IMF says Albania hit targets, but electricity still a risk – (Business Recorder) TIRANA: Albania's economy has hit all the targets the International Monetary Fund set for a multi-million-euro loan programme, an IMF team said, but the country's electricity sector still poses a threat to the economy…

Trans Adriatic Pipeline takes onshore step – (Oil and Gas Journal) Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) has issued a prequalification notice with the European Union for an engineering, procurement, and construction contract covering onshore work in Greece and Albania (OGJ Online, Dec. 18, 2013).  The contract encompasses 760 km of 48-in. natural gas pipeline and 32 block-valve stations…

Albania to auction 13 blocks for oil exploration – (Hellenic Shipping News) Albania plans to auction off 13 oil exploration blocks, including one offshore, to oil majors and other foreign companies after a significant discovery has attracted strong interest, a government minister said…

Harnessing the sun’s abundance in Albania – (UNDP) Albania has plenty of sunshine—around 265 days a year. Now it is learning to harness the sun’s abundant rays as a source of clean, renewable energy. Nestled high in the Albanian Alps, the National Park of Thethi is home to one of the country’s largest woodlands and a variety of endangered species…

Bulgaria

Sofia set to decide fate of foreign electricity companies – (Financial Times) Bulgarian authorities are poised to decide whether to eject a trio of Czech and Austrian electricity distributors in a case that is alienating Sofia’s EU partners and raising suspicions of undue Russian influence…

Bulgaria’s competition watchdog accuses electricity distributors of unfair competition – (The Sofia Globe) Bulgaria’s Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) became the latest state regulator to announce administrative proceedings against the country’s three electricity distribution firms, accusing them of unfair competition on May 13…

Bulgarian power distributors’ violations concern mostly replacement of electricity metres: expert – (Focus) ”Highest number of violations of the power distribution companies are connected with replacement of electricity metres,” State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC) chairperson, Boyan Boev, said speaking at a press conference, FOCUS News Agency reported…

Bulgarian regulator mulls massive fines on electricity distribution firms – (The Sofia Globe) Bulgaria’s State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC) said on May 14 that its audit of three privately-owned electricity distribution companies found 2690 violations, estimating that it could impose cumulative fines of at least 50 million leva (about 25.6 million euro) on the companies…

Bulgaria: Indebtedness in Energy Sector Increases – (Energetika) The reports show that falling revenues further exacerbate the debt problem that is increasing, especially between related companies in the sector. Some of the companies cited as a reason the government regulations…

UPDATE 2 - Bulgaria’s competition watchdog says power distributors abuse dominant position – (SeeNews) Bulgaria's competition regulator said on Tuesday the three power distribution companies operating in the country are abusing their dominant position on the local market…

EC Warns Bulgaria Not to Use Utility Companies’ Licences for Political Purposes – (Energetika) EDCs must submit to the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC) their statements concerning the appeal of the National Electricity Company (NEC), which opened the procedure. On 15 May, the regulato…

Bulgaria's Energy Minister Predicts Coal Price Increase – (Novinite) Bulgarian Economy and Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev has predicted a coal price increase.  Speaking Sunday in the southern town of Radnevo, he said that the price of coal produced by the Maritsa Iztok Mines would go up from BGN 75 to BGN 77 per tonne of conditional fuel in the new regulatory period…

Bulgaria "We are raising the coal price for a second time at "Mini Maritsa Iztok" – Min – (Balkans) Mini Maritsa Iztok" was led to privatization but the Bulgarian energetics is not for sale. This government will work for the construction of "South Stream" because it is important and necessary project for Bulgaria.  "The coal price of "Mini Maritsa Iztok" will be increased from BGN 75.00 per ton reference fuel to BGN 77.00 during the next regulatory period…

Bulgaria govt increases coal price at Mini Maritsa Iztok for 2nd time: Energy Minister – (Focus) ”Price of coal at the Mini Maritsa Iztok [coal mining company] will rise from BGN 75 per tonne of conditional fuel to BGN 77. This is indicative of the work of the government, which is not trying to work for mandates but to show people perspectives and long-term [commitment] in its activities…

