Weekly collection of energy news articles for the region

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Albania

Recovering Albania’s Largest Hydropower Plant – (OnIslam) The most important source of electricity in Albania is the Komani hydropower plant in the mountains of the Puka region. 

Bulgaria

EU funds for Bulgaria’s environment projects restored – (Energy Live News) The European Commission has restored payments to Bulgaria from EU funds under the Operational Programme (OP) Environment…

Anton Pavlov Remains Bulgaria’s Deputy-Minister for Energy – (publics.bg) The nomination was made by the new minister of energy Temenuzhka Petkova and approved by PM Boiko Borisov

Bulgarian Energy Utility Pays Off Small Part of Debt to Vidachim – (Novinite) Bulgaria's National Electricity Company (NEK) has transerred a small amount of money to Vidachim, an official of the Vidin-based tyre maker says…

Bulgargaz Proposes 2.07% Gas Price Hike for Q1 of 2015 – (Publics.bg) State-owned gas company Bulgargaz announced it foresees a gas price hike of 2.07% for the first quarter of 2015, or up to BGN 615.92/1000 cub. m. before VAT and excise duty…

Bulgaria electricity export to drastically drop by 2018 – (Focus) Bulgaria’s energy sector is about to face even harder times. Electricity export from Bulgaria is about to drastically decrease by 2018, Nova TV reported…

New Bulgarian Energy Minister Vows for Thorough Sector Audit  -(Publics.bg) Conducting an energy sector audit and capping the deficits are the priorities set by new Bulgarian energy minister Temenuzhka Petkova…

Bulgaria has the right to trade greenhouse emissions worth EUR 1,7BN – (Balkans) 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…

Hungary says South Stream pipeline only way to ensure gas supply – (Mail online) Hungary aims to start building its stretch of the Russian-backed South Stream gas pipeline next year despite European and U.S. opposition as it sees the project as the only way to ensure supply, a senior government official told Reuters.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Five groups place final bids for Bosnia's 20 MW hydropower project – (Reuters) Five companies and consortia have submitted final bids for a venture with Bosnia's top power utility Elektroprivreda BiH (EPBiH) to build a 20 megawatt (MW) Vranduk hydropower plant on the Bosna river, EPBiH said on Friday…

Bosnia's power utility ERS sells 2015 power surplus to two firms – (Reuters) Two firms have won a tender to buy 736,400 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity available for delivery next year from Bosnia's second-largest power utility Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS), ERS said on Thursday…

There is not enough stability coming from the European energy policy – (Publics.bg) We have members from 20 countries across Europe and we extend even out of the borders of the EU, because we have members in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine…

Croatia

Wind Turbines will Assist Croatia with Meeting Renewable Energy Production Goals – (Balkans) The latest in a series of first wind turbine orders in countries such as Morocco and Pakistan, GE today announced it will supply Vienna-based renewable energy developer RP Global with twelve GE 2.85-103 wind turbines for the Rudine wind farm GE’s first wind farm in Croatia…

GE supplies 12 turbines to 34-MW wind farm in Croatia – (Windpower) The latest in a series of first wind turbine orders in countries such as Morocco and Pakistan, GE recently announced it will supply Vienna-based renewable energy developer RP Global with 12 GE 2.85-103 wind turbines for the Rudine wind farm—GE’s first wind farm in Croatia…

Hungary and Croatia were “natural allies” especially in terms of energy security – (Balkans) Consensus over the future of Croatian energy company INA is in the interest of both Croatia and Hungary, as well as of the entire region, the United States’ special envoy for energy said in Budapest on Monday…

Croatia important for regional, European energy stability – (Dalje) By developing the energy sector over the past two years, Croatia has been put on the world's energy maps as an important factor of domestic as well as regional and European energy stability, Economy Minister Ivan Vrdoljak said at an energy conference in Zagreb on Friday… 

Kosovo

U.S. company to build $43.3M waste gasification, electricity factory in Kosovo – (Dtt-Net) An American company is to invest $43.3M in Kosovo for a gasification facility of waste and used tires which will generate 12 MW and employ 243 people in the northern town of the country…

