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

April 23                USEA Annual Membership Meeting and Policy Forum Washington, DC

Albania

Albania to reform pensions, energy, local government finances, public administration with the IMF loan – (Balkans) The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today approved a 36-month SDR 295.42 million (about €330.9 million, or about US$457.1 million; 492.4 percent of country's quota in the Fund) arrangement under the Extended-Fund Facility (EFF) for Albania in support of the authorities' reform program… 

Bulgaria

Bulgaria weighs dependence on Ukraine route for Russian energy – (Reuters) Bulgaria, heavily dependent on Russia for gas and oil, will estimate its own reserves and seek alternatives to cope with any worsening of the Ukrainian crisis, it said on Tuesday…

Bulgaria looks for alternative to its energy security – (Balkans) Bulgaria, heavily dependant on Russia for gas and oil, will estimate its own reserves and seek alternatives to cope with any worsening of the Ukrainian crisis, it said on Tuesday…

Bulgaria concerned over Russia's gas supply – (Turkish Press)Bulgaria’s Economy and Energy Ministry is concerned over the country’s gas supplies, which currently stand at one and a half months’, due to the risk of Russia halting its gas flow…

Westinghouse to Hire Bulgarian Subcontractors for Kozloduy NPP Unit7 – (Novinite) US Westinghouse has said it plans to wrap up investment and budget talks on the new unit of Bulgaria's Kozloduy NPP within months so that construction works can start by 2016…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia increases liberalization of energy sector – (Turkish Press) ANKARA – The Federal government of Bosnia and Herzegovina is to liberalize its energy sector, said the Bosnian Minister for Energy on Wednesday… 

Geological investigations underway in Banja Luka Bosnia Hercegovina – (Balksan) Geological investigations underway in the territory of Banja Luka Bosnia Hercegovina.  Initial research shows the area has thermal springs that are economically viable for the production of heat and electricity…

Croatia

Croatia to start top-level talks with U.S. over INA sale – (Portfolio.hu) Top-level negotiations may start within two weeks between the governments of the United States and Croatia about refiner INA and natural gas and oil fields on the Adriatic Sea, Croatian daily Vecernji list reported…

Energy forum discusses oil, gas exploration in Adriatic – (Dalje.com) An upcoming invitation to tender for the exploration of oil and gas fields in the Adriatic Sea was the main topic on the first day of the Energy Investment Forum in Zagreb on Wednesday, organised by the Poslovni Dnevnik business newspaper…

Croatia to open Adriatic gas and oil bidding from April – (Anna Lindh Foundation) Croatia will be publishing tenders for offshore gas and oil exploration in the eastern Adriatic by the end of April, the country's economy minister said Thursday…

Kosovo

WORLD BANK COUNTRY MANAGER DISCUSSES KOSOVO’S ENERGY OPTIONS WITH CIVIL SOCIETY – (Eurasia Review) World Bank Country Manager for Kosovo, Jan-Peter Olters, discussed Thursday sustainable energy options with civil society organizations…

Romania

Romania: 2030 EU carbon goal should be set at a “realistic level” – (Balkans) Energy ministers from the EU’s 28 nations had their first debate about 2030 carbon-reduction and renewable energy strategy at their quarterly meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, according to Bloomberg…

German STEAG to get funds for 200 mln euro Romania wind park – (Reuters) German power firm STEAG GmbH will receive funding for a 200 million euro ($275.47 million), 108 megawatt wind energy park in southeastern Romania, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said on Tuesday…

Romania plans to sell majority stake in energy distribution firm for EUR 400 mln, but political tensions might affect price – (Romania Insider) The Romanian state wants to get over EUR 400 million from selling a 51 percent stake in energy distribution company Electrica SA…

Romania’s Hidroelectrica re-enters insolvency after court admitted appeals made by Alpiq, Energy Holding, EFT – (Romania Insider) Romania’s largest energy production company Hidroelectrica has re-entered insolvency after the Bucharest Court of Appeal admitted the appeals made by companies Alpiq, Energy Holding, EFT, Andritz Hydro and Local Budget Department District 2…

Serbia

Serbian state guarantees should not delay more South Stream pipeline construction – (Balkans) Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said Tuesday that the project to build a section of the South Stream gas pipeline in Serbia is being held back by the problem of provision of state guarantees and called for the issue to be resolved as soon as possible, Tanjug reports…

Developments In Ukraine Not Undermining Supply Of Energy Sources In Serbia – (In Serbia) The energy situation in Serbia is stable, and developments in Ukraine are not undermining the security of supply of energy sources, it was concluded at Tuesday’s meeting of the working group tasked with monitoring the security of supply of energy and energy sources…

Serbia: EPS to continue reserve energy supply – (Balkans) The Serbian government approved at its session today that the energy supply company EPS Snabdevanje d.o.o. Beograd continues with reserve energy supply of end users who have not chosen the supplier, and for whom the reserve supply stops on 1 March this year…

