Albania

Shell encouraged by positive well test results in Albania – (PennEnergy) Royal Dutch Shell and Petromanas Energy (TSXV: PMI) announce positive test results from the Shpirag-2 well in Block 2-3, which covers an area of 3,450 square kilometers onshore south-central Albania…

TAP gas project on schedule, director says – (UPI) The Trans Adriatic pipeline, slated for Azeri gas, is on schedule for construction through a European corridor by 2015, the pipeline's managing director said…

EBRD - European Bank for Reconstruction and Develo : UniCredit Bank d.d. Mostar joins energy efficiency drive – (4-Traders) UniCredit Bank d.d. Mostar is joining the new Western Balkans Sustainable Energy Efficiency Facility II (WeBSEFF II) with a loan of up to €10 million provided by the EBRD. The funds will be on-lent to private and municipal borrowers for energy efficiency and renewable energy investments…

Kosovo Prefers Gas Connection to Albania Rather than Serbia – (Energetika)According to the Serbian news agency Tanjug, Kosovo's Minister for Economic Development, Fadil Ismajli, said the government in that former Serbian province would order a feasibility study to see which pipeline...

Bulgaria

Bulgaria: Is it Possible for Bankruptcy Proceedings to be Opened Against NEC? – (Energetika) For several years now, the media informs about the difficult financial situation the National Electricity Company (NEC) has been facing. The authenticity of these writings can hardly not be doubted, as the financial difficulties are obvious—NEC is delaying the payments on the long-term contracts…

CEZ Bulgaria completes a project for a new 110-kV power cable line – (Focus) CEZ Distribution Bulgaria completed the project for construction of a new Geshov 110-kV power cable line and the modernisation of the Sredets and Hipodruma power substations, which is the biggest project in the electricity infrastructure of Sofia over the past 30 years, the press centre of the company announced…

Delayed Projects For € 57 Million at Old Units of NPP Kozloduy – (Energetika) The first and second blocks of “Kozloduy” were excluded at the end of 2002, and the sixth, at the end of 2006 as part of the conditions for an EU membership of Bulgaria. Through the International Fund "Kozloduy…

Bulgaria’s Energy Holding opens procedure for new unit construction at Kozloduy NPP – (Focus) Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) opens a procedure for direct agreement on the construction of new nuclear capacity at the Kozloduy NPP. The press release is published on the official website of BEH on November 1, 2013…

For Next 7 Years NPP Kozloduy to be Subsidised by € 260 Million – (Energetika) By 2013, the financing through the Kozloduy fund reached a total of € 867 million for both direct costs for dismantling the reactors and indirect costs—for energy-efficiency measures, explained Ivaylo Kalfi…

CEZ Bulgaria manager: There is drastic increase of electricity consumption – (Focus) “There is a drastic increase of electricity consumption in the country,” said Petr Dokladal, Regional Manager of CEZ for Bulgaria, speaking at a press conference of the company held in the capital city Sofia, FOCUS News Agency reporter informed…

Bulgarian Energy Min Ecstatic about South Stream – (Novinite) Bulgaria's benefits from the Russian-sponsored South Stream gas pipeline project amounts to approximately BGN 1.5 B in dividends only, says the Minister of Economy and Energy Dragomir Stoynev…

South Stream turns Bulgaria major gas centre on the Balkans: Energy Minister – (Focus) South Stream gas pipeline project turns Bulgaria into a major gas centre on the Balkans. That is what Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy Dragomir Stoinev said after a meeting with Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski, Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller and Energy Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak, a reporter of FOCUS News Agency announced…

South Stream gas pipeline construction begins in Bulgaria – (UPI) The start of construction of the South Stream gas pipeline in Bulgaria marks the launch of one of Europe's largest energy projects, Gazprom's chief said…

Gazprom Starts South Stream Pipeline Construction in Bulgaria – (Bloomberg) OAO Gazprom (GAZP) started building the Bulgarian section of the South Stream pipeline, which will ship natural gas across the Black Sea and Bulgaria to Europe.  By the end of the year Gazprom will start building the Serbian part, Gazprom Chief Executive Officer Alexey Miller told reporters in Sofia today…

Construction of South Stream Project Started in Bulgaria – (Energetika) “Today we can give a start to a very important project for Bulgaria, for the Russian side, and for Europe—South Stream,” said Prime Minister Oresharski after his meeting with Alexey Miller, reported by the…

