Albania 

EU assists Albania to improve the reliability of electricity supply –(Balkans) As reported by Western Balkans Investment Framework, over the last 15 months, the project team, working in close cooperation with the beneficiaries in Albania, undertook the study work and prepared system analyses and detailed technical assessment of the project, financial and economic assessments, financing and procurement plans, project implementation plan, and environmental and social impact assessment of the project…

Albania expects to end row with utility CEZ soon – minister – (Reuters) Albania expects to soon settle a dispute with Czech utility CEZ over its loss-making power distributor so that it can go ahead with $200 million investment in its electricity sector, Energy Minister Damian Gjiknuri said on Thursday…

Albania to lift obstacle to EU candidate status- (EurActiv) Albania expects to soon settle a dispute with Czech utility ČEZ over its loss-making power distributor, so that it can go ahead with a $200 million investment in its electricity sector, Energy Minister Damian Gjiknuri said yesterday (12 June)…

Albania granted 1.1 mln euros for gas plan- (Shanghai Daily) Tirana, June 14—The Western Balkan Investment Framework (WBIF) has approved 1.1 million euros in loan for Albania’s gas plan, the ATA news agency reported on Saturday…

Bulgaria 

Bulgarian Renewable Energy Producers May Sue Watchdog over Tariff Cuts – (Novinite) Renewable energy producers have threatened to sue Bulgaria's energy watchdog due to its intentions to impose a dramatic reduction in preferential tariffs...

Bulgaria’s energy regulator requests financial reports of RES companies- (Focus) ”Last week we started sending letters to all the RES companies [requesting] their financial reports,” said Boyan Boev, Chairperson of the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC), speaking at a public discussion on the preferential prices of electricity produced from renewable energy sources (RES), FOCUS News Agency reported…

Bulgaria Govt Guarantees Supplies for 3-4 Months in Case of Gas Crisis- (Novinite) Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Daniela Bobeva has explained that the government is ready to secure gas consumption for a minimum of 3-4 months in the case of a gas supply crisis…

Financial Times: Chevron’s Bulgaria pull-out a blow for energy security- (Standart News) European advocates of shale gas – and they do exist – have been hoping that the Ukraine crisis might galvanise governments into dropping objections to controversial fracking. But despite a growing and belated recognition that Europe must do more to diversify its energy sources, in Bulgaria at least the unpopular shale movement is going backwards, The Financial Times reports…

Global Energy Advisory – 13th June 2014- (Oil Price) Geopolitical Developments: The Bulgarian government has announced it will suspend work on Russia’s South Stream pipeline amid strong opposition from the EU and the US and the looming threat of US sanctions against Russian firms working on the project as of 28 April…

Lokalno, Macedonia: Bulgaria is most energy inefficient country, says EU Commissioner- (Focus) Skopje. European Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard evaluated Bulgaria as one of the countries with highest energy dependence on Russia, the country with the biggest trade deficit and the most energy inefficient economy, Macedonian online news edition Lokalno reported...

Bulgaria sees gas supply potential from Cyprus- (Sacremento Bee) Bulgaria's foreign minister said Monday that Cyprus could eventually supply his country and other central European nations with natural gas to lessen the region's heavy dependence on Russian deliveries…

Bulgaria main opposition leader says would cancel Stroytransgaz contract- (Reuters) SOFIA, June 11 (Reuters) - Bulgaria's main opposition party would cancel a contract awarded to a consortium led by Stroytransgaz, a company owned by sanctions hit businessman Gennady Timchenko, to build the Bulgarian section of the Russian-led South Stream gas pipeline…

Bulgaria PM: EU Commissioner Hedegaard and I agreed that energy efficiency if the big reserve for Bulgaria’s economy- (Focus) Sofia. “Connie Hedegaard and I agreed that the energy efficiency is the big reserve for the Bulgarian economy,” said Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski speaking after his meeting with European Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard, FOCUS News Agency reporter said…

Bosnia and Herzegovina 

Flood damage to Serbia, Bosnia around 3b euros: EBRD- (NewsAsia) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development estimated on Thursday that the damage from record floods in Serbia and Bosnia could cost some 3 billion euros…

Flood damage to Bosnia estimated at 2 billion euros- (Channel NewsAsia) Bosnia's record floods in May have caused damage estimated at two billion euros ($2.7 billion), seriously affecting the country's economy, an international expert group said on Wednesday...

Update 1- Floods to reverse Bosnian economic growth this year- (Reuters) Devastating floods in May will cause economic output in Bosnia to shrink by 1.1 percent this year instead of growing 2.2 percent as previously hoped, an international team assessing the damage said on Wednesday...

