Weekly collection of energy news articles for the region

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Albania

Czech CEZ profit drops on power prices and provisions – (Reuters) Czech electricity producer CEZ reported a sharp drop in third-quarter profit on falling power prices in Europe and provisions on its renewable power business in Romania…

ALBANIA LAUNCHES DRIVE AGAINST POWER THIEVES – (Albania Economy News) Albania has launched an operation to stamp out electricity theft, which costs the cash-strapped Balkan country an estimated 150 million euro every year…

Albania’s govn’t hunt against electricity theft giving positive results – (Dtt-net) The recent massive hunt launched by Albanian police on thieves of electricity is giving its first results with more than 70 ...

Albania sets up 5 year strategy to improve devastated electricity sector – (DTT-net) Albania sets up 5 year strategy to improve devastated electricity sector… 

 Bulgaria

Draft Law Calls for Bulgaria MPs to Elect Energy and Water Regulator – (Novinite) According to Bulgarian energy and water regulator DKEVR should be nominated and elected by parliament and not appointed by the government…

Ex-Financial Inspection Chief Named Energy Minister of Bulgaria – (Publics.bg) Temenuzhka Petkova will succeeed intermin energy minister Vasil Shtonov at the helm of Bulgaria’s Ministry of Energy. The new government of second-time PM Boiko Borisov from center-right party GERB and the Reformist Bloc, with the support of the Partiotic Front and Georgi Parvanov’s ABV (Alternative for Bulgarian Renaissance), was announced on Thursday evening.

Bulgaria allowed to sell greenhouse emissions worth EUR 1,7 – (Standart) Bulgaria has the right to trade 2.7% of its total allowances for emissions of greenhouse gases in the EU. According to the plans up to 2020 this will amount to EUR 1.7 billion…

Bulgaria govt’s priority to be extending life of Kozloduy NPP units 5, 6: minister – (Focus) ”Extending the life of units 5 and 6 of Kozloduy NPP will be a priority of the government,” said newly-elected Bulgarian Minister of Energy Temenuzhka Petkova, speaking for Nova TV on Saturday…

Bulgargaz Asks For 2.07% Hike Of Gas Price – (Novinite) Bulgargaz will ask of Bulgaria's energy watchdog DKEVR to increase the price of natural gas by 2.07%, as of the beginning of 2015…

Key Bulgarian Infrastructure Projects Delayed, New Minister Says  - (Novinite) Major infrastructure projects in Bulgaria have been delayed by the previous Socialist-led government, Regional Development Minister Lilyana Pavlova has said…

Employees with Varna Thermal Power Plan will receive higher than standard compensation packages after the permanent cessation of plant's operation – (Focus) Employees with the Thermal Power Plant – Varna which will be released from work after the permanent cessation of the plant’s operation on January 1, 2015 will receive compensation packages as twice as big of the standard ones in the energy sector… 

 Bosnia and Herzegovina

Central European spot power mixed as prices converge – (Reuters) Central European day-ahead power prices converged on Tuesday as limited nuclear supply lifted Czech and Slovak prices, while increased import capacity helped push Hungarian prompt power lower, traders said…

Bosnia to liberalize electricity market – (Dtt-Net) Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) will be liberalizing fully its electricity market as of January with consumers hoping for better choices and lower prices…

Bosnia: New electricity prices from 2015 – (Serbia Energy) All citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be able to choose from whom they will buy electricity from January 1. 2015. Because of competition in the market, this decision will probably lead to the changes of the electricityprice for all consumers, confirmed Risto Mandrapa, president of the Federal Regulatory Electricity Commission (FERK)… 

 Croatia

Can biomass replace fossil fuels? – (IHB) That's the main question that the 5th International Wood Energy Conference would like to answer. The conference will take place on December 3rd 2014 (Wednesday) at the Westin hotel in Zagreb, Croatia…

Croatia: Six companies interested in oil concessions in Adriatic Sea – (Serbia Energy) Six companies applied for the tender for the oil and gas exploration and exploitation in the Croatian Adriatic Sea and they have expressed their interest for a total of 15 exploration areas, reported Economy Minister Ivan Vrdoljak… 

