Albania

Albania Press Review - October 16, 2013– (Balkan Insight) New interconnection line between Albanian and Kosovo, thousands of illegal buildings face the bulldozer, Albania eyes EU candidate status… 

New Albanian Minister of Energy and Industry visits Energy Community Secretariat – (Energetika) New Albanian Minister of Energy and Industry visits Energy Community Secretariat…

Bulgaria

EU unveils funding list for gas, power projects – (Reuters) The European Commission unveiled on Monday a list of 250 power and gas projects eligible to share 5.85 billion euros ($7.93 billion) of funding as part of plans to curb reliance on Russian gas and create a single energy market…

UPDATE 1-EU unveils funding list for gas, power projects – (Reuters) The European Commission unveiled on Monday a list of 250 power and gas projects eligible to share 5.85 billion euros ($7.93 billion) of funding as part of plans to curb reliance on Russian gas and create a single energy market…

European Commission plans boost for CEE energy infrastructure – (Balkans) The European Commission released a list of priority energy infrastructure projects on October 14. The major thrust behind the list is the aim to relieve Central and Eastern European states of their dependence on Russian gas, and includes a nod towards a third guise of the abandoned Nabucco gas pipeline…

EC adopts list of energy infrastructure projects including transmission and energy storage – (SolarServer) On October 14th, 2013 the European Commission (EC) adopted a list of 248 key energy infrastructure projects, which it says will help integrate European energy markets and strengthen security of supply by diversifying energy sources…

Bulgaria's day ahead power exchange hits new delay – (Reuters) Bulgaria's state-owned power grid operator ESO has withdrawn its application to run the country's proposed day-ahead bourse, a move electricity traders said was a surprise and would delay the start of the exchange…

Bulgaria’s Air Is Dirtiest in Europe, Study Finds, Followed by Poland – (New York Times) The air in the small Black Sea nation is thicker with several major air pollutants than the air in any other country in Europe, according to a new study prepared by Europe’s environmental regulators…

Poland And Bulgaria Have The Most Polluted Air In Europe – (ClimateProgress) Poland, the host of this year’s U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) talks, has the second-dirtiest air in Europe, according to a new study…

New State-Owned Company to Monitor Bulgaria’s Electricity Grid Loads – (Publics) A new state-owned company with rather obscure tasks has been entitled to “measure the electricity system loads and excess energy in Bulgaria”. According to Capital daily, which cites the Commercial Register of Bulgaria, the new entity was established on September 19 under the name “Energy Operator for Measuring and Information Technologies” EAD (EOMIT)…

Eurostat: Bulgaria’s Household Electricity Prices Lowest in EU – (Novinite) Bulgaria’s residential electricity tariffs are at the lowest nominal level in the EU, according to Eurostat energy prices stats.  Bulgaria has the lowest average household electricity prices in EU, when expressed in EUR, with EUR 9.6 per kWh, while the average electricity price in EU is EUR 19.7 per kWh, according to Eurostat…

President: Bulgaria fully backs the Trans Adriatic Pipeline – (Standart) Bulgaria fully supports the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which is designed to transport gas from the Caspian region via Greece and Albania and across the Adriatic Sea to southern Italy and then to Western Europe, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev said at a world media meeting yesterday, Azeri media sources emphasized…

A transmission revolution is on the way – (EuropeanVoice) A revolution in European electricity markets is coming. Because building grids takes time and involves complex engineering, it will not easily make front-page news. However, we now have high-voltage grid technology to move electricity over long distances with very low losses. That will radically change the way our power systems work…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia: Electricity Firm in Dispute with Aluminium Plant over Unpaid Bills – (Energetika) The owners of the plant are small shareholders who hold a 44-percent stock, the Government of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the same amount of shares, and the Croatian Government…

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Comsar Energy to Expand Ugljevik Thermal Plant – (Energetika) Republika Srpska is the Serb-controlled entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Siniša Majstorović, who heads the Republika Srpska branch of Comsar Energy, said that preparatory works had already been completed…

Croatia

EC adopts list of 248 energy infrastructure projects– (PennEnergy) The European Commission has today adopted 248 energy infrastructure projects which will be eligible for accelerated funding.  The projects are mainly electricity and gas transmission lines, many of them interconnections, but also include 13 electricity storage schemes and two smart grid projects, one in France and the other in the UK…

Several energy projects in Croatia included in list of EU priorities – (Dalje) Several energy infrastructure projects in Croatia are included in a list of 250 priority projects of common European interest that was unveiled by the European Commission on Monday. The projects will be able to count o financial support from the new Connecting Europe Facility for which 5.85 billion euros has been allocated over the next seven-year period…

