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Albania plans to auction off 12 onshore and one offshore explortaion block – (Balkans) Albania plans to auction off 13 exploration blocks—12 onshore and one offshore block—to local and foreign companies. The auction follows a discovery in November by Royal Dutch Shell and Petromanas Energy Inc of good quality oil and gas in test flows from their first well in Shpirag, southern Albania…

World Bank and Energy Community Secretariat hold joint workshop on energy efficiency in buildings in Western Balkans – (Energy Community) A workshop “Scaling Up Energy Efficiency in Buildings in the Western Balkans” organised by the World Bank with the support of the Secretariat kicked off today with an introduction by Ellen A. Goldstein, Country Director for South East Europe at the World Bank…

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Bulgaria

Bulgarian Household Electricity Bills Lowest in EU – (Novinite) Bulgarian households had the lowest electricity bills in the European Union in the second half of 2013, Eurostat data has revealed.  A family in Bulgaria pays EUR 8.8 per kWh of energy on the average, compared to EUR 20.1 for the EU as a whole…

Electricity prices in Bulgaria – the lowest in EU: Sega – (Focus) The household electricity prices in Bulgaria are the lowest amongst all EU member states, according to Eurostat data published Wednesday, Sega daily writes…

Bulgarian Opposition to Introduce Motion of No Confidence over Energy Sector Situation – (Publics) A no confidence vote in the wake of the European elections is growing likelier to be initiated by the Bulgaria’s ex-governing party GERB, now in opposition.  A motion of no confidence will be certainly introduced, MP and ex-energy minister Delian Dobrev announced, as quoted by BNR…

Pipeline through Bulgaria tests EU resolve on Russia – (Market Watch) Bulgaria (MarketWatch) — If the European Union is serious about punishing Russia for grabbing Crimea and destabilizing Ukraine, it can show it by enforcing its own regulations and halting Russia’s planned gas pipeline across Bulgaria to Western Europe…

Bulgarians Fear Energy Dependence, Refugee Influx – (Novinite) Some 39% of Bulgarians believe that the country's EU membership has been beneficial, 22% claim the opposite, and 31% see no difference, according to a new poll.  The opinion poll regarding the performance of Bulgaria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs was conducted in the period 11-22 April among 1,400 people. Most respondents pointed out unemployment, low income, quality of health care and corruption as the main social issues…

Bulgaria Energy Minister pays visit to cement plant near Devnya – (Focus) Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy, Dragomir Stoynev, paid a visit Friday to the cement producing plant close to the town of Devnya and held talks with the company’s management, Radio FOCUS – Varna reported.  The new investment of the company connected with the rehabilitation and modernisation of the installations producing cement and clinker at the plant was discussed at the meeting…

Stoynev: Bulgaria govt was under pressure to sell out the energy sector – (Focus) Bulgaria’s energy sector is not for sale, energy minister Dragomir Stoynev said during a meeting with business representatives on Thursday, as quoted by 24 Chasa daily. In his words, since it took office a year ago, the government has been under pressure to sell out most of the sector’s assets. Stoynev also informed he had met up with European Investment Bank (EIB) officials to discuss the funding of the gas link with Greece…

Bulgaria wants gas flow to Turkey in 2016 – (World Bulletin) Bulgaria aims to start a natural gas pipeline between Turkey and Bulgaria by 2016, Ivan Ayolov, Bulgaria's deputy energy minister said Wednesday.  Negotiations between delegates from Bulgaria and Turkey are continuing with the hope that the 114 kilometers pipeline project will be completed in a short space of time with the countries jointly undertaking the construction…

Bulgaria to mark Kozloduy NPP’s 40th anniversary with postal stamp – (Focus) 40th anniversary since the launching in exploitation of the first unit of Kozloduy NPP will be marked with the issuance of a special postal stamp, the press office of the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications announced.  The validation seal will be put by Minister of Economy and Energy Dragomir Stoynev and Minister Transport, Information Technologies and Communications Danail Papazov…

