Weekly collection of energy news articles for the region

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USAID/USEA ETAG Upcoming Events

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September 8-9, 2014           USAID/USEA Black Sea Regional Transmission System Planning Project (BSTP) Working Group Meeting Yerevan, Armenia

September 10, 2014            USAID/USEA Armenia-Georgia Sub-Regional Transmission System Planning Project (BSTP) Working Group Meeting Yerevan, Armenia

September 11-12, 2014       USAID/USEA Armenia Model Gride Code Project Working Group Meeting Yerevan, Armenia

Albania's household consumers not to be affected by energy price rise: minister – (Global Post) Albanian Trade and Energy Minister Damian Gjiknuri said Wednesday that the World Bank has approved a financial package for the reform in electricity system…

TAP reveals details of pipeline construction preparations – (Trend) The pipeline will connect with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) near the Turkish-Greek border at Kipoi, cross Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea…

ČEZ to gain more than 210 million Kč from arbitration – (Prague Post) Energy group ČEZ will gain some 210 million Kč (7.5 million euros) from a project in Bosnia as it has won an arbitration it started in 2009 on the grounds of breached contractual conditions in a project in Gacko, Bosnia and Herzegovina, ČEZ announced in a press release today…

Albania will raise the price of electricity for families and businesses – (Balkans) Albania will raise the price of electricity for families and businesses in line with advice from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but it will protect the needy, Energy Minister Damian Gjiknuri said on Wednesday…

Bulgaria

Svetla Todorova appointed as the new head of Bulgaria's energy watchdog – (Standart News) Svetla Todorova is the new chairman of Bulgaria's energy watchdog DKEVR. This became clear after today held a meeting of the Council of Ministers…

Bulgaria's Interim EconMin Supports Gradual Energy Price Hike – (Novinite)  Caretaker Economy and Energy Minister Vasil Shtonov spoke in favor of a gradual rise in electricity prices in the next years...

Bulgarian Energy Holding, CEZ, to Discuss Varna TPP Life Extension – (Novinite) The Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) and power distributor CEZ have signed a memorandum of cooperation on searching technical and economic solutions to extend the life of the Varna Thermal Power Plant…

Bulgaria utilities regulator chief agrees to resign – ministry – (Sofia Globe) Bulgaria’s Economy Ministry said on August 28 that the head of the country’s State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC), Boyan Boev, agreed to tender his resignation, as demanded a day earlier by the caretaker cabinet…

Debts in Bulgaria’s energy sector may reach BGN 5 bln by end-2015 – (Focus) Debts in the Bulgarian energy sector may reach BGN 5 billion by the end of 2015,” Bulgarian interim Minister of Economy and Energy, Vasil Shtonov, said speaking at a press conference…

Russia, Bulgaria want to remove South Stream from 3d energy package – (ITAR TASS) Russia and Bulgaria are discussing the possibility of reclassifying the Bulgarian part of the South Stream pipeline into a field pipe to relieve it from the EU’s third energy package, a source familiar with last week’s talks between EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger and Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, told ITAR-TASS Tuesday…

Bulgaria energy minister: South Stream should meet EU legislation in order to happen – (Focus) At the moment there are no talks underway on the status of the South Stream gas pipeline in the marine section…

Bulgaria’s NEK Debt Tops BGN 3 Billion – (Novinite) The financial position of Bulgaria’s National Electricity Company (NEK) is worsening and its debt already exceeds BGN 3.1 B, caretaker Energy Minister Vasil Shtonov has said…

Bulgarian Energy Board to Hold First Session – (Novinite) The Energy Board, which has been recently set up by the Bulgarian government, is due to have a first meeting on Tuesday…

We should not allow electricity price hike in Bulgaria: NFSB leader – (Focus) We should not allow electricity price in Bulgaria,” said Valeri Simenov, co-chairperson of the Coalition Patriotic Front – NFSB and VMRO, speaking at a press conference, FOCUS News Agency reporter said…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Serbia and Bosnia's RS discuss the importance of realizing infrastructure projects – (Balkans) Serbian PM Aleksandar Vučić talked in Belgrade on Tuesday with Bosnia Herzegovina's RS President Milorad Dodik about the conclusions of the Berlin conference on the Western Balkans…

ČEZ to gain more than 210 million Kč from arbitration – (Prague Post) Energy group ČEZ will gain some 210 million Kč (7.5 million euros) from a project in Bosnia as it has won an arbitration it started in 2009 on the grounds of breached contractual conditions in a project in Gacko, Bosnia and Herzegovina, ČEZ announced in a press release today…

