to obtain energy generation, distribution, wholesale and retail-sale licenses in order to make investments in energy sector due to its high profit potential…

Minister accuses PKK of spurring illegal electricity use in east – (Today’s Zaman) Energy Minister Taner Yıldız has said the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) encouraged citizens in the eastern region of Turkey not to pay their electricity bills before the start of the Kurdish settlement process, indicating that the government has begun to blame yet someone else for the county's deeply entrenched problem of illegal electricity usage…

Turkey natural gas imports to reach 52.2b cubic meters – (Customs Today) Turkey’s natural gas imports for 2015 are projected to reach 52.2 billion cubic meters, an increase of 9.6% compared with last year, Anadolu Agency reports quoting sources from Turkey’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. Gas consumption has been increasing continuously in Turkey because of the country’s developing economy…

Turkey moves to boost energy supplies – (Turkish Weekly) The plan, which was recently announced by the Energy Ministry, was developed with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). "According to current estimates, an increase of around 90 percent in primary energy demand…

Europe Turns To Turkey As Alternative To Russian Energy – (Oil Price) The European Commission (EC) plans to tighten its relations with several nations, including Turkey, as a part of the Continent’s effort to lessen its dependence on Russian for its energy security…

Putin, Erdogan discuss 'Turkish Stream' gas project – Kremlin – (Reuters) Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan discussed the "Turkish Stream" gas project during a phone call, the Kremlin said in a statement on Tuesday, as Moscow continues to push for its new undersea pipeline to Europe…

UPDATE 1-Turkey launches project to pipe Azeri gas to Europe – (Reuters) Turkey inaugurated a $10 billion project to pipe Azeri gas to Western markets on Tuesday, forging ahead with a plan which could help Europe reduce its dependence on Russian energy even as Moscow touts its own alternative…

Ukraine

Over 285% increase in gas prices and 50% in electricity bills in Ukraine from April 1 – (The Frontier Post) From April 1, 2015, Ukrainian will pay the average price of gas with an increase of over 285% while the lower slab rate for electricity will increase by 50%, reports daily The Frontier Post…

EMSS agreed with DTEK on restructuring electricity debt – (Interfax-Ukraine) Public joint-stock company Energomashspetsstal (EMSS, Kramatorsk, Donetsk region), the owner of which is Russia's Atomenergomash (Rosatom Corporation), will pay its debt to DTEK Power Grid for electricity supplies under a schedule signed by both parties…

Seven coal mines to be closed in Ukraine in 2015 – (Steel Orbis) Ukraine's Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry has stated that in 2015 the government will close seven of the country’s coal mines…

Ukraine imports $121.64 million worth of coal in February – (Steel Orbis) In February, Ukraine exported $1.078 million worth of coal, while imports of coal totaled $121.64 million in value…

EU Summit live: Energy, Ukraine to dominate talks – (EurActiv) Energy Union, and the tensions with Russia, will dominate EU leaders' talks in Brussels later this week. Follow our live coverage here.  Starting on Thursday, at 3PM, European heads of state and government will gather at the Council building in central Brussels…

Ukrainians prepare for energy tariff hikes – (SETimes) Beginning next month, the Ukrainian government plans to sharply increase energy tariffs by 280 percent for gas and by 66 percent for heat. The price hikes are one of the conditions that Kyiv must meet as part of its loan agreement with the IMF…

IMF: Energy reforms key to Ukraine's success – (UPI) Energy sector reforms and the addressing of "deep-rooted" structural issues in Ukraine will return the country's economy to growth, the IMF said…

Ukraine plans to double gas transit tariff: energy ministry – (Focus) Ukraine is confident that the gas transit tariff should be raised two-fold, Ukraine's Energy and Coal Industry Minister Vladimir Demchishin said on Wednesday, TASS reported…

Ukraine receiving Russian gas on Tuesday – Ukrtransgaz – (Reuters) Ukraine was receiving Russian gas as usual early on Tuesday, its transport monopoly said, a week after Russian gas company Gazprom said Kiev would have used up all pre-paid volumes of Russian gas by March 15…

Gas Talks Between Russia, Ukraine, EU To Resume Friday – (London South-East) EU-brokered negotiations on Russian gas supplies to Ukraine are to resume in Brussels on Friday, a European Commission spokeswoman announced, with two weeks to go before the current deal expires…

Ukraine and energy strain regional ties – (Financial Times) High quality global journalism requires investment. “Viktor, we are friends,” Polish prime minister Ewa Kopacz told her Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orbán during his visit to Warsaw last month. “But as you know, friends have to be honest…

European Commission names participants of next trilateral EU-Russia-Ukraine gas talks on March 20 – (Kyiv Post) The next trilateral meeting between the EU, Russia and Ukraine to be held in Brussels on March 20, the European Commission said on March 18…

Commission sheds light on trilateral gas talks with Ukraine, Russia – (EurActiv) The European Commission aims at concluding an agreement to supply Ukraine with Russian gas until Fall 2016, when an international court will issue a ruling on Moscow's pricing regime, a Commission official said…

EBRD expresses alarm at feed-in electricity tariff reductions – (Ukrainian Journal) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is alarmed at the reduction of the feed-in electricity tariffs by 50-55% effective this month, Serhiy Maslichenko, a senior manager of the energy efficiency department at the EBRD representative office in Ukraine, told Interfax-Ukraine…

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.