Serbia to launch a Balkan power exchange in third quarter 2014 – (Reuters) Serbia has teamed up with European exchange EPEX Spot to launch a regional spot power bourse in the third quarter this year to introduce competition, develop reliable prices and security of supply in the region, its grid operator EMS said on Wednesday…

Armenia

Armenia and U.S. Government to continue cooperation on energy diversification – (Armpress) The minister of Finance of the Republic of Armenia Davit Sargsyan and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the USA to Armenia John Heffern on March 4 discussed the results of the session of the Armenian-Americans Intergovernmental Commission held in Washington D.C. in 2012…

President Sargsyan says ‘nothing has changed’ in Armenia-EU relations – (Armenia Now) Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan finds that “nothing has changed” in the relations between Armenia and the European Union. He presented this position at a meeting with Greece’s visiting parliament speaker, Vangelis Meimarakis…

Gazprom’s expansion in Armenia guarantees sound and sustainable development of Armenian fuel and energy sector – (Your Industry News) A working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee and Serzh Sargsyan, President of the Republic of Armenia took place today in Yerevan as part of Gazprom delegation's visit to Armenia…

Energy and Transport Ministries report on CU accession-aimed activities – (Panorama.am) A task force is up at the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources to ensure Armenia’s adherence to 3 Customs Union-associated agreements…

Gazprom to develop gas master plan for Armenia  -(ARKA) Gazprom will elaborate a gas installation and supply master plan for Armenia, Prime reported referring to Russian the gas holding…

Tevan Poghosyan sees opportunity for making Armenia-Iran Nuclear cooperation closer – (ArmPress) The softening of sanctions against Iran can contribute to the development of the Armenia-Iran cooperation in the area of peaceful use of Nuclear energy…

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan can facilitate joining Caspian countries to Southern Gas Corridor – (Azernews) Azerbaijan is a door opener in the process of joining the Caspian countries to the Southern Gas Corridor, whose further enlargement of the Corridor has the potential to meet up to 20 percent of the EU's gas needs, the European Commission's spokesperson told AzerNews…

Azerbaijan’s state agency provides consulting & engineering support on alternative energy – (ABC.AZ) The State Agency for Alternative and Renewable Energy (ABOEMDA) is ready to undertake provision of consulting and engineering services in the planning of projects related to alternative energy…

Azerbaijan has huge potential for development of energy efficiency – (Trend) Azerbaijan is a country where energy efficient technologies have very low market penetration and there exists therefore a significant potential for development…

Direct delivery of electricity from Azerbaijan to Turkey to start in 2014 – (ABC.AZ) Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Direct supplies of electricity from Azerbaijan to Turkey will begin already in 2014. President of Azerenerji (national energy operator of Azerbaijan) Etibar Pirverdiev has claimed that "Energy bridge Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey will be launched this year…

EU formal recommendations on energy efficiency in Azerbaijan can come after 10 March – (ABC.AZ) Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The Project “Energy Saving Initiative in the Building Sector in Eastern Europe and Central Asia” (ESIB) of INOGATE program of the European Union has not given its official recommendations for Azerbaijan…

Georgia

‘Skynest Hydro AS’ company to implement energy projects in Georgia – (Trend) Georgia's Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Kakha Kaladze and 'Skynest Hydro AS' company's founder, Oleg Ostinovsky have signed a memorandum of understanding…

The Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey Energy Bridge – (Vestnik) The Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey Energy Bridge will be launched this year, said Etibar Pirverdiyev, Head of Azerenergy, Trend reports...

Access to Electricity: Is off-the-grid an option?  - (Georgia Today) Assuring access to modern energy services for the whole population is a crucial step to improve human well-being and stimulate economic and social development…

Moldova

U.S. assures Ukraine neighbor Moldova of support – (Reuters) The United States on Monday assured Moldova of its continued support as it pursues a pro-European policy in the face of turmoil in its eastern neighbor Ukraine…

Turkey

TANAP to be nationalized: Turkey's energy minister – (News.AZ) The nationalization of the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) was offered to Turkey's cabinet on Monday, said Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yildiz during the opening of an energy forum in Turkey's capital Ankara on Wednesday…

Turkey set to buy stake in giant Azeri gas field as European interest dwindles – (BNE) French oil major Total is in talks over a potential sale of its stake in the Shah Deniz gas field to Botas. The deal would give the Turkish state pipeline operator a stake in the giant Azeri field, which is a key component in Europe's push to reduce energy dependence on Russia…

Turkey not expecting gas supply problem from Ukraine crisis: minister – (Platts) Turkey is not anticipating any problems gas supplies through the Transbalkan pipeline as a result of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, Turkish energy minister Taner Yildiz told reporters Wednesday at a press conference televised live on Turkey's CNBCE business news channel…

General Electric to quit energy partnership in Turkey – (Daily News) General Electric (GE) has moved to sell its stakes in Turkey-based energy company GAMA Enerji to GAMA Holding, ending its seven-year partnership with the Turkish company.