Mogherini backs Western Balkan enlargement – (EU Observer) Italian foreign minister and incoming EU foreign relations chief Federica Mogherini has called for progress on Western Balkan enlargement, while saying Russia is no longer an EU “strategic partner”…

Croatia  

Renewable energy plants on rise in Croatia – (Dalje) There were a total of 995 power plants based on renewables in Croatia in mid-August, with the total installed power of 365.35 megawatts, the Croatian Energy Association has recently reported…

Croatia's Neven Mimica to be Commissioner for Regional Policy? – (Dalje) Neven Mimica, Croatia's representative in the new European Commission, led by Jean-Claude Juncker, will be given an important sector, that of Regional Policy, the EurActive portal has reported, quoting an internal EC document…

Romania

Chinese companies look at infrastructure, energy and residential projects in Romania – (The Diplomat) Following the official Government delegation in China, the Romanian officials including PM Victor Ponta talked to Chinese officials and subsequent, several Chinese companies showed interest in Romanian-based projects in infrastructure, energy and real estate…

Romania president says Exxon, Petrom gas investment at $4-5 bln – (Reuters) Romania's top oil and gas group Petrom and U.S. major ExxonMobil will need to invest $4-5 billion to extract gas from a Black Sea field, provided additional data confirms their find, President Traian Basescu said on Wednesday…

Romanian Govt. plans state aid for companies investing in transport and energy – (Romania Insider) Companies that invest in the transport and production and distribution of energy could benefit from state aid granted under the scheme for supporting investments that promote regional development by creating jobs, according to a draft government decision published on the Ministry of Finance’s website, cited by local Capital…

Romanian Deputy PM to sign agreement on peaceful use of nuclear energy – (Romania Insider) Liviu Dragnea, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Development and Public Administration, will sign in China the agreement between the Romanian and Chinese governments on cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy…

Romania anticipates EUR 4-5 billion investments from Petrom and Exxon – (Business review) Romania’s top oil and gas group Petrom and U.S. major ExxonMobil will need to invest USD 4-5 billion to extract gas from a Black Sea field, provided additional data confirms their find, President Traian Basescu said on Wednesday, writes Reuters…

Serbia

Serbian energy sector needs overhaul – (Deutsche Welle) Serbia is an EU candidate, but first it must carry out economic reforms, including in the energy sector. Power plants are outdated and the country relies heavily on Russia for its energy needs…

Bistrica Pumped-Storage project proposed for Serbia's Uvac Rive – (Balkans) The World Bank invites expressions of interest from consultants to perform updated market and financial studies for the 680-MW Bistrica Pumped-Storage project proposed for Serbia's Uvac River. Responses are due September 15…

Electricity price hike "won't increase inflation" – (B92) Central bank (NBS) Governor Jorgovanka Tabakovic says the announced electricity price hike "will not result in an increase in inflation outside the target."

Armenia

Modernizing Metsamor Will Need ‘Serious Funding’ – (Asbarez) Modernization of Armenia’s only nuclear power plant in Metsamor will require serious funding, Miroslav Lipar, a representative of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said Wednesday in Yerevan while speaking at the sixth international technical conference on the safe operation of the facility…

Armenian Gas Deal Draws Georgian Budget Concerns – (Georgia Today)  A Georgian is investing $600 million in the Armenian economy, it has been revealed, as the media of Georgia’s neighbors Armenia and Azerbaijan responded to Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili’s visit to Yerevan…

Conference dedicated to increase of Safety of Armenia’s NPP held in Yerevan – (ArmenPress) The international Atomic Energy Agency and the donor states held a technical conference in Armenia’s Nuclear Power Plant, dedicated to the issues of safe exploitation of Ar,menias Nuclear Power Plant.

Iran's Electricity Swap with Neighbors Exceeds 2 GW in One Day – (FARS) Iran's electricity exchange with the neighboring states in one day amounted to 2,086 megawatts (MW), the Energy Ministry announced. The country exported 1,549 megawatts of electricity to Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Armenia and Turkey, and imported 537 megawatts of power from Armenia and Turkmenistan on Thursday…

Armenian nuclear plant exploitation discussed in Yerevan – (Vestnik) Yerevan has started the fourth technical summit on security of the Armenian nuclear power plant. Officials of the IAEA, U.S., AOSA, Russia and the Czech Republic are attending the meeting…

Putin Approves Treaty on Armenian Entry to Eurasian Union – (Asbarez) Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly submitted an agreement on the Eurasian Economic Union to the Russian parliament for ratification, Itar-Tass reports, quoting the Kremlin’s press office.