Russia's Kommersant: Gazprom Surrendered to Bulgaria – (Novinite) The construction of the "most problematic stretch" of the South Stream gas pipeline, the one in Bulgaria, has been officially launched, according to Russian daily Kommersant…

Ukraine U-turn: Gazprom kicks off Bulgarian part of South Stream – (RT) Gazprom, Russia’s state-owned natural gas giant has broken ground on the €3.5 billion Bulgarian onshore section of the South Stream pipeline. Disputes between Moscow and Kiev are resurfacing and Russia wants to speedily complete the pipeline…

South Stream Groundbreaking Ceremony Held in Bulgaria – (Novinite) A groundbreaking ceremony for the Russian-sponsored gas pipeline project South Stream was held Thursday at site of the Bulgarian compressor station "Rasovo…"

Bosnia and Herzegovina

NGOs: EU Supports Damaging Energy Projects in Western Balkans – (Energetika) The EU Supports Damaging Energy Projects in Western Balkans…

Bosnia and Herzegovina receives funding for the rehabilitation of the Una hydro power plant – (Balkans) The EBRD is strengthening the capacity of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as a major player in the renewable energy sector with a €35 million, non-sovereign loan to Elektroprivreda Bosne i Hercegovine (EPBiH), the largest power and energy utility in the country…

EBRD supports biomass power, thermal projects – (Biomass Magazine) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development announced in October that it will support the development of two biomass projects; a renewable power plant in Ukraine and a district heating project in Bosnia and Herzegovina…

EBRD - European Bank for Reconstruction and Develo : A boost for municipal infrastructure in the Western Balkans – (4-Traders) The EBRD and Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) are spearheading efforts to improve the municipal infrastructure in the Western Balkans with the launch of a new fund, the Municipal Infrastructure Development Facility (MIDF). The target size of the Fund - established with contributions from the governments of Germany and Switzerland - is €100 million, of which €40 million would be provided by the EBRD…

EBRD Loan Finances New Electricity Production Facilities in Bosnia – (Energetika) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development loan is financing new production facilities in Bosnia…

Croatia

Minister: Croatia Plans Electricity Bourse Next Year – (Energetika) Croatia plans to found an electricity bourse in Zagreb in the first quarter of 2014 at the latest because it believes that its influence on the energy markets in the coming years will become ever more important, the Economy Minister, Ivan Vrdoljak, said on 5 November 2013 in an interview published…

Minister: Croatia Plans Electricity Bourse Next Year – (Energetika) Minister Vrdoljak said that there were a number of energy projects in preparation that could make Croatia, the newest European Union member, a real energy hub in its part of Europe.  “The projects in the energy...

Kosovo

V4 Countries Support EU Expansion in Western Balkans – (The Wall Street Journal) Hungary–Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary–which make up the group of countries known as the Visegrad4–said Thursday they strongly support including western Balkan countries in the European Union to ensure stability in a region that is often torn apart by war and ethnic conflict…

Kosovo Prefers Gas Connection to Albania Rather than Serbia – (Energetika) According to the Serbian news agency Tanjug, Kosovo's Minister for Economic Development, Fadil Ismajli, said the government in that former Serbian province would order a feasibility study to see which pipeline…

Visegrad Countries Encourage Western Balkans to Join EU – (FriedINews) n order to strengthen the stability in the Balkan region, the Western Balkans should join the EU, representatives of the Visegrad countries said today…

Montenegro

Montenegro reconfigures its energy strategy – (UNDP) Europe is consuming increasing amounts of energy.  Average energy use in the European Union (EU) rose by 1.4 percent yearly from 1990 to 2012. Consequently, the EU has been encouraging its member states to explore alternative sources of energy, particularly renewables.  Montenegro has also experienced rises in electricity consumption over the last 20 years…

Montenegro launches the first bid for awarding concessions for oil and gas exploitation – (Balkans) “For a small country as Montenegro, where each project in the energy sector is essentially a cross-border one, careful management of resources is a key issue of the future success in economy and sustainable development”, Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milo Đukanović underlined at a ceremony on the occasion of launching the first bid for awarding concessions for oil and gas exploitation and production activities in the offshore of Montenegro…

