Albania

TAP applies for third party access exemption – (EuroPolitics) The issue of Trans-Adriatic Pipeline’s (TAP) application for exemption from the energy package rules was the subject of a 5 March meeting between the head of the oil pipeline project, Kjetil Tungland, and Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger…

Trans Adriatic pipeline deal shows promise for region – (Setimes) An agreement by Greece and Albania to join with Italy in a three-way deal to support the Trans Adriatic pipeline to bring gas from Azerbaijan to Europe could raise employment and investment, but still faces a number of economic and political issues…

CEZ unit hit by regulatory woes – (Utilities) CEZ, the Czech utility, is facing more problems in its operations in south-eastern Europe, with the Bulgarian electricity regulator saying it plans to cut energy prices by Tuesday…

Bulgaria

Bulgaria's Energy Diversification Projects Unaffected by Political Situation – Outgoing Deputy Minister – (Novinite) As regards energy independence, Bulgaria has focused efforts on domestic gas production, gas grid interconnections with neighboring countries, and gas supply diversification, according to Evgenia Haritonova, outgoing Deputy Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism…

State-owned gas transmission operator Bulgartransgaz launches construction of 80km gas pipeline in Bulgaria – (Balkans) Kiril Temelkov, CEO of state-owned gas transmission operator Bulgartransgaz, attended Tuesday the sod-turning ceremony of a gas pipeline connecting the northeastern Bulgarian cities of Dobrich and Silistra…

Bulgarian Solar Energy Producers Demand High-Profile Resignations – (Novinite) The Bulgarian Photovoltaic Association, a NGO uniting solar energy producers, has demanded the resignations of the directors of the state-owned electricity companies over "serious problems in the management of the energy system"…

Bulgarian nuclear future and the U.S. intrigues – (Open News) Bulgaria is facing the wave of the largest mass protests in the last 16 years, being provoked by price hikes. So the resignation of Boyko Borisov's government has been expected…

Black Sea – from Gas Transit to Gas Production – (Publics) Traditionally the Black Sea has been seen as the closest route between hydrocarbon resources in the East and consumers in the West…

Bulgarian miners to protest in front of Bulgaria’s energy watchdog office, energy ministry – (Focus) The Federation of the independent trade unions of the miners – the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB), and the Trade Union of the Miner’s Federation…

Bulgaria's energy regulator cut the electricity costs by 7% - (Balkans) Bulgaria's energy regulator cut the electricity costs for households by an average of 7% as of March 5 as politicians look to calm the situation following mass protests over high utility bills and poverty that toppled the centre-right government last month…

Bulgaria's energy regulator proposes lower electricity prices as of March 5 – (Power Engineering) SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 1 (SeeNews) - The Bulgarian energy regulator proposed on Friday a cut of between 5.3% and 7.3% in household electricity bills effective as of March 5…

Bosnia

150 kWp PV park completed in Bosnia and Herzegovina – (PV Magazine) A 150 kWp photovoltaic park has been completed and grid connected in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is said to be one of the first projects of its kind in the country…

Kosovo

Tender for new power plant to be announced in March – (eciks) The construction of new power capacities continues to be a priority for the government of the Republic of Kosovo.  The Minister of Economic Development, Besim Beqaj, says that in early February, the Project Steering Committee has approved the projects draft documents and has taken the decision to open the four-week period for comments from the parties involved in the process…

Macedonia

Transit Pipelines Should Be Treated Equally with Other Gas Infrastructure – (Publics.bg) A debate between EC's Jean-Arnold Vinois and Bulgartransgaz CEO Kiril Temelkov brought up discrepancies in the concept of gas market liberalization and competitiveness…

Macedonian floods threaten 2 dams; hundreds evacuated, supplies airlifted to stranded village – (The Windsor Star) Two dams in Macedonia are in danger of collapsing because of extensive flooding caused by four days of torrential rain, while authorities were airlifting supplies Wednesday to hundreds of people stranded by floodwaters…

Romania

Alro Urges Romanian Government to Cut Renewable Energy Incentive – (Bloomberg) Alro SA (ALR), a Romanian aluminum producer, is urging the government to cut incentives granted for investments in renewable energy after its power costs surged, pushing the company into a loss…

Trans Anatolian Pipeline and Nabucco gas pipelines sign MOU co-operate on the development of the Southern Gas Corridor – (Balkans) NABUCCO Gas Pipeline International GmbH announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and Co-operation  (MoU) with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP)*, in which the two parties formally agree to co-operate on the development of the Southern Gas Corridor…

Wind trumps nuclear for a day in Romania’s electricity production mix – (Romania Insider) Romania’s wind turbines delivered more energy to the grid yesterday (March 6 ) than most of the other types of electricity producers, according to data from Transelectrica. Wind energy came second after thermal power plants in Romania’s energy production mix…