Just Released: "Croatia Oil & Gas Report Q4 2013" – (SBWire) Croatia has proposed talks with Hungary's MOL over the 'future and history' of jointly owned INA. There is some risk that MOL may sell all or part of its stake, particularly if it is criticised for its management of INA…

Croatia: Đuro Đaković Produces New Cogeneration Plant – (Energetika) Cogeneration is the simultaneous production system of electricity and heat in order to reduce heat loss that occurs with separate production. Overall system efficiency of this cogeneration system of Ðuro Ðakov…

Kosovo

Construction Starts on the Co-Generation Project between Termokos and TPP Kosovo B – (Energetika) Minister Beqaj, Mayor of Pristina, representatives from the German, Swedish, Luxembourg, Austrian governments, Termokos Director, Arsim Janova, and KEK Director, Arben Gjuka, inaugurated the ceremony for the…

Macedonia

Common understanding of REMIT essential for integration with the EU market – (Energetika) The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continues to require REMIT understanding…

Pipeline “South Stream”-salvation or new problem for Macedonia? – (SeeBusiness) For the opposition , the ratification of the Agreement is an adventure , and the gasification process is followed by false promises and criminal activities , which will eventually lead the country to become energy hostage to the gas supplier…

Liberalisation of the electricity market will start 1 April next year – (SeeBusiness) Liberalisation of the electricity market will start from 1st of April 2014, the Energy Regulatory Commission decided. Liberalization was supposed to start from 01 July this year, but was postponed because it would cause a significant increase in the price of electricity for households, up to 25%...

Montenegro

October comes again: Western Balkans’ chance to join the EU – (Euractiv) As the Commission prepares its October progress reports, the prospect of European accession has taken on quasi-religious status in the Western Balkans: it offers hope but, in some cases, sounds mildly utopian. This is a good time to speed up the pace and put words into action for the Balkans' accession, Shenoll Muharremi writes…

New competition authority can help Montenegro make necessary energy reforms – (Energetika) he discussion focused on the Agency’s case law concerning the oil sector, the situation in the electricity market as well as the future cooperation of the Agency both bilaterally with the national energy regulations…

Romania

Ponta: This year we have surplus of energy and no one to sell it to– (ACTMedia) Romania has a surplus of electricity this year but no one to sell it to, the completion of the project with Turkey becoming thus vital, Prime Minister Victor Ponta stated on Saturday, October 5…

General Electric Company : GE and GDF SUEZ Energy Romania Fuel Wind Energy Growth in Romania – (4-Traders) October 15, 2013-GE (NYSE: GE) finalized the installation and started the testing of 20 GE 2.5-103 wind turbines for a 50-megawatt (MW) wind energy project under construction by GDF SUEZ Energy Romania in the town of Baleni, located in Romania's southeastern Moldavian region…

GE begins testing 20 new turbines at wind farm in east Romania– (DailyNews) Energy company GE has finished the installing 20 wind turbines for a 50 MW wind energy project under construction by GDF SUEZ Energy Romania. The company is now testing the turbines, located in Baleni, in Romania’s Moldavian region.  When it begins operating, the wind farm will generate enough renewable electricity to power the equivalent of 50,000 houses in Romania…

Vestas will supply wind turbines for Romania's Crucea North wind farm– (Balkans) Vestas, the Danish wind group, announced it will supply wind turbines for the Crucea North wind farm with an installed capacity 108MW, developed by Germany’s utility STEAG in Constanta County…

Enel Commissions New Romanian 6.5 MW Solar PV Plant – (The Energy Collective) Global operator Enel Green Power has announced the connection of the Colibasi PV plant to the Romanian power grid. The 6.5 MW photovoltaic plant is set to be able to generate approximately 8 million kWh of electricity a year, enough to power around 7,000 average Romanian households…

Romania's primary energy resources decline 12.2 pct in January-August 2013 – (ACTMedia) Romania's primary energy resources declined 12.2 percent January through August this year compared with the same time span in 2012, while the electric energy resources declined 7 percent, reveal provisional data released by the National Statistics Institute (INS) on Thursday…

UPDATE 1-Romania plans gas company share sale, London eyed – (Reuters) Romania plans to offer 15 percent of its biggest natural gas producer for sale in a stock market debut this year, part of privatisation plans agreed with international lenders and which officials have said could raise as much as 600 million euros…