Azerbaijan  

Urmas Paet: Azerbaijan plays important role in energy security of Europe – (News.AZ) Foreign Ministry of Estonia sent its ambassador to Baku with an aim to develop bilateral relations between Estonia and Azerbaijan…

EBRD lends $ 5 mln to Azerbaijani Demirbank for energy efficiency projects – (Trend) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is lending $ 5 million to Demirbank to finance energy efficiency projects in Azerbaijan. The facility will allow Demirbank to help local entrepreneurs and households to acquire and install more efficient equipment, appliances and materials, such as modern production facilities, double-glazed windows, insulation, gas boilers, solar water heaters and rooftop solar panels…

Azerbaijan, Norway hail energy cooperation – (Azernews) Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met newly appointed ambassador of Norway to the country Bard Ivar Svendsen on September 2…

European Commissioner to focus on energy issues in Baku – (Azernews) European Commissioner for Energy, Gunther Oettinger will discuss the prospects for energy cooperation with Azerbaijan in Baku…

French Areva proposes to build nuclear research reactor in Azerbaijan – (Azernews) Azerbaijan's Communications and High Technologies Minister Ali Abbasov has met with a delegation of experts from French company Areva that is involved in the development and production of equipment for nuclear power industry…

ERDOĞAN: SOUTH CAUCASUS PIPELINE WORK BEGINS SEPT. 20 – (Daily Sabah) A groundbreaking ceremony for the South Caucasus Pipeline, the first phase of the Southern Gas Corridor pipeline that includes the Trans Anatolia Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), will be held on Sept. 20, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday…

TANAP project of Azerbaijan, Turkey attracts world attention – (Trend) The Turkish-Azerbaijani ties stand at the highest level, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in Baku on Sept. 3 at a joint press statement ceremony with the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan…

Ukraine and Azerbaijan relations in energy sector remain unchanged – (trend) Liquidation of advisory group on development of the new energy supply routes from Azerbaijan through the territory of Ukraine by Poroshenko's presidential…

Georgia  

EBRD President Chakrabarti meets Georgian President Margvelashvili in London – (Trend) The President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Sir Suma Chakrabarti, welcomed the President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili, to the Bank's headquarters in London on 3 September 2014…

WB to assist in Georgia’s uninterrupted power supply – (Trend) The Georgian government and the World Bank (WB) signed an agreement in connection with the allocation of the preferential funds in the amount of $60 million to implement a project to improve the transmission network in Georgia…

Georgian ministers of foreign affairs and energy to visit Baku – (APA) Georgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Maia Panjikidze and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Kakhi Kaladze will make a visit to Baku on September 8-9, the Georgian embassy in Azerbaijan told APA…

Georgia named leading reformer in EBRD region – (Azernews) The excellent relations between the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Georgia were mulled as EBRD President Suma Chakrabarti welcomed the President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili, to the Bank's headquarters in London on September 3…

Georgia to be represented at informal meeting on "Eastern Partnership" in Baku – (Trend) Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Energy and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia will participate in the informal meetings of the heads of the Foreign Ministry and the Energy Ministers of the "Eastern Partnership" in Baku, the Georgian embassy in Baku told Trend Sept.2…

Moldova

Gazprom monopoly broken in Moldova – (Euractiv) The Republic of Moldova has broken Moscow-backed Gazprom’s gas monopoly after completing the first phase of a new pipeline connecting it to the EU energy market…

Moldova inaugurates Iasi-Ungheni pipeline – (Energy Global) Moldova has inaugurated a new natural gas pipeline that is set to reduce the country’s reliance on Russia for energy supplies. The 43 km interconnector, which runs from Ungheni, west of Moldova, to Iasi, east of Romania, is the first and only direct gas pipeline connecting the country to the EU…

US Welcomes Opening Of Romania-Moldova Gas Pipeline – (RTT News) The United States has welcomed the opening of Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline between Romania and Moldova, noting that the pipeline enables Moldova to get gas directly from the EU and international markets for the first time…

Turkey

Erdogan announces South Caucasus Pipeline start date – (World Bulletin) A groundbreaking ceremony for the South Caucasus Pipeline, the first phase of the Southern Gas Corridor pipeline, will be held Sept. 20, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday…

Solar Power in Turkey takes its first steps on the world stage – (Solar Industry Mag) Solar power has been one of the hot topics in the Turkish energy market in recent years. Considering the immense potential of solar energy, especially in the south of Turkey - with an annual irradiance potential of approximately 1.33 MWh per square meter - such attention to solar power should come as no surprise…