Alstom eyes 30 percent stake in Turkish energy company Deltom – (Balkans) France-based Alstom has reached a preliminary agreement to acquire a 30 percent stake in Turkish energy company Deltom Jeotermal, a subsidiary of Delta Yatirim, according to a filing made to the Turkish Competition Authority…

Trans-Anatolia Gas Pipeline ‘to create jobs across Turkey’ – (Daily News) The Trans-Anatolia Gas Pipeline (TANAP), the gas pipeline project that will carry Azerbaijani natural gas to Europe through Turkey, will create 5,000 jobs in 21 provinces in Turkey, the energy minister has said…

Nuclear: Turkish firms to build Akkuyu power plant – (Anna Lindh Foundation) Russia and Turkey will work together on the construction of the USD 20 billion Akkuyu nuclear power plant (NPP), World Bulletin website reports quoting Russian engineering company Atomstroyexport said…

Turkey could reduce natural gas imports by US$12 billion – (Balkans) Turkey’s lignite reserves have grown by 82 percent in the past eight years, said Energy Minister Taner Yildiz on Sunday.Yildiz also said that by utilising the domestic lignite resources Turkey would be able to avoid $12 billion of natural gas imports…

Ukrainian crisis not a threat to gas supply: Turkish energy minister  -(Daily News) Turkey doesn’t expect the crisis in Ukraine to pose any risks to its energy supply, foreseeing that things will calm down, Energy Minister Taner Yılıdız has said…

Lignite reserves increased 82 percent in 8 years, says Turkey’s Energy Minister – (Turkish Press) Turkey’s lignite reserves have grown by 82 percent in the past eight years, said Energy Minister Taner Yildiz on Sunday…

TANAP to be nationalized says Turkey's energy minister  - (World Bulletin) The nationalization of the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) was offered to Turkey's cabinet on Monday, said Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yildiz during the opening of an energy forum in Turkey's capital Ankara on Wednesday…

Ukraine

Kerry visits Ukraine bearing roses, $1 billion energy aid as Putin defends troops use  -(Daily News) ‘We will be helping,’ the US Secretary of State told the crowd on Institutska Street in Kiev…

Ukraine crisis highlights Europe's dependence on Russian energy – (CBS News) In the geopolitical poker game currently underway in Ukraine, Russia appears to be holding some strong cards, using its control over much of Western Europe's energy supplies as a deterrent to any European Union actions against Moscow's de facto occupation of Crimea…

Ukraine crisis: Could US energy save Ukraine? – (Christian Science Monitor) Ukraine's dependence on Russia for natural gas has long created friction between the two countries. The US could offer Ukraine and Europe an alternative supply, but exporting oil and gas has proved technically and politically difficult in a country scarred by energy shortages of its own…

Here's How High Ukraine's Energy Risk Is – (Investing) Ukraine faces the highest energy security risk in the world, but expanded U.S. production of natural gas is lowering global energy risk, according to the 2013 International Index of Energy Security Risk released Tuesday by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce…

Oil prices: Ukraine crisis jolts energy markets – (Christian Science Monitor) Oil prices spiked Monday on an unfolding crisis in Ukraine, while Russian stocks took a beating. Heightening tensions between Ukraine and Russia is reverberating through energy markets, making for volatile oil prices…

Ukraine Crisis Highlights EU Energy Supply Challenge – (Live) Lord John Browne, Former BP CEO talks to WSJ’s Simon Constable about the current situation in Ukraine and why it exposes Europe's need for a diversified energy supply…

Ukraine crisis: energy markets and shares in turmoil – (The Guardian) Oil prices surged, shares fell and the rouble sank to a record low after Russia sent troops to the Crimea and tensions between Russia and the west hit their highest since the cold war…

There's No Easy Fix to Ukraine's Energy Dilemma – (The Motley Fool) With much of the political violence in Ukraine subsiding, European leaders said they were ready to help a new government address lingering energy woes. It won't be an easy fix, however, given the legacy issues testing Europe's resolve…

Russia cancels Ukraine's gas discount and demands $1.5bn – (The Telegraph) Russian energy giant Gazprom has increased the price of gas supplies to Ukraine, sending a chilling reminder of the power Russia holds over European energy markets.

Russia Gas Threat Shows Putin Using Pipes to Press Ukraine – (Bloomberg) OAO Gazprom (OGZD)’s threat to end natural gas discounts for Ukraine adds to the financial burden on the near-bankrupt government in Kiev and makes Europe’s energy supply part of the escalating crisis…

Ukraine crisis new rallying point for U.S. energy export backers – (Reuters) House Speaker John Boehner and other supporters of U.S. energy exports pounced on the crisis in Ukraine to pressure the Obama administration to speed approval of liquid natural gas (LNG) exports, saying doing so could help keep Russia in check…

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.