Nine firms place bids for Montenegro's new coal-fired unit – (Reuters) Nine firms and groups have placed bids to help build a new coal-fired unit of up to 300 megawatts at Montenegro's Pljevlja power plant, utility EPCG EPCG.MOT said on Thursday…

EBRD - European Bank for Reconstruction and Develo : EBRD adopts new strategy for Montenegro – (4-Traders) The Board of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has adopted a new strategy for Montenegro, setting out the Bank's priorities in the period of 2013-16…

Romania

Romania reconnects first reactor to the power grid – (Reuters) Romania's nuclear power operator Nuclearelectrica reconnected the first unit at its Cernavoda power station on Oct. 30 after a power interruption in a command and control circuit halted its output on Sunday…

Nuclearelectrica shares open strongly on the Bucharest Stock Exchange – (Romania-Insider) Shares of Romanian nuclear power firm Nuclearelectrica have started trading at 11.64 lei EUR 2.6) in their market debut on the Bucharest stock exchange on Monday, November 4…

Romania will have an installed wind power capacity of 2,400 MW in end-2013 – (ACTMedia) Romania will have an installed wind power capacity of around 2,400 MW in end-2013, below the initial estimates of 3,000 MW, the President of the Romanian Wind Energy Association (AREE), Ionel David, told a specialized debate…

skytron energy awarded new 50 MW PV project in Romania – (PV Magazine) The German energy company has already installed 65 MW of PV capacity in the country across two plants, with this latest commission taking its presence in Romania to 115 MW…

Skytron to install grid stabilising controller in 50MW Romanian PV plant – (PV Tech) Skytron Energy is to install a power control system in a 50MW Romanian photovoltaic plant, allowing the plant to provide frequency stabilisation without energy storage equipment…

Ponta: Romania has regional hub potential for industries, energy, even infrastructure – (ACTMedia) Romania can become an important regional player in the major industries, energy and infrastructure even, since the fact that some big companies are investing here is a signal of confidence, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta said in Ploiesti (60 km north of the capital) on Wednesday.'The world is getting smaller and smaller at this moment, the ties are increasingly important and I think that any country, any government has to learn...

Europe’s rising energy bills – (DAWN) Europeans are paying the steepest energy bills in four years and face ever higher payments as governments pile on extra charges to help finance a 1 trillion euro modernisation of Europe’s energy infrastructure.  Politicians from Britain to Germany, Italy to Romania, under pressure from electorates squeezed by economic downturn, are promising to cap energy prices or at least draw their sting…

EU Commission: fossil fuel, nuclear subsidies distort market – (Electric Light & Power) Subsidies for nuclear and fossil fuels distort competition between different energy sources and increase the overall cost to society of electricity generation, the European Commission stated today in a series of nonbinding documents on state intervention in energy markets…

Subsidies for nuclear and fossil fuels distort competition – EC – (Balkans) Subsidies for nuclear and fossil fuels distort competition between different energy sources and increase the overall cost to society of electricity generation, the European Commission states in a series of non-binding documents on state intervention in energy markets…

Solar PV in Romania: German EEPro and NewDev commission 4 MW project – (SolarServer) The 4 MW PV power plant „Tartasesti“ has been commissioned close to the Romanian capital Bucharest. It is a joint venture project of EEPro GmbH (Simbach, Germany) and NewDev Projects GmbH & Co. KG (Hamburg, Germany)…

Romania gets $534 mn from gas company IPO – (Global Post) Romania raised $534 million (395 euros) from the privatisation via a stock offering of a 15-percent stake in Romgaz, the largest producer of natural gas in Central Europe, the energy ministry said Friday…

ANRE grants licenses for 9 new photovoltaic parks and two small hydro projects – (The Diplomat) The electricity regulatory body ANRE approved within the meeting held in late October the operation license for 9 new photovoltaic parks and two small hydro projects, according to an official release of the institution.  Also, two PV parks and a small hydro central received the permits to receive green certificates…

Fuel costs not to blame for EU’s rising power bills – (Business Report) Europeans are paying the steepest energy bills in four years and face ever higher payments as governments pile on extra charges to help finance a e1 trillion (R14 trillion) modernisation of Europe’s energy infrastructure…

