March 19-20       Southeast Europe Electricity Market Capacity Building Workshop for KEK Board of Directors Pristina, Kosovo

 

April 23                USEA Board of Directors Meeting Washington, DC

 

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

 

Albania

Energy Community Electricity DSOs agree to establish a coordination platform– (Energy Community) Energy Community Distribution System Operators (DSOs) for electricity agreed to establish a coordination platform technically supported by the Energy Community Secretariat at their meeting on 12 March in Vienna. The coordination platform will be open to all interested DSOs and in particular also to DSOs of neighbouring EU member countries…

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Bulgaria

Bulgaria: New RES Fee Creates Confusion in Energy Sector; Green Plants Forced to Overpay VAT – (Energetika) However, it already takes from the energy producers’ profits. Furthermore, due to the tax laws, the burden on the producers can be even greater. The first summary results on the charge will be announced by mid…

 

Bulgaria's EDCs: We Are Concerned About the Energy Sector – (Novinite) Two of three of Bulgaria's electricity distribution companies (EDCs), EVN and CEZ, expressed their concern with the situation with the country's energy sectors.  The two, plus Energo-Pro, are threatened with losing their licenses, unless they pay to Bulgaria's National Electricity Company (NEK) BGN 318 M by the end of today…

 

Minister Dragomir Stoynev Discusses Nationalisation of EDCs in Case of Revocation of Their Licenses – (Energetika) In fact, the change of ownership will not solve any of the problems in the sector. The dispute over the obligations between the EDCs and the National Electric Company (NEC) is commercial and it is not a reason…

 

Bulgaria Watchdog to Decide on Suspending Power Distributors' Permits –  (Novinite) Bulgaria's State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation is to decide Wednesday on a procedure for the termination of the licenses of the three power distributors. The 3-day deadline set by Economy and Energy Minister Dragomir…

 

Bulgaria threatens to strip foreign power companies of their licenses – (Reuters) Bulgaria may strip foreign-owned power distributors of their operating licences if they fail to pay their dues to indebted state public power provider NEK, the energy minister said on Sunday…

 

Bulgaria energy watchdog will sit Wednesday on further measures concerning EDCs (ROUNDUP) – (Focus)  If the three electricity distribution companies (EDC) do not pay their arrears to the National Electric Company (NEC) by the end of the day, the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC) will meet tomorrow to take further action, as one of them is the withdrawal of the license of the companies…

 

Electricity Price Hike 'Possible', Says Bulgarian Energy Watchdog – (Novinite) Prices of electricity might go up if power distributors can prove their expenses have increased. Boyan Boev, chief of Bulgaria's State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (known as DKEVR), has made these comments ahead of the watchdog's…

 

UPDATE 1-Bulgaria gives ultimatum to power distributors over licences – (Reuters) Bulgaria has given three foreign-owned energy distributors until Wednesday to pay back money it says they owe to state power provider NEK or risk losing their licences, escalating a standoff that could hurt the country's investment climate…

 

Bulgarian Photovoltaic Association Proposes Energy Board – (Novinite) The Bulgarian Photovoltaic Association (BPVA) has proposed the establishment of an energy board for the financial stabilization and restructuring of the energy sector. Meglena Rusenova, BPVA Chair, explained Monday that the proposal had been triggered by the processes taking place in the energy sector over the past few days…

 

Bulgarian Energy Minister holds a press conference in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv (ROUNDUP) – (Focus) “Repayment term of Energy Distributing Companies (EDCs) to the National Electric Company (NEC) expires tomorrow. Their obligations to the state company are around BGN 320 million. If the three EDCs do not pay their debts to the NEC and lead to revocation of their licenses, the state can acquire back the three licenses,” Bulgarian Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev said…

 

Bulgaria's Energy Watchdog to Compensate Green Energy Producers – (Novinite) State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation has approved a mechanism to compensate green energy producers.The decision comes after a temporary pricing regime for their access to the country's energy grid was removed…

 

