Albania

Czech CEZ power group reports jump in Q1 profit – (Focus) electricity group CEZ, 70-percent owned by the state, reported on Tuesday a 24.0-percent rise in first-quarter net profit to 17.9 billion koruna (696 million euros, $913 million), AFP reported…

Bulgaria

Sofia Pours EUR 1 B in Energy Saving Projects – (Standart) Bulgaria has a new grand slam in the energy sector. This became clear from a statement of President Rossen Plevneliev, who endorsed sixteen agreements for refurbishment of 31 public buildings with money from the Kozloduy international fund…

Bulgaria’s Kozloduy NPP chief to remain on the post: PM – (Focus) “Executive director of Kozloduy NPP, Valentin Nikolov, will remain on the post he occupies,” Bulgarian interim Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Marin Raykov said at a press conference after the sitting of the Council of Ministers, FOCUS News Agency reporter informed…

Bulgaria's Power Grid Hits Bottom Load during Easter Holidays – (Novinite) After experiencing problems for over a month due to low consumption, Bulgaria's power grid suffered a new blow during the Easter holidays…

Electricity production of wind and solar farms in Bulgaria restricted – (Focus) At the request of Bulgarian Electricity System Operator there will be a restriction on the electricity production of wind and solar farms in the country on May 6, 2013…

RES capacity in Western Bulgaria to be limited at the request of the ESO – (Focus) Renewable Electric Source (RES) utilization in western Bulgaria will be limited at the request of the Electricity System Operator (RSO) will be limited, CEZ Bulgaria announced…

CEZ: Market, Economic Uncertainty Cloud Outlook – (The Wall Street Journal) Regulatory risk in Bulgaria along with falling European electricity prices, market uncertainty due to the European Parliament's rejection of a fix to the carbon market and economic stagnation are key risks to the outlook in the mid-term, Czech power company CEZ AS (BAACEZ.PR) said Tuesday…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Construction and infrastructure sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), has low growth prospects – BMI = (Balkans) Business Monitor International stated in its recent report about infastructure in Bosna Herzegovina that the lack of confidence from investors, combined with government infighting, means the construction and infrastructure sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), has low growth prospects…

Croatia

International conference of experts on natural gas opens in Opatija – (Dalje) The 28th international conference of experts on natural gas opened in the northern Adriatic resort of Opatija on Wednesday, drawing about 500 experts from 20 countries who will be discussing over the next three days development of the gas business, the state of the gas market in Croatia, and plans for the construction of an LNG terminal and underground gas storage facilities…

Croatia talking with energy majors on Adriatic gas – (BNE) The Croatian government says it has opened talks with Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips and General Electric over oil and gas exploration projects in the Croatian section of the Adriatic Sea…

Hrvatski Telekom and UNDP plant “Solar Sunflowers” in ten elementary schools in Croatia – (4 Traders) The donation project Solar Sunflowers, which Hrvatski Telekom has launched and financed with HRK 400,000, and implemented it in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as a partner, was presented today in the premises of Tin Ujeviæ Elementary School in Zagreb…

Gov't launches replacement of HEP CEO Koracevic – (Daily Portal) The government on Thursday forwarded a proposal to the supervisory board of the HEP national power provider to replace the current management board chairman, Zlatko Koracevic, and board members Rodoljub Lalic and Tomislav Seric and to appoint Seric as the successor to Koracevic, according to a press release issued by the government's public relations office after the cabinet's closed door meeting…

Kosovo

World Bank Changes Course on Dams – (Valley News) The World Bank is making a major push to develop large-scale hydropower projects around the globe, something it had all but abandoned a decade ago but now sees as crucial to resolving the tension between economic development and the drive to tame carbon use…

Kim Says World Bank Can’t Reject Coal If People Freeze – (Bloomberg) The World Bank, which has boosted investment in renewable energy, cannot refuse to finance a coal- fired plant in Kosovo if the alternative is having people there “freeze to death,” the lender’s president said…

Montenegro

EBRD supports Lastva-Pljevlja transmission line in Montenegro – (EBR) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a loan of EUR60m to support the Lastva-Pljevlja transmission line project in Montenegro…