Serbia

Bulgaria-Serbia gas connector top priority for 2014: minister – (Focus) “Construction of the gas connector between Bulgaria and Serbia remains a top priority for next year,” Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy, Dragomir Stoynev, said earlier today at a press conference after the sitting of the Bulgarian Council of Ministers, FOCUS News Agency reporter informed…

Zorana Mihajlovic To Open Solar Power Plant In Belgrade On November 6 – (inSerbia) Solar photo-voltaic power plant “Mihajlo Pupin” in Belgrade will start working on November 6.  Minister of Energy, Development and the Environment Zorana Mihajlovic will officially open the plant…

Serbia plans to being South Stream gas pipeline by December 20^th – (Balkans) The Serbian Government has done its best to prepare everything for the construction of one of the most ambitious projects in the country – the South Stream gas pipeline, the construction of which is expected to begin by December 20. The section of gas pipeline that passes through Serbia is worth 1.7 billion euros, and the project will be realized by the Russian-Serbian company South Stream Serbia. Tamara Prodanovic has more…

South Stream to become "project of national importance" – (b92) Zorana Mihajlović has said that the government "has done all to create conditions for the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline as soon as possible...”

Russia Directly Accuses Serbian Minister For Obstructing Of “South Stream” – (inSerbia) As reported by Serbian Daily “Blic”, Leonid Resetnikov, director of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies established under the auspices of Russian President Vladimir Putin, directly accused Serbian Energy Minister Zorana Mihajlovic for delibaretely obstructing the agreement between Presidents of Serbia and Russia, which is related to the realization of the South Stream project…

Gas Price In Serbia To Drop By 3.6 Percent On December 1 – (inSerbia) The price of gas will drop as the exchange rate has dropped, Bajatovic told a news conference on the perspectives for Srbijagas development.  He specified that the prices would drop due to the introduction of the methods for the  provision of public supplies of gas to Serbia, whichare being implemented by the Energy Agency…

Serbia's power utility EPS plans to add $1 bln 350 MW coal unit – (Reuters) Serbia's power utility EPS is set to begin a new phase of its second-largest coal-fired plant upgrade with the addition of a 350 megawatt (MW) unit costing nearly $1 billion, its managing board said in a statement on Tuesday…

Serbian power utility plans $1bn coal-fired upgrade – (PennEnergy) EPS is set to begin a new phase of its second-largest coal-fired plant upgrade in Serbia with the addition of a 350 MW unit costing nearly $1bn, its managing board said in a statement on Tuesday…

Serbia Working Hard To Get More Favourable Deadlines For Harmonizing With EU Standards – (inSerbia) Serbia is making efforts to get the most favourable deadlines possible for harmonizing domestic and European standards in the area of pollution from large combustion plants, the Serbian Minister of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection Zorana Mihajlovic has said…

Gazprom plans to invest another EUR 2 billion in Serbia in the next two years – (Balkans) The Gazprom company plans to invest another EUR 2 billion in Serbia in the next two years, Serbian Minister of Natural Resources, Mining and Spatial Planning Milan Bacevic told Tanjug in Moscow on Wednesday…

Armenia

Iran, Armenia agree to expand cooperation in energy sector – (Tehran Times) Iran and Armenia have reached new agreements to expand cooperation in the energy sector.  Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian and his Armenian counterpart Armen Movsisian met in Tehran on Tuesday. The two sides agreed to construct a new power transmission line in order to boost the exchange of electricity between the two countries…

Armenia and Iran sign three joint energy projects – (ARKA) Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian and his Armenian counterpart Armen Movsisyan have signed three agreements for the implementation of joint hydropower projects, according to Iranian news agencies…

Iran, Armenia Approve New Energy Deals – (Asbarez) Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian and his Armenian counterpart have signed three agreements for the implementation of joint hydropower projects.  The agreements were reached in Tehran on Tuesday as Chitchian and Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsesian met to discuss enhancement of mutual cooperation between the two neighboring countries…

Armenians President attends Nuclear Energy Safety Councils Session – (ArmenPress) The president of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan had a meeting with the Chairman of the Armenians Presidential Council on Nuclear Energy Safety (CNESS) Adolf Birkhofer on November 6…