Power Distributors in Bulgaria Threatened with Nationalization – (Novinite) Bulgarian Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev has warned power distributors that they may face nationalization unless they pay debts to the National Electric Company (NEK). Speaking Monday in Plovdiv, Stoynev noted that CEZ, EVN and Energo-Pro…

 

Power Distributors in Bulgaria Warned to Pay National Power Co ASAP – (Novinite) Power distributors must pay back BGN 318 M to Bulgaria's National Electric Company by Tuesday or face a license termination procedure and referral to the prosecuting authority. Speaking Sunday during a seminar of ruling…

 

Bulgaria’s success in implementing energy efficiency credit lines is a model – (Publics) If we go back ten years, which is quite a long time, the goal at that time when we started was to try to deal with the energy intensity in Bulgaria which was obviously rather high and thereby presented a lot of opportunities for improvement…

 

Bulgaria is Europe's champion in wasting electric power – (Standart) "The State Commission of Energy and Water Regulation has to become an independent regulations authority. These long-running intentions could become reality if amendments on the Act on Energy were adopted. Bulgaria is Europe's…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Setback in the realization of the South Stream gas pipeline leg through Republika Srpska – (Energetika) “Neither the financial structure of the project nor its completion was ever questioned. Yet problems related to its implementation remain, as its realization requires an approval from the Federation of Bosnia…

 

BiH: New Investment in Brod Refinery Announced – (Energetika) According to Dodik, new investment of Russia’s Zarubezhneft in Republika Srpska is the best way to dismiss the attempts to render the modernisation of the oil industry as a project that yields no result…

Croatia

Croatia Talks to Russians About INA, But No Sale Envisaged– (Energetika) “We had a meeting with Rosneft representatives and today with representatives of Gazpromneft. We exchanged information, talked about gas business and energy policy in the region, we informed them on our strategy…

 

US diplomats urge MOL and Croatia to resolve dispute over INA– (Real Deal) Two US State Department officials have visited Zagreb and Budapest in an effort to persuade theCroatian government and MOL to resolve their disagreements over Croatian energy company INA, according to reports…

 

200 European cities and regions call for more ambitious EU climate and energy targets – (ETuroNews) At a crucial time for European climate policy, 200 European cities and regions are backing a call for action supporting more ambitious and binding climate and energy targets, ensuring that future generations are safeguarded against the worst effects of climate change…

 

Croatian cities to join in "Earth Hour 2014" on 29 March – (Dalje) The Croatian capital of Zagreb and many other Croatian towns and cities will join in the "Earth Hour 2014" campaign that will be held on 29 March from 2030 to 2130 hrs with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of preserving the environment…

Kosovo

Energy Community Secretariat hosts 2nd Vienna Forum on European Energy Law – (Energy Community) The 2nd Vienna Forum on European Energy Law took place at the premises of the Energy Community Secretariat on 14 March. Over 140 experts from energy companies, regulators, governments, academia and legal firms participated in the event…

Kosovo Ends the 50-Year-Old Practice of Open Ash Dumping – (The World Bank) The residents in the cities and communities around Kosovo A, the country’s 50-year-old coal-fired power station, will no longer be exposed to periodic clouds of fine ash particles after the practice of open dry-ash dumping—at an estimated rate of more than one-half a million tons a year—has now stopped for good…

Macedonia

London School of Economics: Bulgaria, Macedonia and Romania would be hardest hit by a suspension of Russian gas exports through Ukraine Копирано от standartnews.com – (Standart) One of the great concerns for EU states over the on-going situation in Crimea is their reliance on Russian gas to meet their energy demands, with around 60 per cent of these imports being delivered through pipelines in Ukraine…

 

Gazprom Officials to Discuss 'Macedonian' South Stream Section – (Novinite) Experts from Russian state-owned Gazprom are to visit Macedonia's capital Skopje for talks over the construction of a South Stream gas pipeline section…

Montenegro

Montenegro: Morača Hydro Power Plants Attract No Interest – (Energetika) The Montenegrin economy ministry has received no requests for clarification of the tender specifications. According to the existing technical specifications, the system of hydro power plants on the river Morač…

