Albania

The energy sector in Albania is in a state of fragility and turning it around will require strong Government commitment – (Balkans) This summer, a boat ride between Albania's Komani and Fierza dams is as spectacular as ever. The ferry that I took two years ago is no longer there - local residents have switched to using an improved road network – but one can take a tourist boat…

Trans Adriatic Pipeline project gives the final answer to the energy problem in Albania says PM – (Balkans) Albania's Premier Berisha received  the delegation of high-level Trans Adriatic Pipeline Consortium-TAP headed by General Manager Mr. Kjetil Tungland and External Relations Director Mr. Michael Hoffmann, who arrived in Tirana in a courtesy meeting with the Prime Minister…

Hydro plants production, in Albania, increased by approx. 92.3 percent – (Balkans) Albania's Electric power derived from all sources during the first half year of 2013, increased by 33 percent compared with the same period of 2012…

Nabucco gas pipeline project still important for Baku – (World Bulletin) TAP 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…

Bulgaria

Bulgaria's Energy Minister to Draft New Strategy in 9 Months – (Novinite) Bulgaria's Economy and Energy Minister is to prepare an analysis of the condition of the energy sector and its subsectors in 3 months' time, while the Ministry of Economy and Energy is to draft a new energy strategy in 9 months./..

Vicious practices in Bulgaria energy sector must be stopped: minister – (Focus) “Report on the current state of the Bulgarian energy sector does not aim at abusing concrete policies. It aims at finding common policies, which to pull the sector out of the critical state,” said Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy, Dragomir Stoynev, speaking at the parliament during the discussion of the abovementioned report, FOCUS News Agency reporter informed…

Energy Regulator Could Delay License Revocation Procedure of CEZ in Bulgaria – (Publics) Local authorities will have to give their input on whether electricity supply disruptions should be expected, if CEZ's electricity distribution license is revoked…

Enegy Regulator Audits Grid Access Contracts of Renewables in Southeastern Bulgaria – (Publics) Watchdog experts which went through preliminary and final contracts for grid access of renewable energy installations connected to the grid of EVN Bulgaria..

Bulgaria PM Vows Termination of Poorly Implemented Concession Contracts – (Novinite) Bulgaria's Ministry of Economy and Energy has been tasked with inspecting all concession contracts, according to Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski…

Management Shifts in South Stream Bulgaria – (Publics) Georgy Gegov who acted as CEO was replaced by Ilia Ivanov, member of the BD of state-owned gas company Bulgargaz…

"South Stream - Bulgaria" has new leadership – (Standart) The project company "South Stream – Bulgaria AD" has a new leadership. CEO George Gegov and members of the Board of Directors Boris Todorov and Michael Andonov were replaced by Ilia Ivanov at the top of the company and by Boyan Boev and Jordan Zhelev in the Board of Directors…

CEZ Bulgaria’s August invoices provide reports on two billing periods – (Focus) Invoices, which household subscribers of CEZ receive for the consumed electricity in August, contain information about two billing periods – from the date of the previous electric meter’s reading until July 31 and from August 1 until the end of the billing period, the press office of the company announced…

Fracking fights spread to Europe – (Grist) European leaders have been peering across the pond at the American fracking boom with envy, watching as the U.S. gives itself a powerful economic edge by trashing its environment to extract natural gas and oil…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnian miners barricade themselves underground, threaten hunger strike  -(Mining.com) Around 100 coal miners have barricaded themselves 250 meters underground inside a coal mine in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)…

Croatia

ACER Welcomes the Croatian Energy Regulatory – (Publics) The Agency for Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) announced that it welcomes today Croatia as the 28th Member State of the European Union…

Macedonia

Gruevski-Miller: Macedonia-part of Gazprom's development plans – (MINA) Russian energy giant Gazprom is interested in cooperating with Macedonia, which is already part of the company's development plans, Gazprom President Aleksey Miller said Wednesday at a meeting with Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski...

Montenegro

Montenegro opens first offshore licensing round – (Penn Energy) The Ministry of Economy of Montenegro has invited bids for the country’s first offshore licensing round.