The price of green certificates, in Romania, has taken a nosedive – (Balkans) Since the government altered the incentives for renewable energy producers in July, the price of green certificates has taken a nosedive, putting the brakes on a fledgling industry that thrived during the recession, attracting around EUR 4 billion in direct investments…

Serbia

Nikolić expects S. Stream construction to begin in December – (B92) President Tomislav Nikolić stated late on Tuesday that the construction of the Serbian part of the South Stream pipeline would begin in December…

Italy and Serbia to work together for environment and energy – (ANSA) Italy's interest in collaborating with Serbia and other Balkan countries for environmental protection and the use of renewable energy was underscored in a meeting between Italian businessmen and their counterparts from Balkan nations Tuesday in the Serbian Chamber of Commerce…

Serbia’s Energy Sector Has Development Potential – (inSerbia) Serbia’s energy sector has development potential, according to what was said at the opening of the Energy Community Oil Forum in Belgrade on Thursday…

Serbian Power Grid Offers Epex Stake in New Electricity Exchange – (Bloomberg) Elektromreza Srbije, Serbia’s national grid operator, offered Epex Spot SE a stake in Seepex, a Balkan power exchange to be set up next year…

Our Goal Is To Make Serbia Regional Exporter And Transit Corridor – Mihajlovic – (inSerbia) Serbian Minister of Energy Zorana Mihajlovic said on Friday that the objective is that, after 2020, Serbia becomes an exporter and regional transit corridor for energy and energy-generating products…

Armenia

Armenian regulator simplifies licensing for small hydro power plants – (ARKA News Agency) Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC ) has made today a set of changes to the procedure designed for small hydropower stations to provide their reports…

Some 645,285 subscribers connected to Armenia’s natural gas network – (ARKA News Agency) ArmRosGazprom (ARG), Armenia's Russian-controlled national gas distribution company, said today it had 645,285 individual and corporate subscribers as of October  1, 2013…

Gas Talks: Minister says Russian ‘domestic price’ to apply to Armenia due to membership in CU – (ArmeniaNow) Armenia’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan has finally shed some light on the issue of under what agreement Russia raised the price of natural gas for Armenia earlier this year. Talking to media on Tuesday, he also said that membership in the Moscow-led Customs Union means that Armenia is entitled to purchase natural gas at domestic prices that exist in Russia…

Azerbaijan

British MP: Azerbaijan makes substantial contribution to European energy security strategy – (Trend) Azerbaijan makes a substantial contribution to European energy security strategy, Chris Pincher, MP for Tamworth, sent an article - TAPping up Azerbaijan - to The European Azerbaijan Society as an answer to the questions from the society on Azerbaijan's role in EU's energy security, Trend reported…

ADB: High technologies to save energy for Azerbaijan– (Azernews)Deployment of advanced technologies will result in substantial energy savings for Azerbaijan, the Asian Development Bank has said in a report…

ADB: energy sector to ensure major energy savings for Azerbaijan – (ABC.AZ) According to the ADB Outlook, the deployment of advanced technologies will result in substantial energy savings for Azerbaijan…

ADB predicts Azerbaijan's primary energy demand to reach about 21 mln in 2035 – (Azernews) Azerbaijan's primary energy demand in the Business-as-Usual (BAU) case is projected to increase from 11.8 million tons of equivalent in 2010 and reach 20.8 million tons of equivalents in 2035 at an annual rate of 2.3 percent, compared to the alternative case at 18.9 million tons of equivalent in 2035, says the Asian Development Bank's Asian Energy Outlook report published on October 14…

ADB: Azerbaijan to keep net energy exporter position at least until 2035 – (ABC.AZ) According to the ADB Outlook, although the country will maintain its net export position in oil, natural gas, and electricity through 2035, in recognition of its importance as the main driving force of the economy, it is important for Azerbaijan to recognize the impacts from energy savings to effectively allocate them for export purposes…

Turnaround: Azerbaijan’s ‘electrifying’ experience – (The Express Tribune) Only 10 years ago Azerbaijan didn’t have enough electricity to illuminate its capital city at night. Today, Baku is ‘electrifying’ others with its newfound energy resources…

Energy efficiency technical committee to be established under Azerbaijani State Committee for Standardization, Metrology and Patent– (Trend)Azerbaijan is considering the issue of establishing a technical committee on energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, the head of the technical ...