South Stream expects first gas from Russia to Bulgaria in late 2015 – (Oil & Gas Journal) Pipelay for South Stream Line 2 will begin in mid-2015, with first natural gas flow from Line 1 following later that year. Trond Gjedrem, materials manager for South Stream Transport BV, made these remarks May 12 at the Pipeline Technology Conference in Berlin, despite the European Parliament having voted last month that South Stream should not be built…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Loan for HPP Janjići Approved – (Energetika) According to EP BiH, the loan has a payback period of 15 years, with a 4-year deferment. The 13.3 MW run-of-river power plant Janjići, with an envisaged annual output of 68 GWh, is planned to be built on the…

Will New Power Plants in the Balkans Breach EU Pollution Legislation? – (Energetika) The Energy Community Treaty from October 2013 obliges the countries of the Western Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine to comply with Chapter III of the Industrial Emissions Directive as of 1 January 2018. Meanwhile…

Bulgaria, BiH 'Only European Countries' Threatened by Gas Crisis – (Novinite) Bulgaria and Bosnia-Herzegovina will be the only countries to be left with no gas supplies if deliveries via Ukraine come to a halt, the President of the Russian Gas Society argued…

Bosnia's 300 MW coal-fired power plant extends outage until June 1 – (Reuters) Bosnia's 300-megawatt (MW) Ugljevik coal-fired power plant will stay off line until June 1, technical manager Dragan Miljanovic told Reuters on Wednesday. He said planned maintenance, which started in April, would be prolonged beyond the previously planned 40 days due to recently discovered technical faults…

SAVING BOSNIA’S SANA RIVER – (GreenFudge) 22 Bosnian NGOs have established the Coalition for the Protection of the Sana, which managed to stop the construction of small hydro power plant on the Sana River, a river with a first class water quality and an upper area to be declared a National Park. The construction has been stopped, at least for now…

Bosnia's 300 MW Gacko power plant to start 40-day outage on June 20 – (Reuters) Bosnia's 300 megawatt (MW) Gacko coal-fired plant will go offline from June 20 to July 30 for planned maintenance, the plant's production manager Borivoje Vujicic told Reuters…

Croatia

Financial Times recognises Croatia's energy efforts, says minister – (Dalje) Economy Minister Ivan Vrdoljak said on Friday that the renowned Financial Times too had recognised everything Croatia had done in the energy sector in the past year, adding that partners from all over the world would participate in all the energy projects…

Croatia to Get the Biggest Power Exchange in the Region, Vrdoljak Announces – (Energetika) “Croatia will get a power exchange in the third quarter of 2014,” the Croatian economy minister Ivan Vrdoljak said at a ceremony marking the opening of the Dispatch Center of the Croatian Transmission System Op…

Josipovic: Croatia important factor of Europe's energy independence – (Dalje) Croatian President Ivo Josipovic, who is on a working visit to the United States to last several days, said on Monday that he would tell US business people in the energy sector that Croatia is a stable country with the prospect of becoming an important factor in Europe's energy independence…

Macedonia

World Bank and Energy Community Secretariat hold joint workshop on energy efficiency in buildings in Western Balkans – (Energy Community) A workshop “Scaling Up Energy Efficiency in Buildings in the Western Balkans” organised by the World Bank with the support of the Secretariat kicked off today with an introduction by Ellen A. Goldstein, Country Director for South East Europe at the World Bank, and Violeta Kogalniceanu, Head of the Energy Efficiency and Infrastructure Unit at the Secretariat…

Montenegro

Balancing Market Soon to be Established in Montenegro – (Energetika) According to Montenegrin media, COTEE, CGES, and representatives of the German Deutsche Börse signed an agreement to establish a balancing market of the electricity in Montenegro last week in Podgorica…

Romania

Europe creates single power market – (Business Spectator) Southern and north-western European power grids and exchanges linked markets on Tuesday covering about 70 per cent of Europe's consumers, bringing it closer to integrated electricity pricing and reducing risks to supply…