Russia will subsidize gas price, says Armenian Energy Minister – (Panorama) The 2014 draft budget does not envisage the subsidization of the price of natural gas supplied to Armenia, Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan said during the discussion of the 2014 draft budget at the National Assembly…

Armenia Blackout: Yerevan, major cities cut off electric power for half hour due to apparent system emergency – (Armenia Now) A major power outage caused by an apparent system emergency has affected daily commute and business in Yerevan and other major cities and towns across Armenia Saturday morning…

Reason for energy system deprivation is isolation of energy system of Armenia and Iran – (ArmenPress) The parallel work of electricity system of Iran and Armenia was restored…

Armenia fully restores electricity supply – (ArmenPress) The activities on the elimination of the results of widespread deprivation of the energy supply are finished I the provinces of the republic of Armenia and in the capital…

Iran bartered 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas for Armenian electricity in 2007-2012 – (Panorama) There are all necessary preconditions for the development of Armenian-Iranian relations in the field of energy, Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian has said during his meeting with Armenian Deputy Energy Minister Ara Simonyan on the sidelines of the 44th session of the CIS Electric Power Council in Moscow, according to ISNA news agency…

Official says Armenia blackout irrelative of Iran power grid – (PanArmenian) Managing-Director of Iran’s Electricity Network Management Company Mirfattah Fattah Qarahbaq said that the massive blackout in Armenia last week was not the result of a disconnection from Iran’s power grid…

Armenian expert commission developing measures to lessen electricity supply interruption risks – (ARKA) The expert commission will develop a program of measures to be taken to lessen electricity supply interruption risks in Armenia, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen Movsisyan said Monday at government budget hearings in the National Assembly…

Armenia After Increasing Gas Imports from Iran – (Tasnim) Visiting Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan said Tuesday he is in Tehran for talks on increasing gas imports from Iran…

Russia and Armenia to agree on subsidizing tariff on gas before end of 2013 – (Vestnik) Moscow and Yerevan will sign an agreement on subsidizing the tariff on gas by the end of the year, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Armenia, Armen Movsisyan, said on Monday…

Azerbaijan

State Agency: Hybrid power plants in Azerbaijan to reduce energy loss – (Trend) The construction of hybrid power plants in Azerbaijan will reduce electricity losses during electricity transportation over long distances, Director of the Azerbaijani…

EU allocates € 30 mln to Azerbaijan within Eastern Partnership – (APA) APA reports that it was reflected in the brochure on the budget support to the partner country that was released by the EU ahead of this month's Eastern Partnership summit…

Azerbaijan invests $380 million in alternative energy – (Azernews) Some 300 million manats (about $380 million) have been invested in the development of alternative and renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan, Head of the State Agency for Alternative Energy Sources Akim Badalov said on November 1…

Alternative energy production to reach 12% in Azerbaijan – (APA) Share of alternative and renewable energy in average annual energy production is about 10-12%. It means 2.5 bln kVt/hour energy production. This index is planed to be reached 12% by the year-end, Deputy Director of the State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Resources under the Ministry of Energy Jamil Malikov told APA-Economics…

Azerbaijan generated 17.5 billion kilowatt/hours of electricity since early 2013 – (Trend) Azerenergy Production Association (PO) which covers the production and distribution of electricity in Azerbaijan generated over 17.5 billion kilowatt/hours…

Azerbaijan’s energy potential highlighted at Economist summit in Istanbul – (APA) Azerbaijan’s essential future role as an energy supplier and transit country took centre-stage on 30–31 October at The European Energy Summit, hosted at the Swissôtel The Bosphorus in Istanbul, organised by The Economist…

Tariffication procedure for alternative energy is established in Azerbaijan – (ABC.AZ) State Agency for Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources (ABEMDA) is preparing new tariffication system for development of alternative energy.  According to Jamil Melikov, ABEMDA representative, it will be a brand new tariff policy…

Solar energy’s share in total amount of Azerbaijan’s alternative energy to reach 40 per cent by 2020 – (Trend) The solar energy's potential in Azerbaijan is 5,000 megawatts, representative of the State Agency for Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources, Jamil Melikov said on Nov. 1 at a round table meeting…

Azerbaijan’s ecological projects contribute to formation of country’s energy sector taking into account interests of future generations – (Trend) The efforts within the cooperation with the Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership (GGFR) and other ecological projects will contribute to the formation of the country's energy sector taking into account the balance of interests of future generations and the environmental protection, head of the World Bank's Baku office Larisa Leshchenko said on Monday during the International Environmental Conference which is being held in Baku…