Romania to Scale Back Clean-Energy Aid to Curb Power-Price Gains – (Bloomberg) Romania will scale back renewable- power subsidies to limit electricity-price increases for consumers, according to the minister-delegate for energy…

Romanian Alro launches a virtual attack against the renewable sector – (Balkans) Romanian Alro, controlled by Russian aluminum producer Vimetco, launched a virulent attack against the renewable sector, urging the government to give up support scheme for green producers, which dents the industrial competitiveness of the country through higher electricity prices…

Romania Shale Gas Revolution – (Energy and Capital) It’s quite possible that Romania could, in the near future, become an energy leader in Central Europe. Of course, there is a long way to go, but as the Romanian government awaits results of environmental studies the EU is conducting, we should note it is estimated that Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria are collectively estimated to have technically recoverable shale gas deposits of as much as 538 billion cubic meters…

Romania plans reduced support for solar energy – (Reuters) Romania aims to lower subsidies for some renewable energy projects from 2014, trying to avoid overcompensating investors while burdening consumers with high power bills…

EON Plans Wind-Energy Growth in Romania to Reap State Incentive – (Bloomberg) EON SE (EOAN), Germany’s biggest utility, plans to build at least 100 megawatts of wind power in Romania by the end of 2014 to take advantage of government support for clean energy…

Report: Romania still ranks highly as a renewable energy investment hotspot – (Romania Insider) Romania has regained its position in a ranking of renewable energy investment attractiveness and remains a favorite location for international projects…

Serbia

Serbia and Russia sign 10-year natural gas deal – (B92) According to the deal Serbia can now purchase Russian gas at the price of USD 399 per 1,000 cubic meters, Assistant to the Serbian Energy Minister Petar Stanojević told Tanjug on Thursday…

Windvision plans to complete 174MW wind project in Serbia by 2015 – (Balkans) WindVision Operations Ltd., a Dutch- Belgian renewable energy developer and supplier, expects its 174 megawatt project in Serbia to come on line in 2015…

Investments in energy could get Serbia moving – (Bsanna) Serbia's Energy Minister Zorana Mihajlovic said on Tuesday the amount of investments that could be realized in the energy sector this year was several billion euros, stressing that investments in energy could get Serbia moving…

WindVision Expects to Complete 174MW Serbian Wind Farms in 2015 – (Bloomberg) WindVision Operations Ltd., a Dutch- Belgian renewable energy developer and supplier, expects its 174 megawatt project in Serbia to come on line in 2015…

Beta Renewables sees 2015 as boom year for cellulosic biofuels – (Reuters) Biofuels made from wood waste and sugarcane have languished well below expectations for years but new production coming on line promises explosive growth by 2015, the chief executive of producer Beta Renewables said on Monday…

Armenia

Armenian Roadmap for Renewables Addresses Development Challenges – (Renewable Energy) Armenia has no fossil fuel or coal reserves, and is entirely dependent on imported fuel for transportation, electricity generation and heat. What is the scope for renewables development in this region…

Research and Markets: Analyzing Nuclear Power in Armenia 2013 – (Fort Mills Times) Analyzing Nuclear Power in Armenia - by Aruvian's R'search, explores the importance of nuclear power in today's world, with Section One being dedicated to Understanding the Basics of Nuclear Power…

Azerbaijan

EBRD signs agreement within first energy efficiency project in Azerbaijan – (Trend) Azerbaijani AccessBank started implementing the first project on energy efficiency in the country. On Thursday, the bank signed an agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to get a loan worth $ 4.2 million which will be aimed at the reconstruction of the head office of the bank with the total area of 9840 square metres…

“Azerbaijan’s energy supply feeds a large part of the energy needed in Europe, Turkey and Israel", U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar – (APA) Washington - APA. In the House of Representatives, talking about Azerbaijan, Congressman Henry Cuellar noted that he returned from a visit to the nation of Azerbaijan, located between Russia and Iran. He said that Azerbaijan is America’s friend and live in one of the world's most dangerous neighborhoods…

Azeri energy firm SOCAR plans $1 bln Eurobond issue – (Reuters) Azeri state energy firm SOCAR plans to raise $1 billion via a Eurobond issue for refinancing its existing debt and funding its upstream and downstream operations, a SOCAR official said on Friday…

Azerbaijan held talks on energy cooperation with Iran – (abs.az) Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The 3rd meeting of energy ministers of member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation (ECO) has been held in Tehran…

Electricity production declines in Azerbaijan during January and February – (Trend) "Azerenergy" JSC produced 4 billion kWh of electricity during January and February of 2013 in comparison with 4.3 billion kWh during the first…