EU Commission Favors New Nabucco Project – (Trend) After OMV's pipeline project Nabucco failed, the EU Commission takes into consideration a stripped-down version along the Danube…

EU still considers Nabucco's short version – (Azernews) After OMV's gas pipeline project Nabucco failed, the European Commission considers a stripped-down version along the Danube river, Natural Gas Europe reported…

European Commission names key energy projects – (Azernews) The European Commission adopted on October 15 a list of some 250 key energy infrastructure projects, the Commission's report published on its official website reads.  The projects within the Southern Gas Corridor, which envisage the transportation of Caspian region's gas through Georgia and Turkey to the European countries, are also included in the list of "projects of common interest" (PCI)…

Georgia

Energy Projects Eligible For EU Funds – (Radio Free Europe) The EU Commission has published a list of 250 energy infrastructure projects, including several in the Western Balkans and Eastern Neighborhood, that are eligible for EU funding from 2014-20…

Azerbaijan has every opportunity to export electricity to Turkey via Georgia – (Trend) Realisation of the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey Power Bridge Project will ensure the stability of Georgia's power system, a source in the energy market told Trend…

SOCAR to invest $1 bln in carbamide plant to be built in Georgia – (APA) Georgia. Nizami Mammadzadeh – APA. Carbamide plant to be built in 2014 will be an object which Azerbaijan makes a large investment in Georgia, the SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev told journalists in Sadakhli village near Armenia, APA reports quoting Georgian bureau…

Electricity Generation in Georgia II: Blowing Wind Into the System – (Georgia Today) In the first part of our article we pointed out that electricity generation by hydropower is subject to strong seasonal variations…

Feasibility studies announced for construction of four water power plants in Georgia – (Trend) The Georgian Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources announced an interest poll for conducting feasibility studies for the construction of four water power…

Svan’s vow threatens another project of the century – (Vestnik) Any elections in a democratic country include discussions of painful topics which cause huge public interest. Ahead of the presidential elections in Georgia one such topic is the construction of a second giant hydro-electric power station on the Inguri River…

Georgian discussions continue over feasibility of Khudoni HPP construction – (Trend) A discussion over the feasibility of building the Khudoni HPP will be held in Georgia on Tuesday. It will be attended by residents of Svaneti, representatives of non-governmental organisations, industry professionals and academics. Officials of the Ministries of Energy, Environment, Economics and Finance of Georgia are invited to the meeting…

Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili performs ground-breaking ceremony of Tata Power's 400MW hydropower project at Shuakhevi, Georgia – (Tata) Tata Power, India's largest integrated power company, jointly with Clean Energy Invest AS, Norway (Clean Energy), and IFC InfraVentures (IFC), announced the commencement of their first phase of the 185MW Shuakhevi Hydropower Project in Georgia…

Moldova

Brussels plans boost for CEE energy infrastructure – (BusinessNewEurope) The European Commission released a list of priority energy infrastructure projects on October 14. The major thrust behind the list is the aim to relieve Central and Eastern European states of their dependence on Russian gas, and includes a nod towards a third guise of the abandoned Nabucco gas pipeline…

Russia

Russia Power 2014 and HydroVision Russia 2014 be held from 4 to 6 March 2014 – (The Moscow Times) XII International conference and exhibition Russia Power 2014 will be held from 4 to 6 March 2014 at the Expocentre in Moscow, Russia. At the same time there will be the largest event in the field of hydropower — IV HydroVision Russia 2014, International exhibition and conference…

New Market Report: Hydropower (Large, Small and Pumped Storage) in Russia, Market Outlook to 2025, 2013 Update - Capacity, Generation, Regulations and Company Profiles – (SBWire) Hydropower (Large, Small and Pumped Storage) in Russia, Market Outlook to 2025, 2013 Update - Capacity, Generation, Regulations and Company Profiles" is the latest report from GlobalData, the industry analysis specialists that offer comprehensive information and understanding of the hydropower market in Russia…

Number of LNG importing countries to double within 10 years– (Russia & India Report) The number of countries importing liquefied natural gas will double within 10 years and LNG exports will grow more than by half, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told the 22nd World Energy Forum in South Korea’s Daegu on Wednesday…

RPT-Russia expects to liberalise LNG exports from Jan 1 –minister – (Reuters) Russia expects to liberalize its liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from Jan. 1, and a bill will be submitted to parliament shortly, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Wednesday…

EU embrace of Ukraine fuels Russia tensions– (BBC) The European Union is gearing up to sign a landmark partnership agreement with Ukraine next month, hopeful that Kiev will let the jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko get medical treatment in Germany before then…

