Albania

Balkan states back TAP, IAP gas pipeline projects – (Reuters) Four Balkan states backed the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project on Thursday, weeks before the Shah Deniz 2 consortium picks between TAP and its rival Nabucco West project…

Four Balkan states sign memo on TAP pipeline project – (Azernews) Government officials of Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia have signed a memorandum of understanding, support and cooperation in the construction of two new pipelines - Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and Ionian Adriatic Pipeline (IAP), Azerbaijani news agency Trend reported with reference to RIA Novosti…

Good-will agreement for westbound gas pipeline signed (World Bulletin) - Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro and Croatia penned Friday a good-will agreement to for the proposed Trans Adriatic Pipeline Project…

Bulgaria

EU urges reform of Bulgaria troubled energy sector – (Phys.org) Brussels recommended Tuesday far-reaching reforms to Bulgaria's troubled energy sector as well as measures like better insulation, as a solution to high electricity bills that have prompted public anger in the EU's poorest country…

Dire picture of Bulgaria’s energy sector in World Bank, EC reports – (Sofia Globe) Reports by the World Bank and the European Commission paint a grim picture of the state of the energy sector in Bulgaria – probably hardly a surprise, given that it was electricity issues around which Bulgarians mobilised in street protests in early 2013…

World Bank, EC Slam Bulgaria's Energy Sector – (Novinite) Non-transparency in the management of State-owned companies, a widespread sense of corruption and an insufficiently independent regulator to control the entire energy system, are just some of the findings of the World Bank…

Bulgaria's Caretaker Govt: MPs Should Elect Energy Watchdog – (Novinite) Bulgaria's caretaker government proposes to have the Parliament elect the members of the State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation, DKEVR…

Bulgarian energy firm BEH to meet investors for 250 mln Euro bond – (Reuters) Bulgaria's BEH, the state largest energy holding company, will meet with potential investors in its 250-million-euro ($321.81 million) bond issue in late July and early August, its chief executive said on Wednesday…

Anonymous Hack Bulgarian Energy Watchdog Site – (Novinite) An international hacker attack of the Anonymous is blocking for the third day in a row the internet site of the Bulgarian State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation, DKEVR…

Problems in Bulgaria’s energy sector accumulated over the past 15-20 years: ex-minister – (Focus) “Problems in the Bulgarian energy sector has not been accumulated over the past few years but over the past 15-20 years,” said Lilyana Pavlova, MP with the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (CEBD) and former minister of regional development in the government of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, speaking for the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR)…

Bulgaria's EconMin: Legislation Can Stabilize Energy Sector – (Novinite) The stabilization of the energy sector will not happen without legislative changes, according to caretaker Economy and Energy Minister, Asen Vasilev…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Regional energy shortages require co-operation, analysts say – (SETimes) Balkan countries need to focus on joint projects that will harness water resources to improve the regional energy supply, analysts and experts said…

Croatia

Croatian power provider posts net profit of HRK 71.2 mln – (Dalje) Hrvatska Elektroprivreda (HEP Group), the national company engaged in electricity production and distribution as well as in heat supply and gas distribution, netted a consolidated profit of HRK 71.2 million in 2012, as against 7.8 million kuna in 2011, according to its financial statement issued via the Zagreb Stock Exchange on Thursday…

Macedonia

FYR Macedonia starts construction of first wind farm worth 55 mln euro – (Balkans) FYR Macedonia's state-owned power utility company ELEM has begun the construction of the countrys first wind farm in an investment worth 55 million euro…

Corporate & Energy and Infrastructure – (Mondaq) According to recent amendments of the Company Law (2004) in Macedonia, the companies that have not performed any business activities in the last three years, will be declared as inactive by the Central Registry of the Republic of Macedonia and in cooperation of the Public Revenue Office such companies shell be deleted from the administered trade registry...