The First Tender of Award of the Hydrocarbons Production Concession Contract in Montenegro offshore covers 13 blocks over an unexplored area of 3,191 sq km (1,232 sq mi). Applications must be received by Feb. 28, 2014…

Romania

Czech utility company reports Romania to European Commission for cutting renewables subsidies – (PV Tech) Romania’s decision to stop paying renewable energy subsidies for seven years has been reported to the European Commission by Czech utility company ČEZ…

Romania wants green-energy fee exemption – (Business Recorder) Romania wants to exempt large industrial consumers partially from paying for renewable energy in a subsidy scheme, the energy ministry said on Friday…

Juwi starts development in Romania – (PV Magazine) Photovoltaic project developer juwi has started work on two solar parks totalling 12 MWp in Romania…

Romanian Nuclearelectrica’s initial public offering set to start this month – (Romania Insider) Romania’s electricity producer Nuclearelectrica could attract net funds of up to EUR 83.5 million (RON 369 million) during its initial public offering on September 9, according to data recently released by the Financial Supervisory Authority…

Day Energy completes 2.5 MW PV plant in Romania – (Solar Server) EPC and turnkey provider Day Energy (Hannover, Germany), and solar photovoltaic (PV) module supplier China Sunergy Co., Ltd. (CSUN, Nanjing, China) announced that a 2.5 MW solar park project was recently completed and connected to the Romanian power grid…

Transelectrica: Power consumption to decline 4 pct a year to 2017, no longer to reflect economic development – (Act Media) Romania's power consumption will drop by 4 per cent a year by 2017, but this indicator no longer reflects the economic development of the country, as it used to, Director General Stefan Bucataru of Romania's national electricity transmission operator Transelectrica stated on Wednesday…

SOLON delivers 2.2 MW of solar PV modules for the largest roof-mounted system in the Romanian capital of Bucharest – (Solar Server) SOLON Energy GmbH (Berlin, Germany) is delivering around 8,800 SOLON 220/16 solar PV modules for the construction of the largest roof-mounted system in Bucharest (Romania)…

Romania: Planning on Energy Sufficiency by 2018/19 – (FriedINews) The gas pipline connecting Romania and Moldova will be coming in operation even this year, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta announced earlier this week during the inauguration of the construction works…

Serbia

Serbia: Prices Go Up, Standard Goes Down – (In Serbia) Low standard, decrease of incomes and fear of losing job affects on shopping in stores. Since the beginning of the year, officially, decrease in turnover is 10%, and in reality, the turnover went down by third, ”Blic” reports…

Armenia

Russia, Armenia sign agreement on energy supply – (Kyiv Post) Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow region - Russia and Armenia have agreed on energy supply…

EU Stunned by Armenia U-Turn – (The Wall Street Journal) European diplomats were stunned this week by word that Armenia, which had been heading toward strengthening ties with the European Union, will instead join a customs union led by Russia—handing the Kremlin a victory in its tug of war with Brussels for influence in the region…

Serezh Sargsyan announced about Armenias decision to join the Customs Union – (Arm Press)  President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan paid a working visit to Moscow on September 3 on invitation of Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin…

NNSA conducts two emergency response training courses in Armenia – (Your Industry News) The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) last week conducted an International Radiological Assistance Program Training for Emergency Response (I-RAPTER) training and a Medical Management of Radiation Injuries (I-MED) training in Yerevan, Armenia…

Armenia, Russia Agree to Gas Subsidy Deal – (Asbarez.com) Russia has agreed to help Armenia subsidize the recently increased price of Russian natural gas supplied to the country, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen Movsisian announced on Thursday…

Rosneft to decide on participation in Armenia’s Nairit production – (Pan Armenian) Russian oil major Rosneft agreed with Italian Pirelli to visit Armenia’s Nairit to assess possible lines of cooperation, Rosneft press service said…

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan`s energy sector contributes to regional progress – (News AZ) ‘Apart from the country itself Azerbaijan`s energy sector is contributing to the region’s overall progress,’ Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told a meeting with international experts at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies…

Most effective infrastructure projects in Azerbaijan are related to energy and urban roads – (ABC.az) Baku, Fineko/abc.az. An international research team is estimating the investments effectiveness in infrastructure projects in Azerbaijan…

Foreign Ministry: Azerbaijan's energy sector greatly contributes to region’s development – (Trend) The energy sector of Azerbaijan's economy makes a great contribution to the development of both the country and region, Azerbaijan's Foreign Affairs Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said at a meeting held in London at the International Institute for Strategic Studies with the international experts, who show interests towards Azerbaijan and the region, the ministry's press service said on Wednesday…

Azerbaijan achieved great success on energy security: official – (Azernews) Energy security has become a very important issue in the world and Azerbaijan has achieved great success in this sector, head of the Presidential Administration's foreign relations department Novruz Mammadov said on September 1…

Azerbaijan to map out its solar and wind capacity – (PV Magazine) Azerbaijan is set to ramp up its renewable energy capacities. The government has instructed the Institute of Geography (IG) at the National Academy of Sciences to draw up the country’s solar and wind power maps by July next year.