EBRD signs first loan agreement on energy efficiency improvement in Azerbaijan – (abc.az) The European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD) has signed today in Baku an agreement on the first loan for Community Energy Efficiency Program (CEEP) for a private organization in Azerbaijan…

US Congress discusses Azerbaijan's role in the Southern Corridor – (News.az) The discussions moderated by the director of the Atlantic Council, former U.S. ambassador to Turkey and Azerbaijan Rosa Wilson was addressed by Azerbaijani ambassador to U.S. Elin Suleymanov, Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of Turkey Timur Soylemez, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Diplomacy Amos Hochsteyn, and members of the U.S. Congress Cory Gardner and Donna Edwards, according to the Azerbaijani Embassy in the US…

Georgia

Georgia completes work within Black Sea Transmission Network project – (Trends) Georgian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Kakha Kaladze reviewed an electric substation at Akhaltsikhe (South Georgia) and acquainted himself with the Black Sea Network project…

Georgia Completes Work Within Black Sea Transmission Network Project – (Transmission and Distribution) Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Georgia Kakha Kaladze visited Akhaltsikhe Substation and observed the progress of Black Sea Transmission Network Project…

Minister: Tbilisi and Sukhumi solved problems around functioning of Inguri HPP – (Trend) Tbilisi and Sukhumi have agreed on solutions to issues surrounding the operation of Inguri HPP after the Georgian government approved special procurement rules for two companies - Inguri HPP and National Electrical System of Georgia JSC, Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze said…

Minister: Agreement on cross border transit of electricity is important topic in Azerbaijani-Georgian relations – (Trends) Working out and formalizing an agreement on bilateral electricity transit plays an important role in the relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia, Georgian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Kakha Kaladze said in an interview with Trend…

Visit to proposed hydropower construction site at Georgian gorge – (Trends) Georgian Environment Protection Minister Khatuna Gogaladze with her first deputy Nino Sharashidze and representatives of the service on permit issuance visited Kazbegi region on Thursday…

Price drop for Georgian consumers – (Democracy and Freedom Watch) According to Georgian National Statistics Department, GeoStat, the national currency is up by 0.3 percent…

Electricity, gas, waste disposal fees reduced in Georgia within 100 days after Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili’s appointment – (APA) Electricity tariffs, gas and petrol prices were reduced in Georgia within 100 days after Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili’s appointment…

Russia

Russian state-owned energy company Rosatom is yet to give up on the construction of the Belene nuclear power plant project – (Balkans) Russian state-owned energy company Rosatom is yet to give up on the construction of the Belene nuclear power plant project in Bulgaria reports Novinite…

Russia’s Energy Monopoly Topples the Bulgarian Government – (GMF) Another government on Europe’s periphery has collapsed under pressure from its angry citizens. On February 21, the Bulgarian government of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov resigned following large-scale public demonstrations against electricity prices…

Russian energy consumption down 3pct in Jan-Feb – (Steel Guru) Interfax reported that energy consumption in Russia fell 3% YoY to 191.6 billion KWH in January and February. Consumption in the United Energy System totaled 187.3 billion KWH in the first two months of 2013 also down 3% YoY…

TOPIC IN FOCUS: Power grids tasked with cost containment – (ELP) The Energy Ministry has worked out a five-year strategy for Russian Grids, a company to be formed by merging Federal Grid Company of Unified Energy System (FGC UES) and IDGC Holding…

Russia offers BP chief Bob Dudley a seat on Rosneft board – (The telegraph) Russia has offered BP chief executive Bob Dudley a seat on the board of directors of state-controlled oil company Rosneft, in which BP is soon to raise its stake, a decree signed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev showed on Friday…

General Electric Signs Development Deal with Russia’s Sakhalin Island (GE) – (Dividend) General Electric Company (GE) and Sakhalin authorities have agreed to a deal where GE will provide power for a variety of projects on the Russian island as it seeks to increase its economic development…

Hydro-Quebec and Russian firm sign 2-year research agreement – (Winnipeg Free Press) Hydro Quebec and Russia's largest independent power company have signed a two-year agreement to co-operate on hydro power generation and transmission research and development projects…

Turkey

Turkey in search of oil and natural gas – (UPI) Turkey expects its shale natural gas reserves in southern provinces to exceed 1.5 trillion cubic feet, a petroleum association announced…

Turkey is interested in investing in the energy sector of Afghanistan – (Balkans) Turkey is interested in investing in the energy sector of Afghanistan, the Sabah newspaper quotes Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz as saying on Tuesday…

France steps into ring to build Turkey’s second nuclear plant – (Daily News) French company GDF Suez has officially placed a joint bid with Japanese companies Itochu and Mitsubishi to construct Turkey’s second nuclear power plant, which is expected to cost around $25 billion…