Romania

Romanian electricity distributor Transelectrica issues 10 mln green certificates for renewable energy producers in 2013 – (Romania-Insider) Romanian state – owned electricity distribution company Transelectrica issued 10.1 million green certificates last year to renewable energy producers. Half of these were already traded on the power exchange market OPCPOM, which has a special platform for trading green certificates…

 

Transelectrica issued 10.1 million green certificates for the production of green energy in 2013 – (The Diplomat) Transelectrica issued 10.1 million green certificates for the production of green energy in 2013, according to data published on OPCOM, the power energy exchange in Romania. Out of this amount, some 5.1 million have already been traded on the cenrralized market for green certificates within OPCOM…

 

Romanian Green Certificates moves forward – (Balkans) Romania has implemented a scheme to support the production of green energy in the medium and long term and facilitate its entry on the electricity market. Green certificates are one way of promoting this type of energy. Depending on the type of green energy and technology used, producers are awarded a number of certificates for every megawatt of green energy produced…

 

Romanian President passes green certificates law. But does it solve green certificates issue raised by industrial producers? – (Romania-Insider) Romanian President Traian Basescu announced on Thursday evening (March 13) that he had signed the law approving the government’s emergency ordinance to cut the number of green certificates, adding that he expects to see lower electricity prices…

 

Romanian state – owned electricity distribution company Transelectrica issued 10.1 million green certificates last year to renewable energy producers. Half of these were already traded on the power exchange market OPCPOM, which has a special platform for trading green certificates. – (Romania-Insider) Romanian state-owned company Nuclearelectrica, which runs the Cernavoda nuclear power plant, intends to sell 2.3 TWh of electricity – almost a quarter of the estimated production for this year, for RON 373.7 million (some EUR 80 million), on the local power exchange OPCOM…

 

Romania’s Hidroelectrica sells five times less energy on power exchange than planned – (Romania-Insider) Romanian state-owned energy producer Hidroelectrica sold energy worth some RON 13.5 million (EUR 3 million) on the local power exchange OPCOM, during bids organized on March 11 and March 12, well below the targeted amount of EUR 15 million…

 

Romania has energy surplus, export crucial to capitalizing on resource – (ACT Media) Romania has an energy surplus and the export is crucial to capitalizing on this resource and that is why there is need to continue the programme for the development of the linkages, Economy Minister Constantin Nita said…

 

ANRE gives Ok for two new wind parks in Romania – (The Diplomat) According to Zoltan Nagy, member on the Board of the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE), the approved and licensed capacities of all renewable energy facilities doubled at the end of 2013, compared with 2012…

 

Romania may lose EUR 6.3 billion in GDP and over half a million jobs if gas prices are aligned with the EU average – (Balkans) The country runs the risk of losing EUR 6.3 billion in GDP and over half a million jobs if the gas prices for industry are aligned with the EU average by the end of this year, says a Deloitte report commissioned by CONPIROM, the local employers association comprising representatives from the industry, agriculture, constructions, and services sectors in Romania…

 

Romanian President: I’ve asked Chevron to exercise rights in a friendly manner to the local community – (Romanian-Insider) Romanian President Traian Basescu recently said that he requested oil and gas company Chevron to exercise the rights given by the licenses issued by the Government, in a friendly manner to the local communities…

 

What will be the impact of Ukraine crisis on Romanian oil and gas companies- RBI – (Balkans) As the Ukrainian conflict unfolds, with EU and US considering sanctions to be applied to Russia and the disputed referendum scheduled for coming Sunday, we decided to look into the impact of an eventual escalation of conflict on the fundamentals of local oil&gas companies...