Azerbaijan may stop using oil and gas by 2020 – (ABC.AZ) State Agency for Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources (ABEMDA) reports that potential capacity of alternative energy sector in Azerbaijan exceeds existing generating capacities of traditional energy sector (about 10,000 MW)…

TAP gas project on schedule, director says – (UPI) The Trans Adriatic pipeline, slated for Azeri gas, is on schedule for construction through a European corridor by 2015, the pipeline's managing director said…

Azerbaijan does not intend to attract foreign investors for development of alternative energy – (ABC.AZ) More than AZN 300 million has been invested so far in the creation and development of the sector of alternative and renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan…

Georgia

Georgian Energy Ministry, "Royal Haskoning DHV" signs memorandum – (Trend) The Georgian Energy Ministry and the "Royal Haskoning DHV" company signed a memorandum on Wednesday. The document was signed by minister Kakha Kaladze and Director General of "Business Unit Industry & Energy" (subsidiary of "Royal Haskoning DHV") Eric Tshvele…

EBRD provides €25.2m loan to GSE for Georgian energy infrastructure modernization – (EBR) European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has loaned €25.2m to Georgian electricity utility, Georgian State Electrosystem (GSE) to help strengthen the stability and reliability of the country's transmission network…

EBRD finances the modernisation of energy infrastructure in Georgia – (Financial) The EBRD is helping to strengthen the stability and reliability of the Georgia’s transmission network, with a €25.2 million sovereign loan, which will facilitate increased trade in regional electricity and the development of renewable sources of energy in Georgia…

European Bank for Reconstruction and Develo : EBRD supports the development of micro and small enterprises – (4-traders) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) continues to support viable micro and small enterprises (MSEs) by extending US$ 6 million equivalent in local currency to Credo, Georgia's largest non-bank microfinance institution (MFI) with a strong presence in rural areas…

SOCAR builds new gas pipeline in Georgia – (AzerNews) SOCAR built a new gas pipeline in eastern Georgia that was inaugurated in the Khashuri district, the Georgian Energy Ministry reported on October 31.  The pipeline built by Azerbaijan's state energy company was inaugurated by Georgia's Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze and the representatives of the SOCAR Georgia Company in Tashiskari village…

SOCAR hopes for support from new Georgian gov’t – (AzerNews) Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR hopes for new Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili's support, SOCAR Head Rovnag Abdullayev told journalists on November 4. Abdullayev said that earlier SOCAR established a good cooperation with the new prime minister and he sees no problem in continuing this cooperation…

Moldova

World Energy Council creates Eurasian Committee jointly with Azerbaijan – (ABC.AZ) The World Energy Council (WEC) is establishing the Eurasian Committee.  The Ministry of Energy of Russia informs that the WEC Eurasia Committee will compose Russia and other countries with similar geopolitical interests.  "WEC’s new committee will bring together national committees of such member countries as Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Mongolia and Iran. The main goal of the project is joint solution of geopolitical, technological, economic, environmental, and other issues in the fuel and energy complex (FEC)," the MER said…

Russia

EC to Wrap Up Anti-Trust Probe of Gazprom in Spring 2014 – (Novinite) The EC aims to wrap up the investigation into Gazprom's alleged breaches of antitrust rules by spring 2014, according to European Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger…

South Stream to cover one-tenth of Europe’s gas needs – (The Voice of Russia) South Stream is making its way deeper into Europe with construction already under way in Bulgaria of a pipeline section that will bring Russian gas to South and Central European countries. The necessary pipeline infrastructure will be built in Serbia and later in Hungary. Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, and Austria have also entered the project…

No point for LNG to rival Gazprom piped exports -Russia energy min – (Reuters) As more Russian companies begin exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) there would be no point in them targeting markets where Gazprom's exports gas by pipeline, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday…

Russia and shale can solve Europe’s energy problem – (Financial Times) The aim of European energy policy should be to combine economic growth with environmental sustainability. However, we have ended up with energy costs that hamper growth – yet greenhouse gas emissions have not fallen despite the decline in energy consumption...

