March 3               Stakeholder Workshop Reporting on the Findings of the USAID/USEA Romania-Ukraine-Moldova (RUM) Transmission Interconnection Study Chisinau, Moldova

March 4               USAID/USEA Black Sea Regional Transmission Planning Project (BSTP) Working Group Meeting on Implementing the ENTSO-E Cost Benefit Assessment Methodology for Candidate Transmission Lines of Regional Significance Chisinau, Moldova

March 5               Joint Meeting: USAID/USEA Black Sea Regional Transmission Planning Project (BSTP) & USAID/NARUC Black Sea Regulatory Initiative (BSRI) on Incorporating Clean Energy Policy & Regulatory Drivers in Regional Transmission Planning Scenarios Chisinau, Moldova

March 6               USAID/USEA Armenia-Georgia Network Integration Working Group Meeting Chisinau, Moldova

April 23                USEA Annual Membership Meeting and Policy Forum Washington, DC

Albania

Albania and EBRD join forces to boost investment climate– (BalkanEU) Albania and the EBRD (photo) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at re-energising the country’s economic reform process. Under the agreement, the two parties will use a range of instruments to improve policy dialogue between the private sector and government, with the aim of fostering both domestic and foreign investment...

Energy-Poor Albania Wants Nuclear Power Plant, Neighboring Montenegro Opposes– (Oil Price) According to Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, Albania has postponed its intention to build a nuclear power plant (NPP) in the Shkoder region near Albania’s border with Montenegro, until all issues concerning its potential impact on the environment and territory are fully assessed…

 

Albania's Ayen AS Energji secures 128 mln euro loan from Turkey's Isbank – (SeeNews) Albanian energy firm Ayen AS Energji SHA has obtained a 128 million euro ($176 million) loan from Turkish lender Isbank for investments in hydropower projects, Ayen AS Energji’s Turkish parent company, Ayen Enerji [BIST:AYEN], said on Wednesday…

 

Trans Adriatic Pipeline will start the Booking Phase on 17 March 2014– (Balkans) In accordance with section 4.1.5 of the FJO, all participants in the EoI Phase, are allowed to participate in this first Booking Phase, subject to the capacity caps for the Italian, Greek and Albanian market set out in points 2, 6 and 9 of section 4.7 of the FJO…

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Bulgaria

Bulgaria: Electricity Suppliers in Dispute with Government over Electricity Price– (Energetika) Meanwhile, citizens organised by Nikolay Barekov of the political party Bulgaria Without Censorship, protested in front of the offices of CEZ in Sofia against the monopolies and the possible increase in energy...

 

Management of Bulgaria’s energy watchdog changed six times yet efficiency not improved: President – (Focus) ”Management of the [Bulgarian] State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC) was changed six times yet efficiency [in the energy sector] was not improved,” President Rosen Plevneliev said speaking after a meeting with representatives of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) in the frames of the Month of Political Consultations initiative, FOCUS News Agency reported…

 

Bulgaria citizens with lowest incomes to get extra energy aid– (Focus) Bulgarian government approved an additional single aid of BGN 30 for the people with lowest incomes, which will be allocated in the end of the heating season, the press office of the Bulgarian government announced…

 

Bulgarian Regulator to Introduce Retroactively a New Tax for Solar and Wind Centrals– (Energetika) This tariff should replace the temporary access fee introduced in September 2012 by the government. The temporary fee was required to be paid by all producers of renewable-energy sources (RES) according to the...

 

Bulgarian National Electricity Company Credit Rating Decreased due to Liabilities– (Energetika) The deteriorating credit performance of NEC last year is the main reason for the downgrade of Standard & Poor's. NEC debts have increased over the past year and now stand at about 1.3 billion euros. In its…

 

Bulgarian Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Credit Line is concluding its operations – (Balkans) After 10 years of successful activities the Bulgarian Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Credit Line (BEERECL) is concluding its operations. Under the facility more than €150 million in loans were provided to private businesses for nearly 300 projects which involved about €230 million investment costs…

 

Russia Tries to Revive Burgas-Alexandroupolis and NPP Belene Projects– (Energetika) According to Alexander Novak, the Russian Energy Minister, the construction of the pipeline would be discussed at the meetings scheduled for 7 and 8 of April of the Russian-Bulgarian Intergovernmental Commission…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia Herzegovina: Hyrdo Power gets mandate to study mini hydro power construction– (Balkans) The Assembly of the Municipality of Istocna Ilidza Bosnia Herzegovina unanimously adopted a decision on the signing of an Agreement of Cooperation with the English company ''Hydro Power Energy PLC'', according to which in the period to come it will be done a Study on the construction of mini hydro power plants on the river Kasindolka…