Montenegro

KAP problems will not affect Montenegro's energy sector – (Balkans) The current situation in Montenegro's energy sector and the costs resulting from illegal electricity supply to the Aluminium Plant (KAP) will not affect the tariffs charged to the clients, says Energy Regulatory Agency (RAE)…

Preparing for Prosperity: Montenegro and the Next Steps for Economic Growth – (World Bank) It has been nearly five years since the onset of the global financial crisis and countries throughout the world continue to cope with unflagging economic uncertainty and growing social and economic burdens…

Montenegro presents initiative for Balkan cooperation – (Dalje) The Montenegrin government has launched, through Foreign Minister Igor Luksic, a new concept of cooperation between Western Balkan countries which would include Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegrin media said on Saturday…

Romania

Is the party over for renewable energy in Romania? – (Lexology) Recent proposals from Romania’s energy regulatory authority and projected legislative changes could have a negative impact on investments in the country’s renewable energy sources (“RES”) sector…

Romania’s Energy Minister says tenders for new shale gas exploration perimeters to be launched “soonish” – (Romania Insider) Romania’s Energy Minister has said that tenders will soon be launched for shale gas exploration permits in the country…

Romania's shale gas debates move to blogs – (Setimes) As Romania's government hails the economic and political benefits of shale gas extraction environmentalists embarked on a campaign warning about pollution risks…

E.ON Romania asks for higher gas prices, warns about withdrawal from green energy market if state support reduced – (Romania Insider) Gas company E.ON Romania, which recently asked for a 10 percent increase in gas distribution tariffs, warned that it plans to withdraw form the renewable energy market in Romania should the recent decision to change the legislation in this area be followed through…

Romania Gears Up for More Shale Gas Exploration – (Energy Tribune) Romania will soon launch tenders to expand shale gas exploration after Chevron took the lead this month as the government seeks to reduce dependence on costly imports, the energy minister said on Thursday…

Victor Ponta: Pact for energy, spinal column of Romania's energy strategy – (Act Media) The Pact for energy' launched on Thursday at the Romanian Academy, cannot represent a strategy in a broad sense, but it certainly represents the spinal column of Romania's energy strategy, Prime Minister Victor Ponta said…

Romania wants to avoid higher gas bills in winter by importing more gas during summer – (Romania Insider) Romania will import more gas during summer, even if the consumption could be covered just by the internal production, so that the value of the gas bills does not increase during the winter period, when Russian gas is more expensive, according to local news agency Mediafax…

Romania Shale Gas Investing – (Energy Capital) As Romania continues its quest to achieve a modicum of energy independence, it’s clear that the country is likely to open up its shale reserves to international prospectors…

Serbia

Serbia, Czech Republic start environmental protection cooperation – (Balkans) Serbia's Minister of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection Zorana Mihajlovic and Czech Minister of Environment Tomas Chalupa yesterday signed a cooperation programme of relevant ministries for this and next year…

Armenia

EuFoA calls for common Armenia-EU efforts to avoid gas waste – (Pan Armenian) The announcement of sharply increased gas prices for Armenia have sparked many questions about social and geo-political consequences, European Friends of Armenia (EuFoA) said in a statement…

Nuclear energy workshop in Yerevan – (Public Radio of Armenia) As part of a U.S. sponsored workshop on nuclear energy, Ambassador John A. Heffern witnessed the first ever remote connection to a nuclear reactor in the United States on May 23…

Diversified energy supply to ensure energy security in Armenia : U.S. Ambassador – (ARKA) Diversified  energy supply resources in Armenia will ensure  energy security and meet the domestic demand, said John Heffern, U.S. ambassador to Armenia, on Wednesday…

Clean energy gives lectures at Armenia’s universities – (ARKA) Clean Energy NGO has been giving lectures at Armenia’s university since May 17. The lectures are to raise public awareness about alternative energy challenges for Armenia and propagate the consumption of clean energy sources of the republic, the organization reported to ARKA on Monday…

World Bank supports irrigation systems enhancement in Armenia – (Public Radio of Armenia) The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved a US$30 million loan for the Irrigation System Enhancement Project (ISEP) in Armenia…

Armenia should develop alternative energy sources – (AYSOR) Russia is not putting pressure on Armenia by raising the price of natural gas supplied to Armenia, political scientist Levon Shirinian told Aysor.am…