Russia in oil sector race as output hits a record – (The National) Russia has increased its oil output to a post-Soviet high, drawing further attention to the race to become the world’s biggest oil supplier…

Russian gas not the answer to Europe’s energy problem – (Financial Times) Sir, Paolo Scaroni’s enthusiasm for increasing imports of Russian gas to solve Europe’s energy problems is misplaced (“Europe is being hobbled by its expensive energy”, October 31)…

Russian energy firms up bid for Italy's Eni, Enel share in gas producer – (Reuters) Russian energy companies Novatek and Gazprom Neft are ready to raise their offer to $4.9 billion and fight Rosneft for gas assets owned by Italy's Eni and Enel, a newspaper reported on Thursday…

Russia Opens LNG Floodgates – (EconoMonitor) The Russian government has made room in the natural gas market by letting companies other than Gazprom export liquefied natural gas…

Russia targets Gazprom's LNG export monopoly – (AFP) The Russian government took aim Wednesday at Gazprom's 25-year monopoly on gas exports by laying the groundwork for other companies to begin their own sales to energy-hungry Asian markets…

separating Baltic energy grid from Russia is economically pointless – (The Baltic Course) Separating the Baltic States' electricity grid from Russia and linking it with Central Europe will cost an estimated 435-622 million euros and there is no economic justification to the separation, a study by a Swedish consultation company indicates, LETA/Postimees writes…

Turkey

Turkey: Changes To The Licensing Process In The New Turkish Electricity Market Legislation – (Mondaq) The new Electricity Market Law (the "New Law") that came into force on March 30, 2013 1 brought some changes to the licensing procedures, especially for the generation licenses. The most important is the introduction of a "preliminary license" procedure in place of the pre-construction phase; a period where the licensees are required to obtain the various permits for their construction and operation, but are banned from share transfers…

Siemens to ship 53 wind turbines to Turkey – (Electric Light & Power) The Turkish Güriş Group continues its cooperation with Siemens for three new wind power projects scheduled to be built in Turkey…

Has energy-hungry Turkey finally solved 'the Kurdish problem'? – (CNN) The latest round of peace talks with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) remains the Turkish government's best bet not just to solve the country's 29-year old "Kurdish problem" but also to feed its energy-hungry population and wean it off costly and politically risky Russian and Iranian energy imports…

Demand for gas transmission line ‘remains weak’ in districts – (Daily News) Despite the Turkish Ministry of Energy’s aims to extend natural gas pipelines through the country, their incitement efforts in some fields have not seen results yet…

Turkey's Energy Boom: Turkey Looks To Nuclear Power To Offset Its Oil & Gas Imports – (International Business Times) Turkey and Japan have signed a formal agreement to build Ankara’s second nuclear power plant, Hurriyet Daily reported Tuesday…

Turkish government ‘focused on energy efficiency’ – (Daily News) The Turkish government is pro-active and focused on energy efficiency, International Finance Corporation (IFC) Vice President for Emerging Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa (EMENA) Dimitris Tsitsiragos has said…

Turkey's energy minister speaks about nuclear power – (World Bulletin) Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz has given information about the inter-governmental agreement signed between Turkey and Japan in May, ahead of the start of European Energy Summit in Istanbul…

Turkey-KRG gas deal to be done in ‘Q1 2014’ – (Daily News) Genel Energy, the Anglo-Turkish oil and gas company, has said the finalization of a gas sales agreement between Turkey and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq is expected in the first quarter of 2014…

EU’s 2013 Progress Report assessed Turkey’s energy sector – (Turkish Weekly) The European Union's 2013 progress report on Turkey was released on 16th October, 2013. Although the report widely stresses the political reforms, democracy, rule of law or civil society, there are important assessments about the energy sector of Turkey in the 15th chapter…

KRG Announces Plans to Build Second Oil Pipeline to Turkey – (Oil Price) Having just completed the first pipeline to carry crude oil out of the Kurdish region of northern Iraq and across the border to Turkey, the KRG has announced that a second pipeline will be built within the next couple of years…

Ukraine

Go for broke: Ukraine’s risky EU trade deal – (RT) Tough admission standards could keep Ukraine’s trade integration with the European Union on hold, and if the process is dragged out long enough, it may be forced back into the arms of its ex-Soviet ally, Russia…