Trans-Adriatic Pipeline Enhances European Energy Security – (Oil Price) Those concerned with European energy are excited for the arrival of finalized plans for the Southern Gas Corridor that will carry natural gas from Azerbaijan, through Turkey, Albania, Greece to Italy…

Georgia

New gas pipelines opened in Dmanisi and Marneuli regions of Georgia – (Trend) New gas pipelines were opened in Marneuli and Dmanisi regions of Georgia on Thursday.

The SOCAR Georgia Gas has completed the construction of new gas pipelines in Gachagan settlement of Marneuli region and Gamarli settlement of Dmanisi region, a report released on the official website of State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) said…

Range Resources evaluating coal seam gas drilling following review of Georgia blocks – (Proactive Investors) Range Resources (ASX: RRS) has carried out a full review of the conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon potential of its two blocks in Georgia and is now evaluating the selection of a suitable drill location…

Former SOCAR Georgia Gas chief becomes special manager to KaztransGas-Tbilisi – (Trend) The KaztransGas-Tbilisi Company appointed its new special manager. It is Irakliy Gabuniya. On Friday the new manager was presented to company staff by the Deputy Minister of Energy of Geogia Ilia Eloshvili…

SOCAR Georgia Gas restores gas supply to Georgian village  -(Trend) Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze along with representatives of Azerbaijani company SOCAR Georgia Gas have examined the gas distribution network in the village of Gamardzhveba of Gardabani district and reviewed the gas supplies…

Moldova

Interconnecting the infrastructure of Moldova and Romania helps diversify the energy market – (Balkans) The dialogue between Bucharest and Chisinau has strengthened recently, both thanks to the visit made by Prime Minister of Romania Victor Ponta to Chisinau, and to the presence of the Moldovan Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration at the annual meeting of the Romanian diplomacy…

Moldovan president says his country firmly committed to moving closer to Europe – (Calgary Herald) Moldova's president says his country is committed to moving closer to the European Union and would not let itself be swayed by a senior Russian official's warning that it could complicate efforts to resolve a conflict over a breakaway region…

Rogozin Warns Moldova on Relations – (The Moscow Times) A Russian official has warned Moldova that its pro-Europe drive could cause it to lose for good its control over the breakaway territory of Transdnestr and lead to a more costly energy relationship with Russia, its main supplier of gas…

Russia

Construction of gas pipeline Russia-China postponed – (Russia Media) Russia's energy giant Gazprom has postponed the start of the planned construction of a gas pipeline to China, wrote the Russian business newspaper Vedomosti on Wednesday, according to news agency RIA Novosti…

China, Russia a step closer on gas supply – (China Daily) China and Russia's energy giants signed a framework agreement on Thursday on the Russian gas supply to China, making a leap forward in the decadelong gas negotiations…

Russia's Energy Ministry Wants to Tap Welfare Fund for Projects – (The Wall Street Journal) Russia's Energy Ministry is proposing spending 100 billion rubles ($3 billion) from its oil windfall fund on heat and power generation projects in the country's far east, Russian newswires report…

Russian tax breaks now, tight oil boom later – (Reuters) Russia introduced tax breaks on production of hard-to-recover "tight" oil on Sept. 1, but the giveaway alone will not be enough just yet for the world's largest oil-producing nation to replicate the North American shale energy revolution…

Russia's Lavrov: EU energy market reforms hindering closer ties – (IStockAnalyst) Russia and the European Union can achieve closer energy ties but the EU's gas market reforms remain a roadblock, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says…

Russia's Gazprom, American Halliburton sign major energy deal – (Press TV) Russia’s state-owned energy giant Gazprom Neft has signed a major cooperation agreement with the huge American energy services corporation Halliburton to facilitate “technological exchanges” to boost production…