€60m loan for new Montenegro-Italy interconnector – (Energy Live News) Montenegro has secured a loan from a London-based bank to build a new power transmission line that will link the nation to Italy…

Romania

Romania could become energy independent in about 4-7 yrs, PM says – (BBJ) Romania could become energy independent in about seven years, following the exploitation of oil and gas resources in the Black Sea, local media cited Prime Minister Victor Ponta as saying. Investment in the Black Sea region made by OMV Petrom and other companies is very important for the country, Ponta said during a press conference held last Friday in Constanta, east Romania…

Report shows Romania has 65 projects for energy efficient buildings – (Balkans) In Romania there are 65 projects for energy efficient buildings, buildings with a low impact on the environment, shows a recent report made by the Romanian Council for Green Buildings in cooperation with the NAI Romania Company. Of these buildings, 17 are certified internationally while 48, which benefit from energy auditing, are included in class A…

Romania: Conergy builds 2 MW solar plant – (PV Magazine) Conergy is currently building a further 2 megawatt solar power plant in the Romanian region of Slobozia. It was only in January this year that the PV solution and service provider had announced its entry into the market in the Eastern European country with a 2.2 megawatt solar park…

Chevron gets permit to look for shale gas in Romania – (AU.News) US oil giant Chevron obtained permits to explore for shale gas on Romania's Black Sea coast, the Environment Ministry said Wednesday, despite controversy about risks of the technique known as fracking…

Romanian natural gas trading platform launch delayed again – (ICIS) The launch of a natural gas trading platform in Romania has been delayed again and is now expected to go live within three to four months, according to the country's energy regulator ANRE…

Policy changes could help boost biogas production – (Farm News) Livestock produces a lot of waste. One solution is to turn such agricultural waste into biogas to generate energy…

A zero-energy micro-home for off-grid living –(CNET) A non-profit green technology company in Romania has unveiled a prefabricated house that has the capacity to be powered entirely by sustainable energies…

Conergy expands Romanian presence with another 2MW PV plant – (PV Tech) After entering the Romanian market in January, Conergy is set to expand its footprint in the country with the addition of a 2MW PV plant in the Romanian region of Slobozia…

Serbia

Serbia: Debts For Electricity Over 100bln RSD (Approx.1.2 Billion USD) – (In Serbia) Of 600,000 debtors, only 20 percent has reached an agreement with EPS (Electric Power Industry of Serbia) on the repayment for electricity…

South Stream starting early in Serbia – (UPI) Construction of the Serbian leg of the South Stream natural gas pipeline is scheduled for late 2013, earlier than planned, Russian energy company Gazprom said…

Srbijagas Restructuring Plan Received Positive Opinions – (In Serbia) The Ministry of Energy has received positive opinions from the other ministries in the Serbian government regarding its Srbijagas restructuring plan and expects it will be approved soon, Energy Minister Zorana Mihajlovic told Tanjug in an interview…

“Strong Political Will” Needed For Major Investments In Serbia – (In Serbia) The energy sector can bring Serbia billions of euros, but for investors to come in greater number, apart from eliminating corruption and administrative hurdles, there needs to be a strong political will, Serbian Minister of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection Zorana Mihajlovic told Tanjug…

Srbijagas restructuring plan given “positive opinion” – (B92) he Energy Ministry has received positive opinions from other ministries regarding its Srbijagas restructuring plan, Energy Minister Zorana Mihajlović says…

Serbian government proposed splitting Srbijagas into two companies – (Balkans) The Serbian government is close to reaching a decision on the restructuring of state gas distribution and transportation company Srbijagas, with government officials backing plans put forward by the energy ministry to split the loss-making company into two…

Armenia

Artsakh to export spare electricity first of all to Armenia – (ArmenPress) The Artsakh Republic will soon become an exporter of electricity, due to the realization of a number of relevant programs…

40% of Armenia’s industry in Erevan – (Messanger)  In the 1st quarter of 2013, an increase in industrial output can be observed in Armenia. The biggest share of this growth comes from the processing industry, which is based on food product output, production of beverages, as well as tobacco…