Bulgaria ready to supply electricity to Serbia – (Sofia Globe) Bulgaria is ready to supply electricity to Serbia, its neighbour where record floods have forced Belgrade to order increased electricity imports while power stations were being defended against being inundated.  Dragomir Stoynev, Bulgaria’s energy minister, repeated on May 21 a statement the previous day by deputy prime minister Daniela Bobova about Sofia’s willingness to supply electricity to Serbia…

Bulgaria is subjected to a special EC procedure over South Stream gas pipeline project – (Focus) Bulgaria is subjected to a special procedure by the European Commission over South Stream gas pipeline project, BNR reported. It is not a punitive procedure, but is rather assisting one and its results will show the possible future measures by the EU Commission. The European Commission announced that the reason for triggering the procedure is intended by the Bulgarian government amendments to the Energy Act and the fact that attempts for shifting gas pipeline or part of it out of the range of the European energy legislation poses serious problem…

Europe suffering from a lack of energy: Report – (CNBC) An energy crisis is looming for a number of central European countries that could mean them turning to Russia for their supplies, according to a new report. Those with less than a year's stockpile of energy resources are almost entirely dependent on imports from the likes of Russia, Norway and Qatar according to the Global Sustainability Institute at Anglia Ruskin University…

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Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia utility EPRS to sell 180 MW power to Serbia's EPS – (Reuters) Bosnia's power utility Elektroprivreda RS (EPRS) said on Monday it will sell 180 megawatts (MW) of power for May 20 delivery to Serbia utility EPS, whose output has been reduced 40 percent due to the worst flooding in over a century…

CEE POWER-Serbian day ahead up on floods; wind supports central Europe – (Reuters) Flooding in the Balkans pushed Serbian day ahead power higher on Monday while low levels of wind generation supported central European prices, traders said…

Secretariat activates Energy Community Security of Supply Electricity Subgroup – (Energy Community) Today the Secretariat sent a message to the members of its Security of Supply Electricity Subgroup offering its assistance and support in facilitating communication and mutual assistance at regional level. The Secretariat expressed its solidarity with the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Croatia in facing the dramatic consequences of the recent floods. The same message was conveyed to the members of its recently established Distribution System Operators coordination platform…

Bosnia flooding triggers landslides, levels town – (Boston Globe) Flood waters triggered more than 3,000 landslides across the Balkans on Sunday, laying waste to entire towns and villages and disturbing land mines left over from the region’s 1990s war, along with warning signs that marked the unexploded weapons…

Floods claim 16 lives in Bosnia and Herzegovina, police report – (ITAR TASS) The flood-stricken Bosnia and Herzegovina officially confirmed the death of 16 people on May 17, Gojko Vasic, the head of police department in the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, told a news conference in Banja Luka on Saturday…

EU committed to helping flooded Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina – (EurActiv) The European Union is providing urgent assistance to Serbia and to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the two Western Balkan countries being hit by the worst floods in the last 120 years. In addition, Serbia, in its capacity as an EU candidate country, qualifies for financial assistance, Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva said…

After the Balkan floods: Unity and compassion – (AlJazeera) uring the last week, countries in the Balkans have experienced extremely heavy rain - the amount of rainfall expected over the period of three months, fell on the region in only three days, bringing about catastrophic floods. The rain has stopped, but the force of water has caused horrific destruction. Bosnia and Serbia have declared a state of emergency…

Mine explodes in Bosnia as floods clear-up begins – (Standard Digital) A landmine dislodged by devastating floods in the Balkans exploded in Bosnia, officials said Wednesday, hurting no one but highlighting the dangers of a huge clean-up operation as governments began counting the costs…

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Croatia

Croatia Chooses Plomin as Strategic Energy Project – (Energetika) Last year Croatia, the newest European Union member that is desperate to attract more foreign investments in an effort to revive the economy, adopted a law on strategic investments to speed up frequently long...