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Croatia

Croatia Readies Oil and Gas Exploration Tender for April– (Energetika) “There will be altogether 29 exploration areas. Eight of them are located in the northern Adriatic and 21 in the central and southern Adriatic. The blocks will have a size varying at between 1000 and 1600…

Croatia Invites Bidders for Adriatic Oil and Gas – (Balkan Insight) The Economy Minister, Ivan Vrdoljak, on Monday announced a public tender for a concession to explore Croatia’s Adriatic coast for oil and gas. In April, the ministry will offer investors 29 sections of the Adriatic…

Energy forum discusses oil, gas exploration in Adriatic – (Dalje) An upcoming invitation to tender for the exploration of oil and gas fields in the Adriatic Sea was the main topic on the first day of the Energy Investment Forum in Zagreb on Wednesday, organised by the Poslovni Dnevnik business newspaper. The panel was called "Hunt for buried treasure begins"…

Erste Bank Croatia joins energy efficiency drive – (PennEnergy) The EBRD is providing a €10 million loan to Erste Bank Croatia for on-lending to private companies and municipalities for investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The loan comes under the Western Balkans Sustainable Energy Efficiency Facility...

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Kosovo

Cooperation of transmission system operators of Serbia and Kosovo– (Energetika) Dirk Buschle, Deputy Director of SEE Energy Community Secretariat told Beta agency that Serbian and Kosovar transmission system operators, that is Elektromreža Srbije (EMS) and KOSTT, respectively, had recently...

Serbia, Kosovo electricity TSOs ink framework pact - Energy Community– (SEE News) Serbian state-owned power grid operator Elektromreze Srbije (EMS) and its Kosovar counterpart KOSTT have signed their first ever agreement governing bilateral relations, the Energy Community, a Vienna-based international energy policy organization, said…

Macedonia

Macedonia and Serbia to develop closer cooperation– (MINA) Macedonia and Serbia share many common issues, including EU prospects, it was concluded Friday in Belgrade by the foreign ministers of Serbia and Macedonia - Ivan Mrkic and Nikola Poposki - announcing closer cooperation in the future.  "We hope that it will be possible to enhance cooperation in the field of railway and road infrastructure and in the energy sector," said Poposki…

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Montenegro

Republika Srpska to Compensate Montenegro for Electricity Production– (Energetika) “The compensation will not be fixed, but will depend on an annual production of electricity,” Veselin Grbović, the Nikšić mayor, was quoted as saying to the Dan daily published in Montenegro. Grbović said that…

Montenegro and Morgan Stanley discuss financing of infrastructure and energy projects– (Balkans) Montenegro's Finance Minister Radoje Žugić  the director of Morgan Stanley Bank, Vladimir Krekhovetskyy's, executive director Reinhold Knapp-om-om, and Vice President and Financial Institutions, Vladimir Maodus, held a meeting at Podgorica the Capital city of Monetnegro…

Montenegro smart meters to go online by May 2014 – (Metering) Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) began the roll-out of an advanced metering system in December 2011, a project worth €43.5 million.  By the end of 2013, 150,000 households had smart meters. Nearly half of all consumers will have become part of the remote meter reading and smart meter manegement system by May 2014, the utility said…

 

Romania

Romania's construction cost for 1MW in solar and wind amounts between EUR 1.5 – 1.6 million – (Balkans) Romania wind projects are currently generating losses for investors after the government rescheduled the issuance of some green certificates last summer, said on Tuesday Razvan Grecu, vice president strategy at France’s utility GDF Suez, during a roundtable on transparency and predictability in policy-making, organized by the Foreign Investors’ Council (FIC), the business advocacy group…

 

Romania to join CEE market coupling in Q4 2014– (Energetika) According to trading sources, as a result of Romania’s participation in the project, the fee for exporting power from the country might affect its prices and bring them near to those of the other countries...