Serbia

Final Agreement on Štavalj Thermal Power Plant Expected Shortly – (Energetika) A number of potential investors have been mentioned in public so far, including some from Bulgaria, China, and the Czech Republic.The memorandum will be signed not in the coming days, but by the new government…

 

Cooperation of Slovenia and Serbia in Renewables Sector – (Energetika) “Our Action Plan for Renewable Energy – Serbia is the only country in South East Europe which has one – envisages about EUR 2 billion investment in 1,092 MW of renewable energy in Serbia by 2020…

 

Kula loan helps Serbia into wind age – (ReCharge) Italian group Fintel Energia has received a €14.15m ($19.66m) loan from ERSTE Bank for the construction of a 9.9MW wind farm in northern Serbia – which it says is on course to become the first operating in the country…

Armenia

Armenia’s PSRC assigns Yerevan thermal power plant to handle seasonal electricity swaps with Iran  – (ARKA) Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC ) has  assigned today the Yerevan Thermal Power Plant (TPP) to handle seasonal electricity swaps with neighboring Iran…

 

Gazprom’s Power Play in Armenia– (Eurasianet) Gazprom, the Russian energy goliath, reportedly continues its shopping spree in Armenia; this time around, setting its eyes on the Caucasus country's power-distribution grid. Such a buy would get Gazprom closer to becoming the main source of light and heat in Armenia, second only to the sun…

 

Former Yerevan mayor denounces government for selling major hydropower plant to US-based company – (ARKA) A former Yerevan mayor Vahagn Khachatryan from the opposition Armenian National Movement has denounced today the Armenian government for selling a major hydropower plant to a US-based company…

 

Govt. approves $2-mln Iranian grant for gas supply to Armenian towns – (PanArmenian) The government of Armenia approved Iranian donation program to extend $2 million for development of gas infrastructure in border towns of Meghri and Agarak. In turn, Armenia will provide $500 thousand in abolished taxes and duties for imported equipment and pipes. The relevant memorandum of understanding was inked during the visit of Iranian President to Armenia in 2011…

 

Yerevan assumes mutual energy implementation with Iran – (ArmenPress) The Public Services Regulatory Commission of the Republic of Armenia handed over the function of the mutual implementation between Armenia and Iran to the Yerevan Thermal Power Plant CJSC…

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan decreases electricity export in Jan.-Feb. – (Trend) Azerbaijan exported 155.35 million kilowatt hours of electricity in Jan.-Feb. 2014 according to a customs declaration compared to 232.96 million kilowatt hours in Jan.-Feb. 2013, the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee reported on March 15…

 

Power export from Azerbaijan increased more than 10-fold in February – (ABC.AZ) Azerbaijan increased the export of electric power for February more than 10-fold against January. Nevertheless, for Jan-Feb power export ensured only 0.19% of export revenue for the country ($3.778 bn)…

 

Azerbaijani thermal power plants increase production of electricity – (Trend) Some 4.03 billion kilowatt / hours of electricity (commodity) were generated in Azerbaijan in January-February which is 4.3 percent more than in the same period…

 

Azerbaijan creates new structure for effective management of energy projects – (Trend) A Closed Joint-Stock Company (CJSC) for the effective management of projects comprising Shah Deniz and delivery of gas to Europe will be officially registered in Azerbaijan in the near future, SOCAR (the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) Vice-President for Economic Affairs Suleyman Gasimov told Trend on March 17…

 

Azerbaijan endorses Rules of raising energy efficiency and energy savings – (ABC.AZ) By Decision #73 from 11 March Azerbaijan’s Cabinet Ministers approved the Rules of energy efficiency of construction projects and energy savings…

 

Azerbaijan increases gas transportation via main pipelines – (NewsAZ) State Statistical Committee told APA-Economics that ¾ of transportation (5.6 mln tonnes) has been carried out via Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipelines…

 

Declaration of First Azerbaijani Environment Forum adopted – (Trend) The declaration of the First Azerbaijani Environment Forum has been adopted. The forum was held on March 18 in Baku at the initiative and with organization of IDEA (International Dialogue for Environmental Action) Public Union headed by the Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Leyla Aliyeva…

Georgia

Hydropower struggle spreads to Adjara – (Georgia Today) Last weekend saw violent clashes between police and local protestors in the Adjarian village of Ghurta as construction work began on a hydro power station in the area. On Saturday, up to 700 protestors from Ghurta and several neighboring villages in Adjara’s Khulo region blocked a main road to prevent vehicles from reaching the planned construction site…