 Macedonia

Russia’s Gazprom, Macedonia continue advancing on gas pipeline despite EU warnings – (dtt-net) Russian gas giant Gazprom says it is continuing preparations of its next big investment in Macedonia related to the South Stream pipeline branch with Skopje, despite strong warnings by the EU addressed to Macedonian authorities over breach of European Energy rules… 

 Montenegro

Montenegro eying bid for oil & gas exploration despite dispute with Croatia – (dtt-net) Montenegrin authorities could invite bids for oil and gas exploration in maritime areas, despite erupting dispute with neighboring Croatia over Prevlaka Peninsula…

Montenegro: The future of Power company EPCG and Agreement with A2A Italy, A2A halted the new power gen projects – (Serbia Energy) Since the contract signing on the sale of part of the shares and recapitalization between the Government of Montenegro and the Italian company A2A, it has been exactly five years ago. At the end of the year expires five-year contract…

Russia’s gas giant to exempt Montenegro from South Stream pipeline – (dtt-net) The EU candidate country from Western Balkans, Montenegro is interested to be connected to the Russian gas pipeline which passes through Bulgaria and Serbia to reach the EU territory, but Gazprom said a gas offshoot to the tiny country is not on its plans, at least not for the time being… 

 Romania

Ponta says Romania has no shale gas, Chevron begs to differ – (Euractiv) Romania has fought hard to discover shale gas that apparently does not exist, Prime Minister Victor Ponta said late yesterday (9 November)…

Romanian state-controlled energy companies mull takeovers in Moldova – (Balkans) Two Romanian state-controlled energy companies are currently in talks over possible takeovers in neighbouring Moldova, Romanian Energy Minister Razvan Nicolescu said at a conference organised by Ziarul Financiar on November 5…

Romania needs electricity produced in thermal power plants – (Act Media) Prime Minister Victor Ponta says Romania needs electricity produced in thermal power plants to reach its goal of energy independence…

Serinus Energy Inc.: Romania: Moftinu-1001 Commences Drilling – (MW Market Watch) Serinus Energy Inc. (SEN)(warsaw:SEN) ("Serinus", "SEN" or the "Company"), is pleased to report that the Moftinu-1001 exploration well has commenced drilling…

Chevron has yet to finish Romania shale gas assessment: PM Victor Ponta – (The Economic Times) US energy major Chevron has yet to complete an assessment of Romania's natural gas potential from shale, it said, one day after the country's prime minister said "it looks like we fought very hard for something that we do not have."..

PM says no to shale gas in Romania as Chevron continues work – (Natural Gas Daily) Romania may not exploit its shale gas resources despite the government’s willingness to issue exploration permits, the country’s Prime Minister and presidential candidate Victor Ponta said over the weekend…

Romanian electricity consumers can switch suppliers without paying bills – (Romania Insider) Romania is the only country in the EU where consumers can change their electricity suppliers even if they owe them money on overdue bills, according to the Association of Energy Utilities Companies (ACUE), quoted by Agerpres…

Wind Power in Romania, Market Outlook to 2025, Update 2014 - Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles – (Business Wire) The report provides in depth analysis on global renewable power market and global wind power market with forecasts up to 2025… 

 Serbia

HPPs of Djerdap energy complex fulfill annual production plan – (Serbia Energy) The subsidiary company "HPPs Djerdap ", which brings together the work of four hydro power plants - HPP" Djerdap 1", HPP "Djerdap 2", Vlasina HPPs and HPP "Pirot" fulfilled today annual production plan of 6.47 billion kilowatt hours. As they say in the dispatcher service, by the end of the year, it is expected the production…

Serbian PM discusses models of gas debt repayment with Putin – (Reuters) Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday he had discussed models of debt repayment to Russian state gas giant Gazprom with Russian President Vladimir Putin by telephone…

Power utility EPS looking to purchase 516GWh dec 2014-feb 2015 – (Serbia Energy) Serbia's energy sector is under severe pressure due to the damage inflicted by heavy flooding in May that hit the Kolubara coal mine supplying the country's biggest power plant complex Nikola Tesla (TENT), which produces half of Serbia's electricity supply…