 

Romania's Transelectrica needs to invest over EUR 1 billion in the grid– (Balkans) Romania's Transelectrica needs to invest over EUR 1 billion in the grid, to enhance interconnections, remove backlogs and overhaul aging assets, said on Thursday Carmen Neagu, member in the supervisory board of the grid operator, reports Agerpres newswire…

 

Romanian Transelectrica’s network upgrade requires investments of EUR 1 bln – (Romania-Insider) Network development projects for Romanian electricity transport operator Transelectrica require total investments of EUR 1 billion, according to Carmen Neagu, member of the company’s Supervisory Board…

 

Surprise call from Bucharest Appeal Court: Romania’s Hidroelectrica back to insolvency after traders’ appeal, could endanger planned IPO, says former board member– (Romania-Insider) Romania’s largest energy production company Hidroelectrica has re-entered insolvency, half a year after exiting it, as the Bucharest Court of Appeal approved the appeals of several traders whose contracts with the state firm had been canceled...

 

National gas consumption down by 8% in Romania, while imports halved in 2013 – (Romania-Insider) The estimated national consumption of natural gas dropped by over 8 percent in Romania last year, while imports halved, according to Mariana Gheorghe, CEO of oil and gas company Petrom. The negative results were mainly triggered by the reduced industrial demand…

 

Romanian plants that receive green certificate will be able to switch to the tariff-based system – (Balkans) Romania's feed-in tariff scheme for small renewable projects in Romania could be enforced starting this summer, pending final approval on the regulated tariffs from the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, said on Thursday, Zoltan Nagy-Bege, ANRE board member, reports Agerpres newswire…

 

Energiaprima plans further solar farm investments in Romania – (Romania-Insider) Italian company Energiaprima, which has already invested some EUR 105 million in solar projects in Romania, plans to invest a further EUR 300 million in this sector of the country…

 

Serbia

Serbian households to select energy supplier from mid-2014– (Energetika) Consumers will acquire the right to choose their supplier based on all information they manage to gather. By doing so, they will also agree to assume certain risks and/or rights, as stipulated in the Consumer…

 

Serbia Failed to Comply with Gas Unbundling Rules– (Energetika) The implementation deadline of the Directive 2003/55/EC concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas expired already on 1 July 2007. On the basis of this directive Serbia should separate…

 

Chinese loan for new Kostolac thermal unit to be approved shortly– (Energetika) Phase II of the package of Kostolac projects comprises construction of a new unit in the Thermal Power Plant Kostolac B, and an expansion of production facilities in the open-pit mine Drmno.“We have started on…

 

Serbia’s energy market to open up by mid-2014 – (Metering) Consumers in Serbia, in South East Europe, can start choosing their energy supplier six months ahead of the deadline for the market to open up, according to energy minister Zorana Mihajlović…

 

Europe rules Serbia is breaking gas pipeline rules – (UPI) Serbia hasn't taken the steps necessary to keep natural gas suppliers out of the pipeline transit sector, a European regulator said…

 

Serbia failed to comply with gas unbundling rules – EEC– (inSerbia) The Energy Community Secretariat has today submitted a Reasoned Opinion in Case ECS-9/13 against Serbia, for its failure to comply with gas unbundling rules. Having taken into account the Government’s reply to the Opening Letter, the Secretariat maintains its findings made therein. In the Reasoned Opinion, it reiterates its view that Serbia has failed to comply with its obligations under the Energy Community Treaty…

 

Armenia

Armenia can export energy to Turkey: Deputy Minister– (ArmenPress) The Republic of Armenia can export 1 billion kilowatt/hour of electricity annually to Turkey.  The Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Armenia…

 

Deputy minister of energy dismissed – (Aysor) By a decision of Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Hovsep Shahinian has been relived of his post at his request, the press office of the government reported…

 

Deputy energy minister relieved of duties – (ArmeniaNow) Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Hovsep Shahinyan has been relieved of his duties. According to the official government website, the decision was made by Prime Minister Tigran Minister based on Shahinyan’s own application…

 

Energy Minister calls deputies not to hinder talk with Rosneft– (ArmenPress) the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Armenia Armen Movsisyan does not consider the creation of the temporary commission on Nairit Plant expedient at this moment…

 

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan to manage energy projects more effectively– (Azernews) Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on February 25 on the establishment of a closed joint-stock company (CJSC) for effective management of energy projects.  The decree concerns projects related to the second stage development of giant Shah Deniz field and expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline, Trans-Anatolian (TANAP) Pipeline, and the Trans-Adriatic (TAP) pipeline…

 

Energy Ministry: Azerbaijan’s energy system capacity rises up to 7,000 MW– (ABC.AZ) In Azerbaijan, there is no problem with the power supply and some interruptions are linked with technical issues.  At today’s meeting of the Caspian -European Club (CEIBC) Energy Minister Natig Aliyev has stated that Azerbaijan’s energy system capacity exceeds the actual demand by 1,000-1,500 MW…