Turkey

Oil price, lira seen adding $2 billion to Turkey energy bill – (Daily News) A jump in global crude oil prices and a depreciating Turkish lira could add $2 billion to Turkey's already ballooning energy bill in the second half of the year, Turkish economic officials said on Wednesday…

Community Ownership of Renewable Energy in Turkey: Where to Start and How to Move Forward? – (Clean Technica) Representatives from public and private sectors, civil society and the academia on a global scale gathered in Istanbul between 27-29 June 2013 for the 3rd International 100% Renewable Energy Conference (IRENEC)…

Turkey Wants Share in New Adriatic Pipeline From Azerbaijan To Greece And Italy – (International Business Times) Turkey plans to buy a share of the Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project using its state pipeline company, Botas, the minister of energy and natural resources old the Sabah newspaper Monday…

Turkish energy minister says oil needs to fall around $10 a barrel –(Arab News) Global oil prices have risen to unsustainable levels and need to fall by around $10 a barrel for Turkey's oil demand to keep growing, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said…

Abu Dhabi energy group to delay $12bn Turkey investment – (FT) A $12bn deal between Turkey and the UAE for the development of a coal power project turned sour this week after Abu Dhabi’s national energy group, Taqa, said on Tuesday it would delay its investment until 2014 “due to other spending priorities.”...

Oil price rise costs Turkey $300 million: Energy minister – (Daily News) The recent jump in oil prices has already cost Turkey a $300 million, the country’s energy minister has said….

Vestas wins 52MW wind turbine order in Turkey – (EBR) Danish wind turbine producer Vestas Wind Systems has secured an order from Turkish steel pipe manufacturer Erciyas Celik Boru to supply wind turbines for the 52MW Kavakli RES wind power plant in the southern province of Balikesir, Turkey…

Turkey's $12bn coal plant project out in the cold – (Financial Times) However, with Turkey hoping to further liberalize its power sector with the launch of the planned new EPIAS energy exchange slated for later this year…

METKA announced the completion of power plant in Turkey – (Capital.gr) METKA announced the successful completion of the OMV Samsun 870 MW combined cycle power plant project in Turkey…

Turkish firm finds oil in southeastern well – (Daily News) A Turkish firm, İpek Doğal Enerji, has found oil at a field in the southeastern province of Batman…

Turkey's power capacity up by 4,100MW  -(Trade Arabia) Turkey has added 4,100 megawatts (MW) of new power generation capacity in the first eight months of this year, with a total investment of $6 billion, Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said in a statement on Thursday…

Ukraine

Kiev plan would have European energy companies store natgas in Ukraine – (Ukrain Journal) Ukraine seeks to let European energy companies store natural gas in its massive underground gas storage facilities as part of the country’s energy sector integration effort, Energy ands Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavytskiy said…

Ukrainian Gas Diversification: Shale And LNG Considerations – Analysis – (Eurasia review) Ukraine’s current energy situation stunts its economical and political development. While domestic production expertise is highly developed, the Eastern European country is completely dependent on importing energy products from Russia, placing unsustainable financial and political stresses on the country…

DTEK maintains output in challenging market – (StockMarketWire.com) DTEK maintained its strong production performance in the first half of the year despite challenges in the Ukrainian electricity market…

Ukraine will continue push for energy independence, says president – (Ukraine Journal) Ukraine will continue efforts to strengthen its energy independence, according to President Viktor Yanukovych…

125 Kw Biogas Plant Started Up At Pig Farm In Ukraine – (Oil and Gas Eurasia) The owners of a 10,000-head pig farm in Pidgorodnee village, Ukraine have re-built the existing slurry storage 2400 m3 into a biogas reactor, Zorg Biogas reported in a news release… 

Ukraine will boost coal output to 105 million mt, says president – (Ukraine Journal) Ukraine plans to boost its coal output to 105 million metric tons annually from about 86 million mt/year currently as part of strategy to improve energy independence, President Viktor Yanukovych said Friday…

Ukraine will work with U.S. to develop shale gas, says Azarov – (Ukraine Journal) Ukraine will work with the United States to improve its energy security by developing shale gas and natural gas deposits in the country, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said Friday…

Roundtable On "Ukrainian Power Network: Long Winter Nights Without Light?" – (Ukrainian News) A ROUNDTABLE on the theme "Ukrainian Power Network: Long Winter Nights Without Light?" will take place at the PRESS CENTER of the Ukrainian News information agency at 16:00 on September 4…

 

  

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.