Serbia seeks electro-mechanical equipment to refurbish eight small hydro projects – (Hydro World) Serbia utility Elektroprivreda Srbije seeks bids to supply and install electro-mechanical equipment for reconstruction of eight small hydroelectric projects totaling 9.79 MW. Bids are due December 3…

South Stream construction delayed start triggers gas supply reduction from Russia – (Serbia Energy) Disappointed expectations of the Russian president were initial cap, who thought he would mark the start of the South Stream pipeline construction in Belgrade. At this moment starting issues of Serbian debt and reduction of gas supplies by 28 percent are more connected with the political rather than the economic interests of Russia…

TPP Kostolac is ready for winter power generation despite floods damages on mine – (Serbia Energy) Despite the damage that the company has suffered from the recent floods, Thermal Power Plants and Mines Kostolac is ready for winter production of coal and electricity…

Supplies Of Russian Gas To Serbia Normalised – (In News) The supplies of Russian gas to Serbia have completely normalised after the recent phone call between Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Serbian Energy Minister Aleksandar Antic said…

If Serbia had wind farms it would no longer import electricity, state under pressure from wind developers lobby – (Serbia Energy) By the construction of wind farms, Serbia almost would not have to buy electricity from abroad, suggest experts. The wind farms in Serbia could"blow up" uncertainty over the electricity import… 

 Armenia

Loss reduction of 1% in Armenia’s energy system to provide 5.1bln drams profit in two years – (ARKA) Reduction of losses in Armenia’s electricity distribution and transmission system by 1% in two years will ensure a profit of 5.1 billion drams, Armenia’s minister of energy and natural resources Yervand Zakharyan said at a meeting on Friday...

IFC Supports Development of energy efficient business complex in Armenia = (Public Radio of Armenia) IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is supporting the development of an innovative, energy-efficient office building in Armenia which will spur job creation and positively impact the environment…

Armenia’s Nuclear Problem – (Silk Road Reporters) The Soviet Union may have imploded more than two decades ago, but debris from its headlong industrialization drive still litters the post-Soviet landscape, and nothing more unsettles the population of the fifteen new nations carved out of the USSR than its nuclear legacy…

Vorotan hydro cascade deal will be finalized within one month – minister says – (ARKA) Armenian energy and natural resources minister Yervand Zakharyan told the parliament today that the Vorotan Hydro Cascade deal will be finalized within one month…

IFC provides $9 million in loan for construction of low-energy business center in Yerevan – (ARKA) The International Financial Corporation (IFC) provided $9 million in loan to “Property Development Company” and attracted a similar amount from the German Economic Cooperation Agency (DEG) for construction of a power-efficient business center building in Yerevan, IFC’s press office reported on Thursday… 

 Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan plans gas supplies to Hungary – (Focus) Energy-rich Azerbaijan considers supplying natural gas to Hungary, Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliyev said on Wednesday in an interview on Hungarian television, TASS reported…

Azerbaijan-owned firm building massive energy plant – (Cistran Finance) Azerbaijan energy producer SOCAR is planning to have one of its largest petrochemical plants up and running between 2020 and 2023, the U.S.-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce said on Monday…

Europe’s interest that Azerbaijan gas reaches Central and Eastern Europe – (Politics) It is in the strategic interest of the whole of Europe that gas from Azerbaijan should reach its central and eastern region, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Tuesday after talks in Parliament with Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s president.