Europe Links 17 Power Markets as Spain, Portugal Set to Join – (Bloomberg Businessweek) Day-ahead power markets are set to be linked from Portugal to Finland as the European Union seeks to integrate electricity markets by the end of this year across the 28-nation bloc…

EU to link 17 power markets – (BBJ) The European Union is urging the integration of all electricity markets by the end of this year, in a plan to link together the 28-nation bloc from Portugal to Finland…

Romania's Hidroelectrica sells 431,360 MWh of electricity on local mkt – (SeeNews) Romania's largest hydropower producer Hidroelectrica said on Monday it sold 431,360 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity for a combined 81.1 million lei ($25.2 million/18.3 million euro) on the domestic power market…

Romania's national energy sector will need investments of over 30 billion euros – (Balkans) According to Romanian authorities, in the next 15-20 years the national energy sector will need investments of over 30 billion euros in order to become competitive and to secure its energy independence…

Romania's Transelectrica names new CEO – (SeeNews) Romanian power grid operator Transelectrica [BSE:TEL] said on Monday its supervisory board appointed Ion-Toni Teau as the company's new CEO and head of directorate as of May 11…

Comment: Romania and the Gas War – (Romania-Insider) There are always moments in the midst of complex political events when a fresh breeze blows away the fog of confusion and misunderstanding. The news that Hunter Biden, the son of Mr Joe Biden, Vice-President of the United States, is to become a Director of Ukraine’s largest energy company is one of those moments…

Serbia

Serbia's TE-KO Kostolac 4-mo electricity output at 1.81 mln MWh – (SeeNews) Serbian coal miner and thermal power producer TE-KO Kostolac said its electricity output reached 1.81 million megawatt-hours (MWh) over the first four months of 2014…

Armenia

PSRC approves one billion drams bank guarantee to Electrical Networks of Armenia – (ARKA) Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) has approved today a one billion drams bank guarantee granted to the Electrical Networks of Armenia by the Russian-owned VTB Bank (Armenia)…

ARMENIA PRESSES AHEAD WITH NUCLEAR POWER PLANT CONSTRUCTION – (European Dialogue) Armenia is pressing ahead with its ambitious plans to build a new nuclear power station to replace the aging Soviet-era facility at Metsamor slated for decommissioning by 2017…

Serzh Sargsyan: CU enables to import energy carriers at competitive prices – (Aysor) The centuries-old friendship is the basis of warm Armenian-Russian relations, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan stated at a joint press conference with French President Francois Hollande, when asked by a French reporter why Armenia decided to join the Customs Union…

OSCE encourages dialogue on climate change and security in Armenia – (PanArmenian) Identifying the security implications of climate change for Armenia and mapping the areas most at risk is the focus of a national consultation workshop held in Yerevan with OSCE support…

Azerbaijan 

Opportunity For Azerbaijan As Europe Seeks Alternative To Russian Energy – (Oil Price) The last time Azerbaijan found itself at the center of geopolitics in a major way was when Nazi Germany was hoping to take over the important oil wells in this country. The fact that Germany was unable to grab the Azerbaijani oil wells was not for lack of trying on Adolf Hitler's part. Part of the reason for the Battle of Stalingrad was to secure the Baku oil fields…

Azerbaijani President: “Our projects have made great changes in Europe's energy map" – (APA) “Azerbaijan plays a leading role in bringing energy resources from the Caspian basin to European and world markets”, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said at the joint press conference with his French counterpart Francois Hollande, APA reports…

Azeri oil exports via Russia fall 41 pct in Jan-April – (Reuters) Azerbaijan's oil exports via Russia fell 40.6 percent year on year to 338,812 tonnes in the first four months of 2014, Azeri state energy company SOCAR said. In full-year 2013, Azeri exports via Russia declined to 1.75 million tonnes from 2.06 million in 2012 as Azeri refineries took more crude to cover rising domestic demand for oil products…

The Caspian: challenges in environmental and energy governance – (European Energy Review) While EU’s dependency on Russian energy resources has been in the spotlight of the political and media debates in Europe and across the Atlantic over the last months, the ‘New Great Game’ in the Caspian seems to have gone slightly out of sight…

Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey agree on conditions of electricity supply within energy bridge – (Trend) Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey will agree on the volumes and tariffs of electricity supply as part of a trilateral energy bridge project within a special working…

Azerbaijan wants to build a nuclear reactor – (ABC.AZ) In accordance with the order, the Center has been established in order to use nuclear technologies for peaceful purposes. It has been noted that as of today, the country has carried out certain works associated with nuclear technologies research but weakness of the existing…

Rovnag Abdullayev: Shah Deniz is a driver of Azerbaijan’s energy strategy – (News.AZ) Signing of the final investment decision on the Shah Deniz-2 project in December of the last year marked a turning point in the implementation of Azerbaijan’s gas strategy, SOCAR president Rovnag Abdullayev said…

Azeri oil output down, gas up in Jan-Apr – (Reuters) Azerbaijan said oil and condensate output fell to 14.1 million tonnes in January-April 2014, down 1.4 percent on the same period a year earlier, citing lower output at main oilfields Azeri, Chirag and Guneshli (ACG) as a reason for the decline…

Azerbaijan ready to provide infrastructure for Turkmen gas transportation to Europe – (Trend) The Azerbaijani Energy Minister Natig Aliyev made the remarks commenting on the issue of the possibility of transportation of Turkmen gas to Europe…

Georgia

The Trans-Caspian Pipeline – a strategic opportunity – (Democracy & Freedom Watch) The EU is advocating stable and transparent regulatory rules for energy production and trade in countries that play an important role as energy suppliers, and especially in countries that are interested in closer ties with the EU…

World Bank supports power project in Georgia – (Energy Live News) The World Bank has approved funding worth $60 million (£35.8m) to help finance a power project in Georgia (pictured). The ‘Transmission Grid Strengthening Project for Georgia’ aims to provide reliable power transmission to the southwest part of the grid, environmentally and socially sustainable electricity sector planning and upgrade electricity exchange systems…

Georgian opposition party promises to reduce tariffs on fuel and gas – (Trend) In the case of victory in the local elections, Georgia's United National Movement party promises the population a reduction in gas and fuel rates. In accordance with its estimates, by exempting gasoline and gas from excise taxes, tariffs will be lower in the first case by 25 tetri (cents) ($ 1 = 1.76 lari), and in the second by eight…

Moldova 

Moldova Energy and Biomass Project will participate in the celebration of Europe Day in Chisinau and Comrat – (AEE) The Team of Moldova Energy and Biomass Project will participate in the Europe Day celebrated on May 10th in Chisinau and on May 17th in Comrat. People from these settlements – visitors of the European Town – will have access to the information about the events unrolled by Moldova Energy and Biomass Project, get acquainted with the Project results achieved so far and with the on-going programmes…

Turkey  

UPDATE: At Least 232 Dead In Soma, Turkey Coal Mine Explosion [PHOTO] – (International Business Times) The death toll in the mine disaster has grown to 232 and hundreds more are still trapped underground, BBC reported Wednesday, adding that fires were hampering rescue efforts and reducing the chances of rescuing more people…

Turkey coal mine explosion: Rush for energy undermines safety – (The Christian Science Monitor) A Turkey coal mine explosion Tuesday lies at the intersection of the country’s soaring energy demand and lax mining safety rules. Coal mine safety has improved dramatically in the US and parts of Europe, but it remains a very risky enterprise in economies eager for the cheap form of fuel…

Turkish mine death toll at 205, says energy minister – (Financial Times) An explosion and fire in a coal mine in western Turkey claimed the lives of at least 205 miners, injured a further 80 and trapped hundreds more below ground, according to officials…

Coal still backbone of Turkish energy sector – (Hurriyet Daily News) The share of coal in Turkey’s energy generation is still more than 25 percent as it feeds one-third of the country’s energy needs, despite efforts to shift to cleaner and cheaper fuels…