 

Ministry of Energy: fuel & energy balance of Azerbaijan for 2014 developed – (ABC.AZ) The Ministry of Energy has announced that the fuel and energy balance of Azerbaijan for 2014 has been developed.  Energy Minister Natig Aliyev stated about this at a meeting of the Caspian-European Club (CEIBC), indicating that the main task is now to stabilize oil production…

 

Minister: “Azerbaijan intends to increase energy production by 2020” – (APA) According to him, Azerbaijan plans to increase energy production by 2020: “Firstly, Azerbaijan develops program on socio-economic development of the regions. In this regard, the industry is planned to be developed in all cities and regions…

 

Total capacity of Azerbaijan's energy power supply exceeds 7000 MW – (Trend) Azerbaijan's energy output exceeded 7000 megawatts in 2013, the Azerbaijani Energy Ministry Natig Aliyev told journalists ahead of the meeting with the…

 

Over 80 percent of Azerbaijan's exports to Georgia fell to gas in January – (Trend) Georgia imported 195.79 million tons of natural gas in oil equivalent to the sum of $40.31 million from Azerbaijan in January 2014, the Georgian National…

 

Azerbaijan to produce 43m tons of oil this year – (NewsAZ) Azerbaijani Energy Minister Natig Aliyev has said the country plans to produce 43 million tons of oil in 2014, AzerTAc reports. “Our main goal is to maintain the production volume at the level of 40-45 million tons," said the Minister, adding "necessary work is being carried out"…

 

Azerbaijan decreases electricity export in Jan. – (Trend) Azerbaijan exported over 595.67 million kilowatt hours of electricity according to a customs declaration in 2013 compared to 482.7 million kilowatt hours in 2012…

 

Shimal power plant will strengthen energy security of Baku and surrounding regions– (Trend) The construction of the second combined-cycle unit at the Shimal power plant in Baku is on schedule, Azerenergy JSC (production and distribution of electricity in Azerbaijan) said on Feb.24…

 

Georgia

EU, Georgia launch talks on energy ties– (Reuters) The European Commission launched negotiations on Thursday to strengthen energy links with Georgia as part of efforts to bind the former Soviet state closer to the European Union and weaken its bonds with Russia…

 

EU launches energy talks with Georgia– (Turkish Weekly) The European Commission launched negotiations on Thursday to strengthen energy links with Georgia as part of efforts to bind the former Soviet state closer to the European Union and weaken its bonds with Russia…

 

Alstom to equip Shuakhevi hydropower plant in Georgia – (Penn Energy) Alstom led consortium1  has been awarded a contract worth around €30 million to equip the 2 x 89.3 MW Shuakhevi hydropower plant located in Georgia. Alstom’s share of the contract is worth around €20 million Euros…

 

Alstom to equip Shuakhevi hydro project, Georgia– (Water Power) A consortium led by Alstom has won a €30 million contract to supply equipment for the 178.6MW Shuakhevi hydropower plant in Georgia.  As part of the order, Alstom is to supply electro-mechanical equipment worth around €20 million including two Francis turbines (capacity: 89.3 MW, operating speed 600 rpm), governors and spherical type main inlet valves…

 

EU and Georgia open talks on energy ties – (Energy Live News) The European Commission launched negotiations yesterday to strengthen energy links with Georgia and for the nation to join the EU’s Energy Community…

 

Georgia tilts energy sector toward European Union – (UPI) European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger said stronger links with Georgia, a former Soviet republic, would help build a better energy community…

 

Tbilisi to host “The Third Industrial Revolution and new energy regime” conference– (Trend) The International Center on Conflict and Negotiation (ICCN), the Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy- Georgia, Georgian school of Greens Movements and leaders will hold a conference on the theme "The Third Industrial Revolution and new energy regime" at 12:00 am on Feb. 24...

 

Moldova

Secretariat concerned about the independence of the regulatory authority in Moldova– (Interlic) The Secretariat of the Energy Community has serious concerns about the continued prosectution of Victor Parlicov, Director General of the national energy regulator of Moldova, ANRE.  Mr. Parlicov had been removed from office for the first time in July 2013 by the Parliament of Moldova on political grounds.  Already then, the Secretariat had expressed its concern in a letter to the decision-makers in the country and in the European Union.  The dismissal was subsequently declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court...

 

Turkey

Turkey's babysteps in nuclear power– (Trend) Turkey is in the process of becoming a nuclear power as plans for two nuclear power stations in the next ten years are underway, Turkey's Deputy Energy Minister Murat Mercan has said Anadolu Agency reported...