Croatia Opens New Stretch of its Modern Pipeline Grid – (Energetika) “In the construction of that pipeline stretch, which took a bit more than a year, Plinacro invested almost 62 million kuna (1 euro = 7.61 Croatian kuna). By this we have upgraded the biggest part of the pipeline...

Croatia’s President Lobbies in U.S. for Adriatic Gas and Oil Drilling – (Energetika) Ahead of a meeting with investors from the U.S. gas and oil industry at an energy forum in Houston, Josipović said that Croatia was expecting a lot from the forthcoming tender in terms of a boost to the economy...

Vrdoljak: Reindustrialisation and energy positioning of Croatia – (Dalje) Two important goals of the Economy Ministry this year are reindustrialisation of Croatia and the positioning of the country as an energy hub in this part of Europe, Economy Minister Ivan Vrdoljak said during a visit to the northwestern city of Varazdin on Friday…

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Macedonia

Macedonia utility ELEM to provide 80 MW of power to Serbia's EPS – (Reuters) Macedonia's utility ELEM said on Monday it would provide 80 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Serbia's EPS to help the utility cope with flooding that has cut its power output by 40 percent…

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Montenegro

Montenegro receives three bids for oil and gas exploration – (Balkan EU) The international tender for oil and gas exploration in the Montenegrin undersea arrived yielded three bids. Registered companies have expressed interest to explore in one of the so-called 13 blocks of a total area of 3,000km in the southern and eastern part of the Montenegrin undersea. By the end of the year the  negotiations with each company are expected to have been completed and start exploring…

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Romania

U.S. VP Biden: Romania can become key connection point for energy markets – (ACT Media) Romania can become the key connection point for energy markets from the Black Sea to Central and Eastern Europe, provided that it modernizes its specific infrastructure, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said at the Victoria Palace of Government…

Geothermal District Heating has the potential to alleviate Europe’s energy security crisis – (CORDIS EU) Over 25% of the EU population lives in areas directly suitable for Geothermal District Heating (GeoDH) . There is a large potential in Central and Eastern Europe, with GeoDH systems in operation in 22 European countries including Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, and Romania, where existing heat networks are well developed…

Romania is open to investments for ensuring energy independence – (ACT Media) Romania invests much to develop a strategic concept of energy independence, so Russia can never stop Romania's and the Republic of Moldova's regular functioning using the energy supply, Prime Minister Victor Ponta said on Wednesday in a joint press statement with US Vice President Joe Biden…

US Vice President Discusses Romanian Shale Gas, Defense Budget – (Novinite) Shale gas and military expenditures, alongside the Ukraine crisis, were the main issues in meetings of US Vice President Joe Biden with Romanian leaders.  "We discussed shale gas [with Vice President Biden]. It is quite clear that the US is encouraging such exploitation," AGERPRES agency quoted Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta as saying…

Coal sector to hold important place in Romania's energy strategy (state secretary) – (ACT Media) The coal sector will hold an important place in Romania's energy strategy given that it currently ensures some 30% of electricity production, Karoly Borbely, State Secretary in the Energy Department, told a Thursday's conference on coal industry costs…

Electricity distributors’ profits, up by a third in Romania while Enel records highest earnings – (Romania-Insider) Seven of the eight electricity distribution companies in Romania, each serving a different region in the country, saw their profits increase by 29.3 percent year-on-year in 2013, while their revenues were up by 6.1 percent, Romania-Insider.com has calculated based on data posted by Romanian investment fund Fondul Proprietatea, which holds minority stakes in all the seven companies…

Solar panels generated 7% of Romania’s electricity production yesterday – (Romania-Insider) Operational photovoltaic parks generated over 500 MW of electricity on Monday, at 13:00, which is one of the largest productions registered so far in Romania in this sector, according to real time data published by Transelectrica, cited by local Agerpres…