 

A deep analysis over the Turkey-Azerbaijan-Georgia Triangle – (Balkans) On February 19, 2014, the Third Session of the Trilateral Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey was held in Ganja (northwest Azerbaijan). After their ministerialthe first trilateral meeting following last year's presidential elections in Azerbaijan and Georgiathe three sides adopted the Ganja Declaration…

 

Azerbaijan ranks second among oil product importers in Georgia – (Trend) The imports of petroleum products to Georgia in February 2014 increased by 29,100 tons to 68,200 tons compared to January 2014. Some 30,200 tons of petrol…

 

 Kakheti region to get natural gas supply in fall – (Georgia Today) JSC Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation have started to implement a 25km trunk pipeline system for Rustavi-Sagarejo. The works are being carried out by Komportmshen XXI Ltd, the winner of the tender announced in August, 2013…

Moldova

Local Information Event for Moldova, 19 March 2014, Chisinau – (Inogate) INOGATE Local Information Event for Moldova  titled “EU INOGATE Programme: Energy Cooperation Achievements in Moldova so far and  the way forward in 2014” will take place on 19 March 2014, in Chisinau, Moldova.  The event aims to  inform the participating Moldovan stakeholders in the energy sector  on the state of play of the EU-Moldova energy cooperation within the framework of the INOGATE programme in the field of electricity,  gas and sustainable energy…

 

National Contest MOLDOVA ECO-ENERGETICA, 2014 Edition, has been launched – (AEE) The Energy Efficiency Agency is pleased to announce the launch of the largest national competition for rewarding the successful initiatives in the area of energy efficiency and exploitation of renewable energy sources: MOLDOVA ECO-ENERGETICA Contest, 2014 Edition…

Turkey

Electricity consumption in Turkey soars 78 pct over decade – (Daily News) The comparison of TEİAŞ data that shows energy consumption in Turkey and International Energy Agency data reveal Istanbul’s electricity consumption is higher than some OECD countries. DHA photo Turkey has seen its electricity consumption rise by 78 percent over the past 10 years, recently announced data has shown, confirming the country’s desperate search for new energy sources is paramount to reduce its staggering energy bill…

 

Turkey's energy needs limit diplomatic efforts for Crimea – (Today’s Zaman) Turkey's heavy dependence on Russian energy resources stands as one of the main factors that reduce room for diplomatic maneuvering over the crisis in Crimea, which is home to Muslim Turkic Tatars, who suffered under Russian control for centuries…

 

Turkish people pay the least for oil and gas in Europe – (Turkish Weekly) Turkey does not import the cheapest natural gas among the 28 members of the EU, however we do sell the cheapest gas, Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said on Monday…

 

Turkey posts 78% rise in power output over last decade – (Gas to Power Journal) Surging energy demand in Turkey saw electricity production reach a new record high of 245 TWh last year, following a 78% rise over the past decade, data from the Turkish Electricity Transmission Company (TEİAŞ) shows. “Turkey has doubled its electricity consumption since 2002. We will nearly double our electricity consumption to 450 TWh by 2023,” the Turkish Energy Minister, Taner Yıldız said…

 

Turkey´s electricity consumption increased by 78 percent in 10 years – (Balkans) Turkey´s electricity consumption increased by 78 percent reaching 235 billion kilowatt hour (kWs) in the last year from 140 billion kWh in 2003.  Turkey’s Energy Minister Taner Yildiz told Anadolu Agency that electricity consumption has been increasing consistently with the improvement of welfare in the country…

 

Turkey’s electricity consumption soars – (World Bulletin) Turkey´s electricity consumption increased by 78 percent reaching 235 billion kilowatt hour (kWs) in the last year from 140 billion kWh in 2003.  Turkey’s Energy Minister Taner Yildiz told Anadolu Agency that electricity consumption has been increasing consistently with the improvement of welfare in the country…

 