Macedonia, Kosovo eye EU funds for common infrastructure projects – (DTT-Net) Macedonia’s and Kosovo’s governments said EU funds are needed for several infrastructure projects related to energy, motorway and railway connections between the two neighbouring countries…

Macedonia

Macedonia Only Bright Economic Spot in Balkans – (MINA) The economic situation in Western Balkans has been deteriorating for last several months, which means that the recovery that began in 2013 was fragile, says a recent economic analysis of the European Commission…

Montenegro

The European Union backed the gasification project of Montenegro – (Turkish Weekly) Montenegro is one of the few countries without an organized system of pipelines. As such, the use of the fuel is limited only to individual users…

S&P lowered Montenegro's credit rating from "BB-" to "BB+ - (Balkans) Standard & Poor's Ratings Services lowered Montenegro's credit rating from "BB-" to "BB+", the S&P's newly published report reads. At the same time, the report confirms Montenegro’s stable outlook, indicating that further movement of the rating is based on stable positions…

Azerbaijan, Montenegro enjoy good opportunity to expand ties – (Azernews) Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Montenegro Eldar Hasanov discussed current state of relations, development prospects and expansion of cooperation in variety of fields as he met the Mayor of Podgorica Slavoljub Stijepovic…

Montenegro makes notable progress towards endorsing COE's recommendations – (Balkans) Montenegro has made evident progress in relation to all the recommendations from the previous Council of Europe's report since the last visit of the PACE monitoring co-rapporteurs, Kimo Sasi and Terry Leyden, co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee of the Council of Europe, underlined at today’s meeting with Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Duško Marković…

Romania

Romania's Transelectrica 9-month profit above forecast – (Reuters) State-owned Romanian power grid operator Transelectrica nine-month net profit more than doubled to 303 million lei ($85.37 million) it said on Friday, driven by higher revenues and market deregulation…

ExxonMobil and OMV Petrom Explore New Prospect on Neptun Block offshore Romania – (Publics.bg) ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania Limited (EMEPRL) and OMV Petrom S.A. (OMV Petrom) have started drilling the Pelican South-1 exploration well on a new prospect in the Neptun Block…

Romania: Changes To Romania's Renewable Energy Laws – (Mondaq) The sun is setting and the wind is stopping to blow for renewable energy support schemes (E-RES) in Central and Eastern Europe…

Romania makes EC request to disburse state aid for the mining sector – (Balkans) The European Commission is looking into a request Romania has filed regarding the disbursement of state aid for the mining sector in Valea Jiului, central Romania…

Romania: energy efficiency novelties can revive investments in the energy sector – (The Lawyer) The Romanian Law no. 121/2014 on energy efficiency was published in the country’s Official Gazette No. 574/2014…

CEE POWER-Central European spot power falls on more solar production – (Reuters) Forecasts for a steep climb in solar generation pushed central European prompt power prices lower on Wednesday while Romania uulinked its day-ahead market to other countries in the region…

Additional €15 million for energy efficiency to Romania's SME's – (Balkans) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing €15 million of new financing to Romania’s Banca Transilvania for on-lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) investing in energy efficiency and small-scale renewable-energy projects of up to €1 million…

Romanian gas producer Romgaz increases profit by 40% - (Romania Insider) Romanian gas producer Romgaz Medias (BVB ticker: SNG) increased its net profit by 40% in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same period of last year, to EUR 251 million…

Serbia

Serbia lent €10m to boost energy efficiency – (Energy Live News) Serbia has been granted a loan of up to €10 million (£8m) to help boost energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in the country.