Sharp household electricity and gas prices rises in Romania – (Romania-Insider) Romania saw one of the biggest increases in household electricity and gas prices between 2012 and 2013, figures from Eurostat show.  Although its average household electricity price per 100kwh is technically one Europe’s lowest at EUR 12.8, Romania saw one of the steepest price increases between the second half of 2012 and the second half of last year, with a 16.8 percent rise. This is compared to a 4.4 percent increase between 2011 and 2012…

Greece and Romania has the highest increases in household electricity prices – (Balkans) In the EU28, household electricity prices rose by 2.8% on average between the second half of 2012 and the second half of 2013, after an increase of 6.0% between the second half of 2011 and 2012. Household gas prices increased by 1.0%...

Record daily output for Romania’s largest electricity producer – (Romania-Insider) Romanian hydro-electricity producer Hidroelectrica’s output reached about 80,000 MWh on Friday, May 16, which is the highest daily production ever recorded by the company in its 23 years of existence. Compared to one year ago, Hidroelectrica’s production was 19 percent higher, data shows…

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Serbia

Flood-Struck Serbia to Import Electricity from Bulgaria– (Publics) The EU is ready to mobilize the Solidarity Fund in order to help Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to deal with the massive devastation caused by what is said to be the worst floods in over a century in the region, EU commissioner for international cooperation announced Tuesday, adding that more than 450 rescuers from the EU have been working in disaster struck areas. More than a million people are said to be affected by the disaster…

Serbia floods now threaten power plants, toll tops 35 – (Gulf Times) Soldiers, police and volunteers battled to protect power plants in Serbia from rising flood waters as the death toll from the Balkan region’s worst rainfall in more than a century reached 35 yesterday.  Twelve bodies were recovered from the worst-hit Serbian town of Obrenovac, 30km southwest of the capital, Belgrade…

Floods threaten Serbia power plants, death toll hits 35– (GMA News) Soldiers, police and volunteers battled to protect power plants in Serbia from rising flood waters on Sunday as the death toll from the Balkan region's worst rainfall in more than a century reached 35…

Balkans flooding threatens Serbia power plants, 37 dead– (Reuters) Soldiers, police and villagers battled to protect power plants in Serbia from rising flood waters on Sunday as the death toll from the Balkan region's worst rainfall in more than a century reached 37…

UPDATE 3-Balkans flooding threatens Serbia power plants, 37 dead– (Reuters) Soldiers, police and villagers battled to protect power plants in Serbia from rising flood waters on Sunday as the death toll from the Balkan region's worst rainfall in more than a century reached 37…

Bulgaria Sends Water, Medicines, Power Exports to Flood-Hit Serbia– (Novinite) Deputy Prime Minister Daniela Bobeva has said that Bulgaria is exporting electricity to Serbia in response to a request from the flood-stricken country.  Serbia on Tuesday declared three days of national mourning for the victims of the worst floods to hit the country in more than a century…

Serbia PM: Damage Caused by Floods to Exceed 0.6% of GDP– (Novinite) Serbia's Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has said that the floods have caused damage worth 0.64% of GDP. Speaking Thursday in Belgrade at a meeting of international donors, he argued that the sector of energy and agriculture had been hardest hit, adding that the damage estimate could even reach EUR 1 B…

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Armenia

Electric Networks of Armenia fined AMD 20 million over violations – (PanArmenian) Armenia’s State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition (SCPEC) imposed a fine of 20 million drams on Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) CJSC, based on an application of Yerevan residents, Aysor.am reported…

Sevan–Hrazdan Cascade Hydropower System – (Asbarez) Armenia imports about 60% of its primary energy needs, mainly natural gas, and suffers from obsolete power generation infrastructure. Hydropower stations, which provide about 1/3 of the electricity in Armenia, are the only source of domestic renewable energy resources…