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani President: Opening of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan corridor changed energy map of continent – (Trend) The U.S. was the key player in implementation of projects in Azerbaijan related to opening the Caspian Sea to foreign investors, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said. He made this statement at the opening of the Azerbaijan-U.S. Convention "Vision for the Future", which is underway in Baku…

INOGATE ESIB comments to bill on energy efficiency in Azerbaijan to be ready by July  -(abc.az) Project “Energy Saving Initiative in the Building Sector in Eastern Europe and Central Asia” (ESIB) of INOGATE program of the European Union continues preparing to make the new recommendations for beneficiary countries…

Mitschek: Nabucco answers Azerbaijan’s strategic consideration – (EurActiv) Nabucco chief executive Reinhard Mitschek, who leads one of he two companies competing to obtain 10 billion of cubic metres of gas annually from the Shah Deniz gas field in Azerbaijan, made the case that his project means more diversification of exports for Azerbaijan by bringing its gas to at least 16 countries in Europe…

Azeri SOCAR to borrow $20 billion to boost exports to Europe – (Reuters) Azeri state energy firm SOCAR plans to borrow more than $20 billion over the next five years to finance energy projects to help boost gas exports to Europe, a challenge to plans by neighboring Russia…

NATO, US 'works closely' with Azerbaijan on energy security issues – (Azernews) The NATO, as well as the U.S. works and will work closely with Azerbaijan on the issues of energy security and infrastructure protection, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar told journalists in Baku on May 23…

State program on energy efficiency in Azerbaijan under development – (abc.az) The Ministry of Industry & Energy of Azerbaijan begins the process of development of the State Program on Energy Efficiency… 

Azerbaijan oil pipeline contract termination not political – (UPI) Russia's decision to suspend its use of an Azerbaijani oil pipeline isn't the result of political tensions, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says…

European Commission withdraws pipelines for gas export from Azerbaijan from III Energy Package – (abc.az) Yesterday the European Commission adopted a formal decision granting the exemptions from the EU legislation (the provisions of the 3rd Energy Package on the third party access, tariff regulation and ownership unbundling) for the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline project and for Nabucco West as an extension of the existing exemption (on the third party access and tariff regulation) earlier granted…

Electricity supply via Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey line rehabilitated – (abc.az) Addressing to the forum, Economic Development Minister Shahin Mustafayev has stated that transnational projects initiated by Azerbaijan or realized with its active involvement such as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, TANAP, railway Baku-Tbilisi-Kars, energy bridge Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey have not only regional significance, but also take our countries to the level of international contractors…

Georgia

Georgia says satisfied with Azerbaijani gas price – (AzerNews) The price for Azerbaijani gas supplied to Georgia fully satisfies Tbilisi, Georgian Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze said in an interview with Azerbaijan's Trend news agency…

Russia

Russian gas pipeline could doom Europe Nabucco plan – (Gulf Times) Europe’s grand plan for a gas pipeline from the Caspian Sea that would make its eastern states less reliant on Russia may have been fatally undermined by Russia’s even bigger project…

Russia reviews its stance on renewable energy  -(Khaleej Times) The Russian government believes renewable energy sources have a bright future, and will review its policies toward their broader use, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday…

168 Hours: Russia may hit Armenia in most vulnerable spot – (AYSOR) “168 Hours” paper discusses the gas price increase as well as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s recent statement regarding the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and comes to the conclusion that both have political reasons: Armenia’s refusal to join the Customs Union…

Gazprom's monopoly soon a thing of the past? – (DW) Russia's energy giant Gazprom is finally facing real competition. More Russian gas producers are aiming to get a foot into global markets. For consumers, this may have the pleasant side effect of lower energy bills…

VetroOGK to Build Wind Energy Parks in South Russia – (RIA) VetroOGK, part of the Atomenergomash nuclear and energy company, is considering building wind farms in south Russia, Atomenergomash CEO Andrei Nikipelov said on Wednesday…

Russian Gas Pipeline Could Doom Europe Nabucco Plan – (Energy Tribune) Europe’s grand plan for a gas pipeline from the Caspian Sea that would make its eastern states less reliant on Russia may have been fatally undermined by Russia’s even bigger project…