Kiev Gas Plans Could Pollute Russia – (The Moscow Times) Planned drilling for shale gas in Ukraine is likely to pollute downstream waters in neighboring Russia, environmental conservation group the World Wide Fund for Nature, or WWF, said Thursday.  Ukraine last year announced a joint project with Europe's biggest oil company, Shell, to drill for shale gas in the eastern Kharkiv Region, which borders Russia. Extraction is due to begin in 2018 or 2019…

Ukraine hopes shale gas deal will cut its energy costs – (EuroNews) Ukraine has signed a shale gas production-sharing agreement with US firm Chevron.  It is another step in Kiev’s drive for more energy independence from Russia – with the President Viktor Yanukovich saying Ukraine could be self sufficient in gas by 2020…

Problem of debt for Russian gas will be solved Monday – (Voice of Russia) The problem of the $882 million August debt for Russian gas will be solved on Monday, said Ukraine's Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavytskyy.  "I would like to make a point that the problem has actually been solved…

Ukraine Expecting Better Investment Attractiveness In Energy Sector After Association Agreement Signature With EU – (Ukrainian News) Ukraine expects that after the signature of the Association Agreement with the European Union investment attractiveness will be improved in the sector of energy, President Viktor Yanukovych said at the meeting of the Council of local and foreign investors…

Ukraine focuses on alternative energy development – (Forum) Eduard Stavitskiy, Minister of Energy and Coal Industry, and Jan Kulczyk, President of the international environmental organization Green Cross, have signed a joint declaration supporting the strategic development of alternative energy in Ukraine. The signing took place on the sidelines of the conference, titled “Strategy of Green Energy Development…

Ukraine needs new techs to save energy resources – (Forum) Ukraine will not be able to achieve successful performance on energy saving without the introduction of new technologies, regional development, construction, housing and communal services minister of Ukraine Hennady Temnyk said at the IX International Congress "Institutional and Technical Aspects of Housing and Communal Services Reform", ForUm correspondent reports…

The Coming Ukrainian Shale Boom – (Oil Price) There’s a lot going on this week in energy, but rather than go through the eternal drama of Keystone XL, we want to get in front of an issue that’s going to become critical in the coming weeks: Ukraine…

Ukraine moves away from Russia toward EU over Central Asian energy – (Global Times) In late November, the EU will host the Eastern Partnership Summit, a project aimed to strengthen ties with former USSR republics. In Lithuania, the EU will initiate an association agreement with Ukraine as well as Georgia and Moldova…

Ukraine, Chevron sign shale gas deal as Kyiv seeks energy independence from Moscow – (Times Colonist) The Ukrainian government on Tuesday signed a shale gas production-sharing agreement with the Chevron, as the country strives for energy independence from neighbouring Russia…

Chevron and Ukraine Set Shale Gas Deal – (The New York Times) Western oil companies trying to find shale gas in Europe are discovering that Ukraine, eager to reduce its dependence on Russian energy imports, is one of their most willing partners.  On Tuesday, Chevron signed a 50-year agreement with the Ukrainian government to develop oil and gas in western Ukraine. The government said that Chevron would spend $350 million on the exploratory phase of the project and that the total investment could reach $10 billion…

Ukraine seeks energy independence through shale gas development – (English CN TV) Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said Monday his country was seeking ways to develop shale gas production in a bid to reduce its dependence of costly natural gas from Russia…

Energy Ministry forecasts 3 percent fall in electricity consumption in Ukraine in 2013 – (Kyiv Post) Electricity consumption in Ukraine in 2013 will decline by 3.1 percent compared to 2012, to 182.594 billion kWh, the press service of the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry has said, with reference to minister Eduard Stavytsky…

Ukraine doubles down on $20 billion shale gas plan to escape Russia’s clutches – (Quartz) Fracking, the controversial drilling technique that unlocks oil trapped in underground rock formations, is expected to help many countries gain “energy independence.” But few countries have as much independence to gain from the practice as Ukraine…

IMF still wants Ukraine to increase energy tariffs and exchange rate flexibility – (Kyiv Post) The Ukrainian authorities should take a comprehensive package of measures to stabilize the situation in the country's economy, in particular, by increasing tariffs for energy resources and making the exchange rate more flexible, IMF Resident Representative in Ukraine Jerome Vacher has said…

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