Komercijalna Banka will use the cash for on-lending to private and municipal borrowers to install energy-saving and green technologies in commercial and municipal buildings…

Serbia's Komercijalna Banka to support sustainable energy in private and municipal sectors – (Balkans) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in Serbia with a loan of up to €10 million to Komercijalna Banka for on-lending to private and municipal borrowers…

Serbia's largest PV plant opened in Kladovo – (CSP World) Serbia's Minister of Mining and Energy, Aleksander Antic, has presided over the opening ceremony for Serbia's largest solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, located in the Eastern municipality of Kladovo…

European bank to support energy efficiency in Serbia – (Dtt-Net) The London based European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has agreed a €10 million loan to support energy efficiency projects in Serbia…

The largest solar power plant in Serbia has been opened – (Balkans)  Serbia's Minister of Mining and Energy Aleksandar Antic opened in Kladovo on Saturday the largest solar power plant in Serbia, owned by a Serbian commpany that invested EUR 3 million in it…

Serbia seeks applicants to perform an inventory of small hydropower projects – (Balkans) The government of Serbia invites applications for pre-qualification to perform an inventory of small hydropower projects and sites as the Balkan nation seeks to construct 180 MW in new small hydro projects by 2020…

Serbia will shortly get a new law on mining and geological exploration – (Balkans) Serbia should soon get a new law on mining and geological exploration, which will boost the security of investing in the sector and contribute to more efficient and streamlined mineral resource explorations, Assistant Minister of Mining and Energy Sinisa Tanackovic said on Monday…

Armenia

Iran to Build Hydropower Plant in Armenia – (Asbarez.com) Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian announced that Tehran and Yerevan have finalized an agreement on the construction of a hydroelectric power plant in Armenia…

Russia to provide Armenia with $270 million loan for repair of the nuclear power plant – (Public Radio of Armenia) Russia will provide Armenia with a $270 million loan for the extension of the term of exploitation of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP)…

World Bank to allocate $75 million to Armenia – (ArmPress) The World Bank will allocate $75 million budget loan to the Republic of Armenia.  On November 19 the Minister of Finance of Armenia Gagik Khachatryan and the Director of the Armenian office of the World Bank Laura Bailey signed the loan agreement…

Government approves $37 million loan agreement with ADB for rehabilitation of electricity transmission system – (ARKA) The government of Armenia has approved today a loan agreement signed September 5 with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The $37 million loan is expected to help Armenia rehabiliеate its electricity transmission system…

Iran plans to construct hydroelectric power plant in Armenia – (EBR) Iran has finalized an agreement with Armenia for the construction of a hydroelectric power plant in Armenia, Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian said…

Azerbaijan

Rovnag Abdullayev: “EU and Azerbaijani interests in energy sphere coincide” – (APA) According to him, EU and Azerbaijan face same problems in energy sphere: “Both sides think about diversification and security of energy supply, deepening reforms in energy market, development and modernization of energy infrastructures, energy productivity and savings, usage of renewable energy sources…

Gas production to increase at Shah Deniz field – (Azernews) The average daily volume of gas production at Azerbaijan’s giant Shah Deniz gas condensate field in the Caspian Sea has reached 28 million cubic meters, a source at Azerbaijan’s state energy company SOCAR told Trend Agency on November 14…

Azerbaijan to build stations on alternative energy sources abroad – (APA) Azerbaijan will build stations on alternative energy sources abroad, Chairman of State Agency for Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources Akim Badalov told journalists…

Azerbaijan to use renewable energy for road lighting – (News.AZ) The statement came from Akim Badalov, Director of State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources, APA-Economics reports…

Moldova

Moldova may be next front in EU gas war – (UPI) The European Commission said Thursday the people of Moldova aspire to a European agenda, one day after the former Soviet republic landed a Russian gas deal…

 

Moldova Renews Gas Contract With Russia: New Gas Deal With China Set To Make Russia More Formidable – (International Business Times) Taking a cue from Ukraine, one more former Soviet state renewed its gas-supply contract with Russia's Gazprom for one more year…

Coal Energy cuts coal production by 92.7% in October – (KyivPost) Coal Energy S.A. (Luxembourg) with assets in Ukraine cut coal production by 92.7%, or 63,425 tonnes, in October 2014 from October 2013, to 5,011 tonnes, the company said in its production update on the Warsaw Stock Exchange on Nov. 17…