Hydropower: a view from Turkey – (Water Power) Hydropower is experiencing a renaissance as the world looks to power economic development with reduced carbon emissions. Companies who want to profit from this, however, must appreciate local conditions and understand the geotechnical and regulatory risks involved, writes Serhat Demirel, Business Development Leader at Golder Associates, Turkey…

Global firm acquires 30 percent stake in Turkish natural gas company – (Tatil Sepeti) The Partners Group, a global private markets investment manager, has announced the acquisition of a 30 percent stake in Turkish natural gas distributor Enerya on behalf of its clients…

A Touchstone In Energy Financing: Reduced Yield And Turkish Insurance Market – (Mondaq) The effect of climate change is not only an environmental problem today as it directly relates to the resource based industries. In today's world, the scientific assessments lead the players of energy to reflect on their project viability….

New Turkish PM expected to conduct active energy policy – (Turkish Weekly) Turkey's new prime minister laid the ground for numerous international energy projects through his active energy diplomacy during his term in the Foreign Ministry, an Ankara-based expert said Friday…

Nordex pockets 48MW in Turkey – (Re news) German manufacturer Nordex is to supply 20 N117/2400 turbines at the 48MW Bagarasi wind farm in Turkey.  The deal is repeat business with Erdem Holding and includes a premium-service contract for a minimum period of five years…

Ukraine 

Energy-pinched Ukraine orders 1mn tons of coal from South Africa – (RT) Ukraine has agreed to import 1 million tons of coal from South Africa according to Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk. Fighting in the east has shut down production at half the country’s coal mines, and stocks will only last until November…

A worrying factor in Ukraine’s chaos: 15 nuclear reactors – (The Washington Post) As Ukraine looks like a country teetering on the edge of war, there's an important factor to keep an eye on: The country's 15 nuclear reactors. "There haven’t been many conflicts in states with nuclear power facilities in the past, so we're really entering unknown territory here," said Jeffrey Mankoff, Deputy Director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Russia and Eurasia Program. NATO has already shown its concern, sending a small team of civilian experts to Ukraine in April to advise the government on the safety of its infrastructure…

Ukraine abolishes group on creation of energy resources supply routes from Azerbaijan – (Trend) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's decree abolished the group on creation of new routes of energy resources supply from Azerbaijan through Ukraine's territory, Ukrinform news agency said Sept. 3…

Energy Ministry estimates Ukraine's need at one mln tonnes of coal per month – (Kyiv Post) Ukraine needs to import one million tonnes of coal a month due to the halt in work at a number of mines and the impossibility of supplying mined coal from Donetsk Oblast to the thermal power plants, Ukrainian First Deputy Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Ziukov has told journalists…

Ukraine slashes power to Crimea as electricity crisis deepens – (Reuters) Ukraine reduced electricity supplies to consumers in Crimea on Wednesday and threatened to cut power altogether if quotas were breached, as it battles a power crisis on the mainland that threatens to cause rolling blackouts across the country…

Winter is coming: Ukrainians educated in energy saving, alternative heating – (RT) With natural gas shortages central heating may not be in place in Ukrainian flats for the cold winter. While people are rushing to buy electric heaters, authorities have issued brochures with advice on how to cope with freezing temperatures…

Kiev Proposes Two Rates for Russian Gas: $300 Low Season-$380 High Season – (RiaNovosti) Ukraine has offered Moscow two variants on gas pricing that would be set at $300 per 1,000 cubic meters during the low season and $380 during the winter season, or tie the gas prices to the spot market in Europe, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Wednesday…

Kiev Again Rejects Russia’s Gas Discount Compromise Offer – Ukraine Energy Minister – (RiaNovosti) Ukraine still refuses to negotiate Russia’s proposed discount of $100 per 1,000 billion cubic meters of gas, Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan said Friday…

Ukraine restricts electricity supplies to consumers in Crimea – (EBR) Ukraine's state electricity company Ukrinterenergo has imposed restrictions on the supply of electricity to Crimea due to a power crisis in its own country.  The Ukrainian state electricity company also warned of cutting all supplies if the quotas were breached, reports Reuters…

Russia, Ukraine Ready to Hold Trilateral Gas Talks September 6 - Russian Energy Minister – (RiaNovosti) Moscow and Kiev are ready to hold three-party gas talks on September 6 and are waiting for the European Commission’s agreement, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Monday…

Has Ukraine Shot Itself in the Foot With Gas Pipeline Deal? – (Nasdaq) Last week, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yatsenyuk pushed a bill through the Verkhovna Rada that would see his country's gas transportation system sold off to a group of international investors. The provisions of the law would permit the transit of natural gas to be blocked…

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