Govt plans to up coal consumption in energy generation – (Today’s Zaman) Despite international efforts to shift to cleaner and safer fuels, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government wants to almost double the share of domestic coal in energy generation through closer public-private sector collaboration, with the Turkish Coal Enterprise (TKİ) undertaking a study into increasing the share of coal in overall energy production…

World Bank approves $350 million for Turkey’s renewable energy – (Hurriyet Daily News) The World Bank has announced a credit line of $350 million to support the financing of renewable energy projects in Turkey.  The bank said $300 million, which Turkey will have 18 years to repay after a five-year grace period, will come from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development…

WORLD BANK APPROVES $350M FOR TURKEY'S RENEWABLE ENERGY – (Daily Sabah) The World Bank announced Monday $350 million of financing for renewable energy projects in Turkey.  The bank said $300 million, which Turkey will have 18 years to pay back and after a five-year grace period, will come from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development…

Turkish minister: Efficient use prevents 'energy poverty' – (Turkish Press) Underlining that only correct energy policies could stop "energy poverty," Turkey’s Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said Tuesday that Turkey has come a long way on energy efficiency in a short period of time…

Turkey: Increasing Appeal Of The Turkish Energy Market: TANAP – (Mondaq) The tender processes and construction works on TANAP Project are in progress and start of the construction of this pipeline is expected in this year. This project has gained importance before its start to operate. By reason of political issues between Ukraine and Russia, countries in the Europe may be faced with a natural gas problem in this year…

Turkey tenders solar electricity licenses – (Hurriyet Daily News) Turkey has begun to put its solar-powered energy generation capacity for tender, beginning with the eastern provinces of Elazığ and Erzurum.  As the first step to license a total of 600 megawatts (MW) of electricity potential across the country until the year-end, the Turkish Electricity Transmission Company (TEİAŞ) held tenders to choose companies that will undertake solar power production in Anatolia…

Turkey’s geo-strategic energy ties to Russia – (Financial Mirror) Turkey aspires to become an energy hub for supply to Europe. This would, on the one hand, increase its energy security and on the other, will ensure that it has sufficient energy for its own needs which will be partly guaranteed by the fact that the pipelines…

Ukraine 

Russia, EU to meet on May 19 to set up Ukraine energy talks – (Reuters) Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and European Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger agreed on Wednesday to meet on May 19 in Berlin to set a date and place for three-way talks with Ukraine…

Russia, European Union to meet on May 19 to set up Ukraine energy talks – (The Economic Times) Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and European Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger agreed on Wednesday to meet on May 19 in Berlin to set a date and place for three-way talks with Ukraine…

Gazprom to cut supplies to Ukraine from June if no prepayment – (RT) If Kiev does not pay its gas bills by June 2, exports to Ukraine will be halted the next day, Gazprom CEO Aleksey Miller said. Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev meanwhile urged demanding advanced payment from Kiev as early as Tuesday…

Russia will lower gas price if Ukraine pays debt – (The Hill) Russia is willing to compromise on natural gas prices if Ukraine pays its debt for previous supplies, the Russian Energy Ministry said ahead of talks that begin in Brussels Monday. Despite receiving a $27 billion international package, Ukraine has not used the money to pay its debt, said Russian Deputy Energy Minister Anatoly Yanovsky, Bloomberg reports…

Ukraine refuses Russian demand for advance gas payment – (BBC) Ukraine will not pay in advance for Russian gas at Gazprom's new, higher price, the Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan has said…

Gazprom: Ukraine Missed Payment Deadline as IMF Sends Aid – (Bloomberg) Russia’s natural gas exporter, said Ukraine failed to meet its deadline to pay for April supplies as the crisis-torn country begins receiving cash from an international bailout package…

Poroshenko believes Ukraine could become energy-independent in two years – (Kyiv Post) A candidate for the post of Ukrainian president, MP Petro Poroshenko, has said that Ukraine is able to become energy-independent in two years…

Energy security in central and western Europe on top of the agenda – (Balkans) Energy security in central and western Europe has shot straight back to the top of the agenda following Russia’s annexation of the Crimea and its subsequent ratcheting up of pressure on Ukraine to settle its gas bills…

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