Turkey

Turkey's energy minister considers resignation – (World Bulletin) Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz said on Thursday that he is considering his resignation in response to the opposition party's call for him to step down…

EU seeks to expand energy cooperation with Turkey – (Turkish Weekly) The 2014 Progress Report on Turkey, which is included in the European Commission’s annual Enlargement Report, was published on 8 October 2014…

More investors ‘ready to back energy infrastructure projects in Turkey’ – (Out-Law) The president and chief executive officer of General Electric’s Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (MENAT) region Nabil Habayeb told the Hürriyet Daily News: “Turkey still has a lot of potential to grow, for instance in energy, especially in renewable energy…

Turkey could achieve a cleaner resource distribution in energy production by 2030 – (Balkans) It is possible for Turkey to meet half of its energy needs from renewable energy resources for around the same cost as its current coal-focused energy strategy, according to a new report…

Renewable energy cost comparable with coal for Turkey by 2030 – (Daily News) It is possible for Turkey to meet half of its energy needs from renewable energy resources for around the same cost as its current coal-focused energy strategy, according to a new report…

Future of ‘energy corridor’ Turkey is bright, says TCC chairman – (Todays Zaman) China Tianchen Chemical Engineering Corporation (TCC) Board of Directors Chairman Wang Zhi Yuan has said his company believes the future of Turkey, which he terms “the energy corridor between the East and West,” is very bright…

Renewables an Alternative to Coal in Turkey’s $400 Billion Plan – (Bloomberg) Turkey could achieve its aims of expanding its electricity supply and cutting reliance on natural-gas imports by boosting clean energy instead of coal generation, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance…

Ukraine

Ukraine's coal reserves 'unprecedented' low, not enough for another month - Deputy Energy Minister – (RT) Two out of ten coal-fired power plants in Ukraine only have enough stock for a few days, as the key coal mines supplying the plants are located in Donbass where Kiev and self-defense forces are fighting, says Ukraine's Deputy Energy Minister Yury Zyukov…

Ukraine's energy ministry mulling electricity imports from Russia – (Kyiv Post) The Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry is considering the expediency of electricity imports from Russia, Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Prodan said in Kyiv on Tuesday, Nov. 18…

Winter Is Coming to Ukraine's Energy Supply – (Bloomberg View) As NATO reported Russian troop movements in Ukraine and renewed fighting threatened to erupt in the country's east, the Kiev government is struggling to find a replacement for the coal it once received from the region controlled by pro-Russian separatists…

Ukraine Could Start Prepaying Russia for Gas Before December, Energy Minister Says – (The Moscow Times) Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuri Prodan said Tuesday Ukraine may make a prepayment to Russia for gas before Dec. 1, reiterating that the country expected to buy up to 1.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas from Russia by the end of the year…

Ukrainian president, Hungarian premier discuss energy cooperation – (Interfax) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban have discussed prospects for bilateral cooperation, including energy cooperation, in a phone conversation…

Ukraine likely to buy around 1 bcm of Russian gas by end-2014 – (Reuters) Ukraine is likely to buy around 1 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas from Russia by the end of the year, Ukraine's energy minister said on Friday, while state energy firm Naftogaz said it may send prepayments by the end of November…

Coal takes the spotlight in Ukraine’s energy woes – (Interfax Natural Gas Daily) Ukraine’s desperation for energy has driven it to import coal from South Africa. This has caused consternation in Kiev and led the trader to cancel the contract…

Implementation of Third Energy Package key task of Ukraine, EU joint work — Ukraine PM – (TASS) The Ukrainian prime minister also pointed to the solidarity of Ukraine’s and the European Union’s positions on issues of energy security…

Donbas looks to winter short of energy supplies – (Kyiv Post) It’s easier for the unrecognized Kremlin-backed separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk to hang new flags on the roofs of public offices than to provide energy security for their residents…

Ukraine preparing for gas pipe modernization – (Focus on Ukraine) Improvements in gas infrastructure and auditing capabilities will be beneficial for the country and provide a boost toward energy independence…

 

 

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