Government plans to start new energy block construction in 2018 – (ArmenPress) The Government of the Republic of Armenia will continue to work connected with the construction of the new energy block of the nuclear power station, whose construction will start in 2018…

Armenia to exploit further outdated Metsamor NPP – (Azernews) Despite the international community's protests, Armenia is trying to extend the activities of its outdated Metsamor nuclear power plant.  The new government's program for 2014-2017, approved on May 19, shows that it plans to launch the construction of a new power unit at the NPP in 2018…

Armenian government to set up commission to look into Nairit chemical plant – (ARKA) The Armenian government intends to set up a commission to look into the situation at Nairit chemical plant in Yerevan and ways to resume its operation, Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan said today…

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Azerbaijan 

Azerbaijan’s role in European energy system will increase - CoE SG – (News.AZ) According to Energy Ministry, the delegation includes the secretary of the CE Committee of. Ministers Mirel Pauls, Director of the Private Office of the Secretary General Bjørn Berge, Director of the Directorate General of Programmes at the Council of Europe Verena Taylor and other officials…

Azerbaijan, CoE discuss cooperation prospects – (Azernews) Council of Europe (CoE) Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland, who is on visit to Azerbaijan, discusses with the top level officials the prospects for cooperation between the CoE and the country…

Conference in LA highlights Azerbaijan’s role in Europe's energy security – (Azernews) The University of Southern California in Los Angeles hosted a conference on the strategic importance of the Southern Energy Corridor and Azerbaijan's crucial role for Europe in its attempts to diversify energy imports…

EBRD to launch new loan lines in Azerbaijan – (Azernews) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) intends to launch two new credit loans in Azerbaijan during the year, the head of the EBRD Baku office, Neal McCain told Trend…

EBRD to launch two new loan lines in Azerbaijan in 2014 – (Trend) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) intends to launch two new credit loans in Azerbaijan during the year, the head of the EBRD Baku office, Neal McCain told Trend…

Azerbaijan ready to provide infrastructure to transport Turkmen gas: Minister – (Azernews) It is possible to transport additional volumes of gas from the fields in the third countries as part of major gas transportation projects.  These remarks were made by Azerbaijan's Energy Minister Natig Aliyev in reply to a question on the possibility of transportation of Turkmen gas to Europe…

Southern gas corridor ‘main priority of Azerbaijan in next five years’- minister – (News. AZ) “Implementation of Shahdeniz-2 projects and South gas corridor are the main priorities of Azerbaijan for the next five years”.  According to 1news.az, the statement came from Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy Natiq Aliyev in the interview with The Business Year magazine…

Trans-Caspian gas pipeline to enable diversification of energy supply to EU countries – (Trend) The implementation of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline will be a good opportunity to diversify the energy supply to EU countries, Malena Mard, head of EU Delegation to Azerbaijan told journalists on May 19…

Azerbaijan increases transportation via main gas and oil pipelines – (News.AZ) In January-April, 2014, Azerbaijan transported 15.5 mln tonnes of oil via main pipelines, up 10.2% from previous year. ¾ (11.7 mln tonnes of oil) of transportation has been carried out via Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. At the same time, 1.8 mln tonnes of Turkmen oil have been transported via BTC through Sangachal terminal…

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Georgia

Georgia will back Europe’s Southern Gas Corridor — Prime Minister – (ITAR TASS) Georgia will back Europe’s Southern Corridor project that competes with Russia’s South Stream, Georgian Prime Minister Irakly Garibashvili has said.  “We will back the South Corridor project that will allow Europe to tap into Central Asia’s vast reserves,” he said on Wednesday…

Supply of Russian gas to Armenia via Georgia halted – (ARKA) Armenia’s national gas operator Gazprom Armenia (owned fully by Russian Gazprom)  said  Georgia’s Gas Transportation Company had to halt shipment of gas to Armenia after a massive landslide  damaged the pipeline supplying Russian gas to Armenia across Georgia…

World Bank supports secure and reliable supply of power in Georgia – (EBR) The World Bank Group Board of Executive Directors approved $60m International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) financing for the Transmission Grid Strengthening Project for Georgia…

New Hydroelectric Power Plant for the Chkhorotsku region – (Georgia Today) Khobi-2, a Hydroelectric Power Plant being built in the Chkhorotsku region in Western Georgia, will aid Georgia to become more energy independent, stated Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili at the opening of construction work on May 18…

Georgia announces tender for constructing HPP– (Trend) Georgia's Energy Ministry has announced a tender to work out the feasibility study (FS) of the project for construction and management of a hydro power plant...