Rosneft and Itera in talks for Armenian Plant – (ArmenPress) The Russian oil major Rosneft and gas producer Itera are in talks with the Armenian authorities to make investments in the Armenia's largest petrochemical plant, Nairit, which specializes in the production of chloroprene rubber, as reported by Armenpress, quoting the Russian Vedomosti…

Azerbaijan

Largest power plant of Azerbaijan and South Caucasus was unprofitable in 2012 – (abc.az) Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Azerbaijan Thermal Power Plant Ltd (AzTES), Azerenerji’s largest power station in Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus, was loss-making in 2012… 

Promotion of alternative energy insurance starts in Azerbaijan – (abc.az) The State Agency for Alternative and Renewable Energy (ABEMDA) and insurance company AXA MBASK held symposium "Insurance of Risks in Alternative & Renewable Sources of Energy" in Gobustan today.

IFC plans to fund renewable energy projects in Azerbaijan – (New Europe) The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, intends to expand the practice of granting loans to banks in Azerbaijan to finance renewable energy and energy efficiency (RE/EE-credit) projects…

Profitability of Azerbaijan’s electricity operator drops despite a rise in sales – (abc.az) The profitability of national electricity operator Azerenerji OJSC has fallen despite the increase in sales volume…

Azerbaijan takes steps to prevent damage to investments in renewable energy – (abc.az) The State Agency for Alternative and Renewable Energy (ABEMDA) is taking steps to prevent large-scale damage in the implementation of projects in the field of alternative energy…

Azerbaijani energy operator increases electricity generation in April  -(Trend) The Azerenergy company (generation and distribution of electricity in Azerbaijan) generated about 7.8 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in January-April compared to more than eight billion for the same period of 2012, the company said today…

Azerbaijani TPP generates over 1.5 billion kW/h of electricity in two months – (Trend) In January-February 2013, Azerbaijani TPP generated about 1.6 billion kilowatt/hours of electricity according to a report released on Friday by Azerenergy (production and distribution of electricity in Azerbaijan)…

Fitch affirms Azerenerji at ’BBB-’; Outlook Stable  -(abc.az) Fitch Ratings has affirmed Azerenerji JSC’s Long-term foreign currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ’BBB-’ with a Stable Outlook and short-term foreign currency IDR at ’F3’…

Baku's energy operator prepares for implementation of major projects in capital – (Trend) Bakielektrikshebeke JSC (distribution and sale of electricity in Baku) has launched large-scale works in connection with the implementation of mega-projects in Baku and other major plans, according to the article by the head of JSC Baba Rzayev, published on Wednesday in the "Khalq Gazeti" newspaper…

Georgia

Georgia-Russia energy relations to be restored – (Messenger) Georgian Energy Minister Kakhi Kaladze says the country needs to ensure the multi-directional character of its gas supplies. Therefore, it is possible that negotiations will start with Russia on resuming gas procurement to Georgia…

Georgian leader offers to diversify supplies by Kazakh and Turkmen gas – (Azernews) Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili welcomed the efforts of the government in the diversification of the country's non-Russian gas supply in an interview with Georgian TV channels on Tuesday…

Georgia ready to return Kazakhstan management to KazTransGas-Tbilisi – (Tengrin News) Georgian government is ready to return management over gas-distributing company KazTransGas-Tbilisi back to Kazakhstan. Georgia’s Vice-PM and Minister of Energy Kakha Kaladze will come to Astana to discuss this issue, KazTAG reports…

Georgian PM thanked Azerbaijan for cooperation in field of gas supply – (Trend) Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili expressed his gratitude to Azerbaijan for cooperation in the field of gas supply…

Ensuring Georgia’s energy security, Baku creates conditions for its independence – (News.az) 'Ensuring Georgia’s energy security, making great investments in this country, Azerbaijan creates conditions for its real independence.'..