Medvedev: Ukraine not interested in Russia's help to modernize Ukrainian gas transport system – (Interfax-Ukraine) Cooperation in the modernization of Ukraine's gas transport system is most likely not among the Ukrainian side's priorities, according to Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev…

To Russia’s Ire, China Courts Central Asia Through Energy Deals – (ValueWalk) China is expanding its influence in Central Asia, which has traditionally been under Russia’s sphere of influence, through a flurry of energy deals. Beyond shoring up China’s energy security, these moves could have wide ranging geopolitical implications for the entire region and China’s unruly Xinjiang province…

Gustafson: Russian gas export policy's shift to LNG matters – (Oil & Gas Journal) Russia is changing its natural gas export emphasis from dry gas through westbound steel pipelines to liquefied natural gas aboard tankers bound for East Asian markets, and South Korea, long-time Russian energy expert Thane Gustafson said…

Turkey

Turkey: New Advantages In Energy With The New Regulation: Unlicensed Electrical Energy Production– (Mondaq) As of 02.10.2013, everyone will be able to produce his/her own electrical energy in certain amounts. Due to the Regulation on Electrical Energy Production without License which has been entered on 02.10.2013 into force, every residence may produce a certain amount of its electricity and sell the surplus…

Recent developments in the electricity and gas markets– (Lexology) A major change took place on the regulatory side of the Turkish electricity market following the enactment of the Electricity Market Law No. 6446 on 30 March 2013, which replaced the former law No. 4628…

Turkey compares gas price rates – (World Bulletin) Turkey has spent a total of $60.1 billion on natural energy from other countries, $23 billion of which was spent on gas. The average that Turkey spends every year for gas is $513 per cubic meter, and just like last year, Iran has once again proved to be the most expensive dealer of natural gas this year…

Turkey investing heavily in Kurdistan energy sector – (World Tribune) Turkey has established a major presence in Kurdistan’s energy sector.  Officials said Turkey’s state-owned companies were operating in the energy sector overseen by the autonomous Kurdish Regional Government…

Turkey’s First Nuclear Power Plant Project Delayed – (Energy Tribune) The proposed $20 billion Mersin Akkuyu nuclear power plant project in southern Turkey is likely to be delayed by at least a year, Reuters reported. The 4,800 megawatt facility, to be built by Russian company Rosatom, is behind schedule and not likely to meet its projected 2019 start date…

Ukraine

Solar power accumulation capacity to reach 5 gigawatt-hours in 2017, says forecast – (Interfax-Ukraine) The capacity of power accumulation systems integrated into PV modules will grow exponentially in the coming five years and at the end of 2017 it will reach five gigawatt-hours, Activ Solar Chief Operating Officer Johann Harter has said, referring to the forecast of IHS international company…

EBRD resolves conflict between Ukrenergo and Ukrainian villagers – (Financial) A David and Goliath struggle pitting a village community near Odessa against Ukrenergo, Ukraine ’s national energy transmitter, ended with the state-owned giant listening to its tiny opponent and reaching a settlement that satisfied both sides, according to European Bank for Reconstruction and Development…

Russia's Recent Oil Deal Reveals Its Softer Side – (PolicyMic) This week Russian energy giant Gazprom signed a deal with Ukrainian gas tycoon Dmytro Firtash's Ostchem. This is an indication to many foreign spectators that Russian is gaining influence in Ukraine. While Russia's history of playing power politics through its vast energy resources is not something new, these recent efforts underline a key trend in Russia's geo-strategy…

Energy security is important issue in EU-Ukraine cooperation, Yanukovych says– (Kyiv Post)President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych has said energy security is an important issue in the context of Ukraine's cooperation with the European Union…

Ukrainian Gas Pipeline Key Issue for EU Commission – (FriedINews) A gas pipeline plan in the Ukraine is among the EU Commission’s key infrastructure projects. On Monday, October 14, Günther Oettinger, EU Commissioner for Energy, announced that a 371 kilometers long gas pipeline connecting the Ukraine (JSC Uktransnafta’s Handling Site in Brody) and Poland (Adamowo Tank Farm) will be constructed…

Energy service contracts save billions – (forUm) Ukraine’s parliament (Verkhovna Rada) is currently reviewing a number of bills proposing to establish a legislative base for a mechanism of energy service contracts in public sector…

Ukrainian GTS, storage facilities of strategic importance to Europe – (forUm) EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger has said investments of international institutions will «breathe new life» in the Ukrainian Gas Transportation Systems (GTS) over the coming years…

 

  

This program is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of the United States Energy Association and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.