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Moldova  

Romania and R. of Moldova want to speed up draw-up of feasibility studies for power grid interconnecting – (ACT Media) omania's Minister Delegate for Energy Razvan Nicolescu and Republic of Moldova Prime Minister Iurie Leanca on Monday talked about the energy projects of the two states, paying a special attention to the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline and to the power grid interconnecting.  In regards with the power grid interconnecting, 'it has been decided to speed up the feasibility studies draw-up: Isaccea-Vulcanesti-Chisinau and Romania-Ungheni-Straseni,' according to a release of the Government of…

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Turkey   

Soma Tragedy Won’t Deter Turkey From Coal – (Oil Price) Following the May 13 mine explosion in Soma, Turkey, which killed at least 282 miners and left dozens trapped after the blast, the Turkish government declared three days of mourning…

Turkish Coal Tragedy Puts Emphasis on Transition to Clean Energy – (The Energy Collective) In what's being deemed the worst mining disaster in Turkey's history, more than 240 miners have been killed and countless more are still missing following a power transformer explosion that triggered a blazing underground fire at a Soma Komur Isletmeleri mine in Western Turkey…

Soma mine was ‘indisputably flawed,’ Turkish energy minister says – (Daily news) The coal mine in Soma, where 301 people lost their lives last week after a tragic accident, was indisputably flawed, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yıldız admitted on May 20, warning that the disaster was “an important threat…

Turkey's countdown to nuclear energy – (AlMonitor) Turkey is a country that relies heavily on foreign energy supplies. In 2013, energy products accounted for $55.9 billion among $251.6 billion in imports. With 2013’s current account deficit of $65 billion, the burden of energy imports on the economy becomes even more striking…

Turkish labor minister passes the buck to energy minister over Soma disaster – (Daily News) Labor Minister Faruk Çelik, who has been slammed by the opposition over the Soma mining disaster, said May 20 that his ministry was not the responsible party, instead pointing the finger at Energy Minister Taner Yıldız, who actively coordinated the search and rescue operation…

Turkey could benefit from EU bid to diversify energy sources – (World Bulletin) The EU’s bid to diversify its energy sources and guarantee supply security could bring about the opening of the fifteenth "chapter" or EU's accession policy area on energy, currently being blocked by the Greek Cypriots, in Turkey’s accession process say experts…

TURKEY KEY TO EU'S ENERGY SECURITY, SAY EXPERTS – (Daily Sabah) The EU's bid to diversify its energy sources and guarantee supply security could bring about the opening of the 15th "chapter" of EU's accession policy area on energy, currently being blocked by the Greek Cypriots, in Turkey's accession process, say experts. Turkey has to successfully conclude negotiations on 35 policy "chapters," which require reforms and the adoption of European standards, for its EU membership…

Turkish labor minister passes the buck to energy minister over Soma disaster – (Turkish Weekly) Labor Minister Faruk Çelik, who has been slammed by the opposition over the Soma mining disaster, said May 20 that his ministry was not the responsible party, instead pointing the finger at Energy Minister Taner Yıldız, who actively coordinated the search and rescue operation…

TURKEY SHOULD SWITCH TO NUCLEAR ENERGY, SAYS TOP EXPERT – (Daily Sabah) Turkey is currently trying to dress the wounds of the most devastating mine accident in its history. While experts investigate the causes of the accident, coal mines and coal power plants are back at the top of the agenda. In the 1980s, Turgut Özal, who was the prime minister at the time, intended to close down coal mines, regarding them as uneconomic and unsafe…