Georgian president rules out resuming Russian gas purchases – (News Track India) Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has ruled out the possibility of Tbilisi resuming natural gas purchases from Russia, for its probable impact on his country's independence…

Georgian energy distribution company’s new head appointed – (Trend) aromir Tesar was appointed the CEO of the Energo-Pro Georgia Company in Georgia. Tesar has previously served as the chairman of the supervisory board of the Energo-Pro Georgia Company, the company told Trend on Tuesday…

Russia

Russia's Energy Bully Takes a Fall – (Foreign Policy) After years as Eurasia's energy bully, Russia's state-controlled natural gas monopoly, Gazprom, is getting a taste of its own medicine…

Russian Gazprom and Hungarian NIS to create joint company for oil extraction in Romania – (Romania Insider) Oil company NIS, controlled by Russian Gazprom, and the Hungarian oil and gas company MOL plan to create a mixed company in Romania for upstream activities, mainly extracting oil, according to NIS’ GM, Kiril Kravchenko, quoted by Hungarian media…

Russian Rosatom seeking partnership for nuke plant in Turkey – (Daily News) Russian Rosatom is reported to establish a partnership with France-based EDF and to give it a share in the nuclear plant to be built in Mersin-Akkuyu as well as others…

Gazprom snubs EU-Ukraine gas talks – (New Europe) Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger and Ukraine’s Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavytsky led a two-day international high-level roundtable to modernise Ukraine’s gas transport system (GTS). But Russian gas monopoly Gazprom was notably absent…

Foster Wheeler wins engineering, design contract for Gazprom’s refinery in Russia – (EBR) Switzerland-based multinational conglomerate Foster Wheeler has announced a front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract with Gazprom Neft to upgrade its Moscow Refinery in Russia and provide FEED documentation for investment in the Combined Oil Refinery Unit (CORU) project…

Russia abolishes fees for fuel, energy exports to Customs Union states – (News Belta) The Russian government has abolished customs fees for declaring fuel and energy resources, which are exported from Russia to other Customs Union member states…

Renewable energy support stirs in Russia – (Hydrogen Fuel News) Russia has long been a lackluster supporter of renewable energy. The country is home to some of the richest oil and other fossil-fuel deposits in the world…

Turkey

Turkey to become a ‘net energy exporter’ - (Daily News) Turkey may become a net energy exporter in the Middle East in the medium term, specifically in light of failures to provide energy in the region due to security concerns…

Turkish Sinop nuclear build contract worth Eur4-5 billion: Areva – (Platts) A Japanese-French project to build the 4.5 GW Sinop nuclear power complex in Turkey would represent a supply contract worth around Eur4 billion-Eur5 billion ($5.2 billion-$6.5 billion) for Areva, the firm's CEO Luc Oursel said late Tuesday, AFP reports…

Turkey, Japan sign $22 bln deal for Sinop nuclear plant – (Daily News) Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, signed a $22 bln deal on Turkey’s second nuclear plant project on May 3 in the Black Sea province of Sinop, ending months of speculation about the winning bidder for the plant…

Power to the market – (BNE) It has been a long time coming, but Turkey's new electricity market law that was finally passed by the Turkish parliament in March looks set to herald the creation of a fully liberalised energy market…

Ukraine

Ukraine expanding energy diversification – (SteelGuru) Ukraine's visiting energy minister said that Ukraine is working to become an energy hub, producing its own gas, developing storage and importing from both the European Union and Russia…

Overseas Gas Markets Hinge on Ukraine – (Oil Price) The Ukrainian government said it wants to allay European concerns over natural gas supplies by serving as a regional energy hub…

How Will Russia React to Ukraine’s Plans to become a Gas Transit State – (Oil Price) Ukraine finds itself with a dilemma. If the EU–Ukraine Association Agreement (AA) is not signed and ratified soon, another chance is unlikely to arise for a generation or more…

Ukraine wants to become ‘energy hub’ for Europe – (Euractiv) Ukraine is working to become an energy hub, producing its own gas, developing storage and importing from both the European Union and Russia, Ukraine's energy minister said in Brussels…

Ukrhidroenergo To Buy Hydroelectric Generator From Electrotyazhmash For Dniester Hydro-Accumulator Plant's Hydroelectric Unit No. 3 – (Power Engineering) The Ukrhidroenergo power generating company (Vyshhorod, Kyiv region) intends to buy a hydroelectric generator from the Electrotyazhmash state enterprise (Kharkiv) for the hydroelectric power unit No. 3 of the Dniester hydro-accumulator plant…

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