Russia Approves Subsidy Program to Boost Renewable-Energy Output – (Bloomberg) Russia approved an incentive program to boost renewable-energy production, targeting almost 6 gigawatts of new capacity by 2020 and its first solar parks…

Emergency shutdown at Russia's Kursk nuclear plant  -(RT) The first turbine generator of Russia's Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, about 500 km south of Moscow, has been brought to a halt due to an emergency protection system alarm. The system reacted to a short-circuit in the stator, preliminary reports said…

Turkey

Turkey plans to build its third nuclear plant – (Balkans) Turkey has announced plans to build its third nuclear plant, most of the parts of which are planned to be built by national sources, but it acknowledges that it must be patient and cautious in kicking off the plans…

Turkey: Regulations In The New Turkish Electricity Market Law Regarding The Organised Wholesale Power Markets – (Mondaq) The presence of effective spot and derivatives markets is very important for new power-generation investments as well as the optimisation of existing generation capacity…

Europe's largest combined cycle power plant built in Turkey – (Trend) Turkey has completed the construction of Europe's largest combined cycle power plant in the province of Denizli, Cihan news agency reported..

Turkey to launch new round of electricity sector privatization – (ICIS) Turkey's privatisation administration, OIB, is in the process of launching tenders for up to 2GW of state-owned electricity generation capacity, a source at the administration told ICIS…

Turkish electricity derivatives spark interest – (FOW) ICE Endex and the European Energy Exchange (EEX) are considering investing in Turkeys new regional power market which will include the countries first electricity derivatives platform writes Jonathan Watkins…

Turkey to Loosen Grip of State Energy Explorer With New Law – (Bloomberg) Turkey, which gets almost all of its energy from abroad, will debate a bill today that seeks to lure foreign companies to explore for oil and gas by ending the preferential treatment of state-run TPAO Turkiye Petrolleri AO…

Turkey's booming power market set for liberalization – (Reuters) Turkey's bid to create a regional power market is moving forward with preparations to add electricity futures and derivatives trading yet the appeal of tapping the country's rapid growth is tempered by caution about how the market will work…

Ukraine

NCER revises power transmission tariffs for 35 companies from June – (Kyiv Post) The National Commission for Energy Regulation (NCER) has revised tariffs for transmission and supply of electricity for 35 electricity supply companies from June 1, 2013…

Ukraine's energy officials discuss imports of gas from Slovakia with EC Director for Internal Energy Market – (NRCU) Ukraine’s Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavytsky and Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Fuel and Energy Oleksandr Onyschenko have met with European Commission's Director for the Internal Energy Market Klaus-Dieter Borchardt in Kyiv to discuss technical possibilities for the reverse supply of gas to Ukraine via Slovakia…

Ukrainian gas pipelines worth over $26 billion  -(RT) Accountants looking at the Ukranian gas transit network have put a value on it of between $26-29 billion…

The potential of Ukraine is 27 million tons of biofuel per year – (pellets-wood) According to Gregory Kaletnik (the head of Verkhovna Rada Committee on Agrarian Policy and Land Relations) Ukraine has the potential of biomass which is equivalent to 27 million tons of alternative fuels per year…

Bioenergy will make Ukraine energy independent – (Forum) Ukraine may be energy independent due to alternative energy sources, head of the Parliament’s committee on agrarian policy and land relations, MP from the Party of Regions Hryhoriy Kaletnyk said at the International Bioenergy Forum, ForUm correspondent reports…

Ukraine in talks with Turkmenistan to resume gas supplies – (AzerNews) The resumption of gas supplies to Ukraine was the key topic of the discussions held among Ukrainian Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Oleg Proskuryakov with Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister Baymurad Khojamukhamedov and chairman of the Turkmengeology state corporation Toreh Yagshymuradov…

Ukraine leaders eager to talk trash while in Westman – (Branson Sun) A delegation of Ukrainian mayors, deputy mayors and other community leaders stopped in Brandon this week as part of a cross-country tour…

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.