"the energy sector in Turkey may go in search of alternatives"- Source – (Balkans) urkey is currently trying to dress the wounds of the most devastating mine accident in its history. While experts investigate the causes of the accident, coal mines and coal power plants are back at the top of the agenda. In the 1980s, Turgut Özal, who was the prime minister at the time, intended to close down coal mines, regarding them as uneconomic and unsafe. Despite his best intentions, the mines remained open due to pressure from the opposition parties…

TURKEY PRIVATIZES FIVE HYDROPOWER PLANTS – (Daily Sabah) The privatization of five hydroelectric power plants through the transfer of operational rights was tendered by the Privatization Administration of Turkey on Wednesday. Conclusive bargaining negotiations for the five power plants in three groups were held in the headquarters of Turkey's Prime Ministry Privatization Administration with attendees from different companies…

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Ukraine 

Three Keys to European Energy Independence from Russia – (The Wall Street Journal) Vladimir Putin is the father of the most significant energy mix shift in Europe. Ukraine may be the straw that broke the back of the energy camel.  As a result, Russia is about to lose a lot of revenue. Talk about the unintended consequences…

Shale could be the answer to Ukraine's energy woes, candidate says – (UPI) Ukrainian presidential candidate Oleh Liahsko said shale gas could help bring a layer of political and economic independence to a new Ukrainian government…

EU Observer: EU energy chief Gunther Oettinger aims for Ukraine-Russia gas deal by end of May – (Kyiv Post) EU energy commissioner Gunther Oettinger has promised to try to resolve a gas price dispute between Russia and Ukraine by the end of May. Speaking on May 19 after holding talks with Russian energy minister Alexander Novak and a representative of Gazprom, the state-owned energy giant, Oettinger promised that a compromise would be reached before the end of the month…

UPDATE 1-EU should stress test vulnerability to Ukraine gas cut –draft – (Reuters) EU nations should conduct stress tests before winter to work out how vulnerable they would be in the event the crisis over Ukraine leads to a major disruption of natural gas supplies from Russia, a European Commission draft document seen by Reuters shows…

IAEA Says Impossible for Ukraine to Switch to US Nuclear Fuel – (Ria Novosti) It is impossible for Ukraine to swap Russian-made fuel in its nuclear reactors for US fuel rods, the head of the Operational Safety Section at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Wednesday…

EU to step up fracking and efficiency in response to Ukraine crisis – (RTCC) The European Union aims decisively to shift away from dependence on Russian gas imports, following previous failed attempts, according to a draft European Commission document on energy security…

EU Urges Russia Not to Disrupt Gas Flows to Ukraine – (The Wall Street Journal) The European Union urged Russia on Wednesday not to disrupt gas flows to Ukraine, just 10 days ahead of a Moscow-imposed deadline to resolve a pricing dispute over natural gas between Kiev and Moscow…

European Union Wants Ukraine Russia Gas Dispute Resolved Before June – (International Business Times) The European Union wants to settle a gas dispute between Ukraine and Russia before June 1 and plans two more rounds of talks for next week, the EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said on Monday…

Activ Solar's solar power plants in Crimea suspend operation – (Kyiv Post) Solar power plants of Activ Solar in Crimea have suspended their operation, the company's press service has told Interfax-Ukraine…

Ukraine buys $113.8 mln in nuclear fuel from Russia's TVEL in Q1 – (Interfax-Ukraine) Ukraine bought $113.828 million worth of fresh nuclear fuel in January-March 2014, the State Statistics Service said…

NATO experts to help step up security at Ukrainian nuclear power plants – (Kyiv Post) NATO has sent a group of civilian experts to assist in strengthening security at nuclear power plants in Ukraine, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said…

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.