Azerbaijan studies thermal waters capacities – (Azernews) Azerbaijan has begun to conduct research into its thermal waters as an alternative energy source.  Institute of Geology and Geophysics of Azerbaijan's National Academy of Sciences reports scientists involved in identification of the location of these sources are sure that thermal waters widespread in the country have a high energy potential…

Azeri firm SOCAR expects to close deal for Greek gas grid in 2015 – (Reuters) SOCAR said it expected to close a deal to purchase Greek natural gas grid operator DESFA in early 2015, anticipating that it will clear an investigation by the European Commission… 

 Georgia

EBRD to finance expansion of hydropower generation in Georgia – (Financial) The EBRD is stepping up its support for the development of renewable energy in Georgia by financing the construction of a new hydroelectric power plant (HPP) in Dariali on the Tergi river, in north-eastern Georgia… 

 Moldova

Moldova extends gas deal with Gazprom, 2015 prices to fall - Moldova extended on Tuesday its contracts with Russia's Gazprom for 2015 gas supplies and said the price it paid for Russian flows would be lower in the first quarter due to a sharp fall in the cost of oil…

Moldova Extends Contract For Russian Gas Through 2015 – (Radio Free Europe) Moldova has extended its gas-supply contract with Russia's Gazprom for another year…

Moldova to get Russian gas $46/Mcm cheaper in 2015 – (Natural Gas Daily) Moldova and Russia have signed an agreement for gas supplies in 2015 at a price of $331.8 per thousand cubic metres (Mcm: $9.03/MMBtu). The average price in 2014 was $378/Mcm… 

 Turkey

Turkmenistan inks deal with Turkey to supply gas to TANAP pipeline – (Daily News) Turkmenistan has signed an outline deal with Turkey to supply gas to a new pipeline that could help Europe reduce its dependence on Russian gas imports…

Turkish court suspends energy project hours after trees wiped out – (Daily News) Turkey's Council of State suspended Nov. 7 a controversial project to build a coal plant in a western town, hours after thousands of trees in the area were rooted out by the energy firm amid locals' resistance…

The effect of falling oil prices on the Turkish economy – (Daily News) Turkey's economic administration hopes that the fall in world oil prices will continue. The continuation of this trend may make serious positive contributions to economic equilibriums, starting from the decreasing of the high current account deficit figures…

Turkey seeks deal over Cyprus energy standoff – (FG) Daily "Phileleftheros” reported that Turkey had offered to return the ship to port if Nicosia suspended all its exploration activities for natural gas in return…

TANAP project already launched, works continue at a rapid pace – Erdoğan – (APA) Farid Akberov – APA. Delivery of Turkmen gas to European markets will ensure energy security in Europe… 

 Ukraine

Ukraine must buy coal from Russia to get through winter: energy ministry – (Reuters) Ukraine will be forced to buy coal from Russia to get through the winter, a serious setback to the country's efforts to lessen energy dependence on its powerful neighbor, Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuri Prodan said on Wednesday…

Ukraine's energy tech start-ups blooming in the fields – (Kyiv Post) Ukraine's inefficient energy sector leaves it vulnerable to being stretched over a barrel - literally - by Russia…

Naftogaz returns some of Gazprom’s transit payment – (Natural Gas Daily) Naftogaz Ukrainy has returned some of the money Gazprom paid for the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine between September and October 2014, a Naftogaz spokesman told Interfax…

Ukraine to Alleviate Energy Crisis Through Hydropower – (PR Newswire) In search of a way out of the energy crisis, Ukrainian experts claim to have found the solution - hydropower. The auxiliary resource has been successfully compensating the increasing energy demand triggered by the lack of power capacity and fuel in the past months…

EU, shale gas, nuclear power privatization part of Ukraine’s energy independence plan – (Kyiv Post) Since energy security runs a close second to fighting the war in the east on Ukraine’s priorities, the drive for reducing the nation’s dependence on Russian supplies is moving into higher gear…

Kiev says Russian gas purchases to depend on Ukraine’s energy saving measures  -(TASS) Ukraine will buy natural gas from Russia upon necessity and this will depend on measures taken by the government to save energy in the country, a senior official of Ukraine’s national oil and gas company said on Monday…

Ukraine can purchase Russian coal — Ukrainian official – (TASS) Ukraine can purchase Russian coal to ensure the work of Ukrainian thermal power stations, Ukrinterenergo director Vladimir Zinevich said on Tuesday…

Ukraine’s Naftogaz returns part of Gazprom’s transit payment – (TASS) The Ukrainian national energy company Naftogaz has returned a part of Gazprom’s transit payment, the Naftogaz press office said on Wednesday…

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