 

BMI forecasts Turkey's power sector generation growth at 5.6% in 2014– (Balkans) Business Monitor International: "Turkey Power Report Q2 2014" states that "Despite sizeable economic and political headwinds that have the potential to sap some of Turkey's impressive economic momentum, the power sector continues to attract interest from a host of international companies, as the country moves to position itself as an energy hub in the south-east Mediterranean region...

 

Turkey Power Report Q2 2014 - New Market Study Published– (ClickPress)  Despite sizeable economic and political headwinds that have the potential to sap some of Turkey's impressive economic momentum, the power sector continues to attract interest from a host of international companies, as the country moves to position itself as the energy hub in the south-east Mediterranean region... 

 

Turkey plans 120,000 MW of installed capacity in 2023– (Balkans)  The race for the development of two large coal fields in Turkey's Kahramanmaras and Konya provinces is nearing the finish line, according to sources familiar with the matter at the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources...

 

Turkey's drought fuels fears– (Balkans) High temperatures and a lack of rain are fueling fears over agriculatural production and energy prices, as Western and Central Anatolia experience on e fothe driest winters in recent years.  Water levels in dams and humidity levels, in Turkey, have dropped to alarming levels, with temperature across Turkey hovering around 10 degrees Celsius above the average and rain and snowfall levels remaining far below seasonal averages...

 

Turkey: drought fuels fears over energy, food price rises– (Ansamed) High temperatures and a lack of rain are fueling fears over agriculatural production and energy prices, as Western and Central Anatolia experience one of the driest winters in recent years, as daily Hurriyet reports... 

 

Turkish Dam Will Submerge 12,000-Year-Old City– (National Geographic)  Scheduled for completion in 2014, Turkey's Ilisu Dam will generate nearly 2 percent of the country's electricity.  It will also submerge dozens of towns on the Tigris River, including 12,000-year-old Hasankeyf.  The dam also threatens to dry up Iraq's Mesopotamian marshes some 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) downstream, affecting the people and wildlife who depend on the marshes for survival...

 

Ukraine

Will Russian reaction to Ukraine open European energy opportunity – (Futures) Russia may have won the most metals in the Olympics but is losing the battle in influencing the future of the Ukraine. Geopolitical factors are heating up around the globe and so is the petroleum complex and precious metals. Ukraine, Libya, Venezuela and the south Sudan are all hotspots with the most dramatic events taking place in the Ukraine…

Gas Stores Seen Cushioning EU From Ukraine Supply Risk – (Bloomberg) Europe’s biggest stockpiles of natural gas since at least 2009 are damping the threat of any potential disruptions in supplies from Ukraine, the main transit route of Russian fuel to consumers in the west…

Ukraine's Maidan is the struggle for gas market – (Pravda) The conflict in Ukraine is a war for the redistribution of the gas market that brings billions in profits. This is not a Russian-Ukrainian conflict, but a Russian-European conflict. The European Union has missed the moment when it could have won over Viktor Yanukovych, economist Said Gafurov said in a live broadcast of Pravda.Ru…

Ukraine violence troubles European energy body – (UPI) The European Energy Community said it was lending its hand to Ukraine to help resolve the country's political crisis in a peaceful way…

Ukraine cut Feb gas imports from Russia due to weather, gas payment issues-Tass – (Reuters) Ukraine cut gas imports from Russia in February because of mild weather and gas payment issues, Eduard Stavytsky, Ukraine's acting energy minister, was quoted as saying by Russia's Itar-Tass news agency on Wednesday…

Ukraine hopes Russian gas price won't change – (Aysor) Ukraine hopes that the price it pays for Russian natural gas will remain unchanged despite the ouster of pro-Russia President Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine’s acting energy minister told Reuters on Monday, according to RIA Novosti…

Gazprom says gas still flowing “in full” through Ukraine – (Energy Live News) Russian state energy firm Gazprom today said gas exports from Russia to Europe through Ukraine are being “pumped in full”, reported Reuters...

Can Ukraine Find Freedom in Shale Gas? – (Barron’s) Dramatic, fast-moving political events over the weekend saw what amounts to a revolution in Ukraine, with scenes reminiscent of Egypt in 2011. Weeks of protests in Kiev, which had turned violent in recent weeks, culminated in the impeachment of President Viktor Yanukovych, his flight from the capital to an undisclosed location, and the appointment of an opposition figure as acting president to run the government until early elections can be held in May…

 

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.