Danish minister: We can help Turkey reduce energy dependency – (Turkish Press) Turkish firms from the renewable energy sector are accompanying Turkish President Abdullah Gul on his trip to Denmark to investigate business opportunities between the two countries' in renewable energy with the aim of reducing Turkey's dependency on energy imports…

 

Turkish wind energy investors face construction deadline – (Turkish Press) Investment licenses for firms wanting to enter the wind energy market will be decertified by Turkey's market regulator unless construction for projects begins by May 2014.  The Turkish Wind Energy Association's head Mustafa Serdar Ataseven told Anadolu Agency (AA) that up to 22 projects…

 

Turkish Energy Minister: "We are determined for nuclear energy" – (CIHAN) "We determinedly want to produce nuclear energy. We insist on 2019 calendar for completion and engagement of first unit," Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said about Akkuyu Nuclear Power plant…

 

Turkey's first nuclear unit to be completed by 2019 – (World Bulletin) Turkey is determined to see the first unit of its planned Akkuyu nuclear power plant operating by 2019, the country's energy minister Taner Yildiz said during a speech in Ankara on Thursday.  The Akuyyu plant, which will consist of four reactors, will be Turkey's first and will be built by Russian energy company Rosatom on the Mediterranean coast, with the aim of it being fully operational by 2023…

Ukraine

Russian Energy Ministry hopes to avoid gas transit wars with Ukraine – (Kyiv Post) The Russian Energy Ministry is hoping to avoid gas transit wars with Ukraine, Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters…

 

Crimea nationalizes Ukrainian energy firms ahead of Russian annexation – (The Daily Caller) Crimea has voted to become an independent nation and now the Black Sea separatists are moving to nationalize Ukrainian energy firms operating within its borders…

 

How Ukraine should change EU energy policy – (European Voice) The foreign ministers of Denmark and Sweden say decisions by EU leaders next week will shape our climate, energy and industry landscapes in the years to come. They should heed the lessons from Ukraine's crisis…

 

EU to Help Ukraine with 'Securing Energy Supply' – (Novinite) EU will "provide financial support" to Ukraine and help it with "securing energy supply". The decision was announced by EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Baroness Catherine Ashton, at a press conference…

 

Ukraine crisis sharpens focus on European shale gas – (Reuters) Ukraine's crisis underscores the importance of Europe's drive for greater energy security and could buoy development of shale gas as the continent looks to cut back on Russian supplies…

 

Can Crimea survive without Ukraine's power? (+video) – (The Christian Science Monitor) Crimeans voted overwhelmingly to secede from Ukraine in a controversial referendum Sunday, but the peninsula is largely dependent on Ukraine for its power and natural gas. Moscow might be willing to change that, if it means access to the Black Sea's significant oil and gas resources…

 

Crimea Vote Won't End Reliance on Ukraine for Power, Water – (The Wall Street Journal) Crimeans voted on Sunday to break away from Ukraine and join Russia, but the bonds of a Soviet-era infrastructure will be harder to break.  The dry, windswept peninsula has few of the resources to support the fabled resorts and ports…

 

Crimea's lifeline runs through Ukraine – (Deutsche Welle) This Sunday (16.03.2014), the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea will vote in a referendum on whether to become a part of Russia. There is little doubt about the outcome since the majority of residents are ethnic Russian.  But even if Crimea asserts its formal independence from Ukraine, the peninsula continues to rely on the Ukrainian mainland for utilities and food…

 

Keeping Europe on track with gas and renewables – (Times of Malta) Despite the development of renewable energies and infrastructures, the EU’s energy dependence on Russia has been a strong factor in the lowering of tone after the Maidan massacre in Kiev last month. Brussels did not jump on the sanctions bandwagon rolled out by Washington but took a more diverse diplomatic approach to the Crimean conundrum…

 

Ukraine: Energy agency predicts Crimean solar to continue to receive tariff – (PVTech) All Ukraine’s solar plants will continue to receive the tariff promised by the country's former government, even after Crimea voted to join Russia, lobby group European–Ukrainian Energy Agency (EUEA) has predicted…

 

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