Turkish electricity imports drop as Bulgarian exports, Iran capacity reduced – (ICIS) Electricity imports into Turkey have dropped by some 200MW in the first days of March as Bulgaria reportedly reduced its exports to neighbouring countries while the interconnector with Iran was off line for maintenance, two sources at the grid operator TEIAS confirmed on Monday…

Saudi firm first bidder for Turkish coal fired power plant – (Balkans) A Saudi firm has applied for the construction of a coal-fired power station, to be built in the Central Anatolian province of Konya's Karapnar district, where lignite reserves have recently been discovered…

Turkey: Geothermal Energy In Turkey – (Electric Light and Power) Turkey is an energy importing nation with more than half of its energy requirements met by imported fuels. Air pollution is also becoming a significant environmental concern…

Turkey plans to have 3 operational nuclear power plants by 2023 – (Balkans) The competition to build Turkey’s second nuclear power plant (NPP) has just got hotter as a consortium made up of French and Japanese companies placed their bid for the project, which is estimated to cost up to USD 25 billion…

Turkey reduces electricity consumption and generation – (Trend) Electricity generation in Turkey decreased by 8.4 per cent in February 2013 compared to the same month in 2012, amounting to 18.2 billion…

Limak unveils plan to extend Hamitabat electricity plant – (ICIS) One of the fastest-growing energy companies in Turkey plans to build two new units with a capacity of up to 600MW, at the gas-fired Hamitabat power plant, following its successful bid for the 1.2GW state-owned plant on Wednesday evening…

Turkey's shale gas reserve could satisfy 40 years of natural gas consumption – (Balkans) Turkey's estimated shale gas reserve is 1.8 trillion cubic meters and could satisfy 40 years of natural gas consumption with an annual production of 45 billion cubic meters, according to the Turkish Association of Petroleum Geologists (TPJD)…

Saudi firm the first bidder for Turkish lignite plant – (Daily News) A Saudi firm has applied for the construction of a coal-fired power station, to be built in the Central Anatolian province of Konya’s Karapınar district, where lignite reserves have recently been discovered…

Itochu, Mitsubishi, GDF in Turkish nuclear plant bid – (Reuters) Japan's Itochu Corp , Mitsubishi Corp and France's GDF Suez have made a joint bid to build Turkey's second nuclear power plant with total investment seen at $20-25 billion, government and company officials said…

Ukraine

Ukrainian officials: Kyiv repeatedly told Energy Community about South Stream's threat to national interests – (Kyiv Post) The Ukrainian side has repeatedly addressed the Secretariat of the Energy Community with statements and letters, noting that the construction of the South Stream pipeline is in conflict with the national interests of Ukraine and the basic principles of the Energy Community itself, sources at the Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Ministry and the government told Interfax-Ukraine when commenting on the opposite statement by Director of the Energy Community Secretariat Janez Kopac…

Ukraine says it overpays for Russian gas – (UPI) The Ukrainian government throws away billion of dollars in payments to Russia for annual natural gas deliveries, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said…

Ukraine on Course to Sign EU Deal, Energy Reforms Underway-Official – (Nasdaq) Ukraine is on course to make required reforms to be able to sign a landmark treaty with the European Union this year, a senior official from Kiev said Wednesday…

Energy Community demands reduction in sulphur content of fuel in Ukraine, says European official – (nrcu) The Energy Community demands that Ukraine reduce sulphur content of oil products while bringing quality standards in line with European Union requirements, says Director of the Energy Community Secretariat Janez Kopac…

Why America’s AES sold its Ukraine utilities to Russians – (Beyondbrics) Western energy majors that are knocking on Ukraine’s door, hoping to profit from a potential shale gas bonanza, would be wise to study the sour experiences of US power giant AES…

Ukraine Increases Its Energy Independence - Ukrainian President – (PR Newswire) To increase its energy security the country plans to improve its energy efficiency, develop alternative energy sources and diversify energy import, said President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych at the press conference dedicated to his three years in office…

Ukraine: 80 experts trained in energy audit and management – (Enpi) A two-day training aiming to provide modern knowledge in the sphere of energy audit in accordance with European standards has taken place in Ukraine, according to a press release from the EU Delegation in Kyiv…

Ukraine intends in future to increase electricity exports – (nrcu) In 2012 compared to 2011, our country has increased its exports sixfold.  Ruslan Demchenko stressed that the consistent increase of  electricity exports - one of the main objectives of the Energy Strategy of Ukraine till 2030…

Energy Community gives Ukraine two months to boost grid capacity – (Ukrainian Journal) The Energy Community's Secretariat has sent a letter to Ukraine giving it two months to bring the allocation of capacity to the country's electricity interconnectors with its Western neighbors and Moldova in line with the Energy Community's Auction Rules, or to justify its position…

  

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.