Croatia 

Croatia prepares on-shore gas and oil tender for July- (Reuters)  Croatia is set to open an international tender for on-shore exploration of gas and oil in the Drava river basin and the east of the country next month, Economy Minister Ivan Vrdoljak said on Tuesday…

Sanader says sentenced without evidence, did not commit treason- (Dalje)- Following a recent Supreme Court ruling, former prime minister Ivo Sanader sent through his lawyers on Tuesday an open letter to the public claiming that he was sentenced without evidence and that he did not commit high treason by ceding to the Hungarian oil and gas group MOL management rights in INA, as stated by President Ivo Josipovic…

Economy minister: Ruling shows Croatia's interests were unprotected- (Dalje) Economy Minister Ivan Vrdoljak, who heads Croatia's team in the ongoing negotiations with Hungary's MOL on the future management of the biggest Croatian oil and gas company INA, said on Friday that the confirmation of the guilty verdict against former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader for the bribes he took from MOL to secure for it majority management rights in INA, showed that Croatia's interests were not safeguarded during the sale of INA's shares to the Hungarian company…

Kosovo 

 UPDATE 1-Kosovo utility aims to get unit back on line in 10 days- (Reuters) Kosovo power utility KEK said on Thursday it would likely restart a 130 megawatt (MW) unit of its second-biggest coal-fired power plant Kosovo A in 10 days following an explosion last week that killed two people…

Nation-Building: How Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hopes to Develop a 21st Century Economy- (Wired) On June 8th, voters in Kosovo went to the polls. It was the third general election in the world’s 2nd youngest nation, and incumbent Prime Minister Hashim Thaci’s Democratic Party of Kosovo won a narrow victory over its rival, the Democratic League of Kosovo…

Two Dead in Kosovo Coal Plant Explosion- (Power) Two workers were killed and at least 14 injured in an explosion at a coal-fired power plant in Kosovo last week. Plans to restart part of the damaged plant were underway on Thursday…

Macedonia 

Local Officials Meet With Federal Transportation Committee- (Nordonia Hills) Macedonia -- Mayor Don Kuchta accompanied a delegation of 35 local leaders May 30 to Washington, D.C. and met with senior officials from the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure regarding the transportation bill making its way through Congress…

Binani's Macedonia mines restart after pay deal- (Metal Bulletin)-  Binani London’s zinc and lead mines in Macedonia have been restarted after the company struck a deal to pay workers by the end of the month…

Macedonia won't have issues with gas supply – expert- (MINA) Macedonia should not and will not have any problems regarding gas supply in the next 5-6 years, since the current transport capacities will meet our needs, said Macedonian Center for Energy Efficiency (MACEF) president Konstantin Dimitrov on Wednesday…

Oil prices at Nine month high- (MINA) Crude oil prices in Iraq have hit a nine-month high, according to Reuters, as ongoing violence and fears of instability have led to supply concerns and equities sales…

Euromax proving to be an exception for Canadian mining firms in Europe- (The Globe and Mail) Canadian mining companies have had a rough go in Europe…

Montenegro

EPCG warned for violating the Energy Law- (MINA) Podgerica,- The Energy Regulatory Agency (RAE) says that Elektroprivreda (EPCG) does not provide an important link in the system of evaluation of minimum quality in electricity supply and prevents the costumers from getting an adequate compensations in case of inadequate delivery…

Romania

Electrica IPO: Romanian energy minister talks to EBRD about long term investment- (Romania Insider)  Romania’s energy minister Razvan Nicolescu had a meeting with representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in London, on Tuesday, June 18, to talk about EBRD’s participation to Electrica’s IPO and the possibility to become a long term investor in the company…

Russia cuts off gas supply to Ukraine. Romania’s Energy Minister: We’re prepared for anything- (Business Review) Ukraine-Russia talks over gas supply broke down on Sunday, with OAO Gazprom halting shipments to Ukraine a day later. The supplier is only providing enough gas to Ukraine’s pipeline system to meet demand from European customers and not the country’s needs, Ukraine’s state gas company said, quoted by Bloomberg…

Romanian cement producers gain saving from green certificate scheme- (Global Cement) Romania: Industrial energy consumers in Romania will gain a 10-year facility for green certificate acquisition, which will save them approximately Euro750m, the government has decided. About 300 large industrial companies in Romania, including Lafarge, Holcim and Carpat Cement Holding, that will benefit from this measure, as they will be allowed to buy up to 85% less green certificates than they currently have to buy…

Romania’s oil production sees first growth in two decades- (Romania Insider) Romania’s oil production increased by 4 percent last year, to 86,644 barrels a day. This is the first growth in the country’s oil production since 1994, when it produced 145,370 barrels a day. The largest oil production ever recorded in Romania was in 1977, of 313,541 barrels a day…

Romania's oil production increased by 4 percent- (Balkans) Romania’s oil production increased by 4 percent last year, to 86,644 barrels a day. This is the first growth in the country’s oil production since 1994, when it produced 145,370 barrels a day…

Energy security, nuclear industry on Romania's agenda at EU Energy Council- (Act Media) Energy security, the importance of the nuclear sector, the development of indigenous energy sources, and the energy situation of the Republic of Moldova were some of the topics approached by Romanian Minister for Energy Razvan Nicolescu in his speech at the meeting of the Council of EU Energy Ministers in Luxembourg on Friday…

Romania regulated electricity prices is expected to drop- (Balkans) Emil Calota, vice president of Romania's National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE), announced on Wednesday that regulated prices will drop starting with July 2014, Mediafax reports…

Energy minister: Electrica IPO should be fully subscribed by Monday- (Business Review) The initial public offering (IPO) for Electrica is progressing nicely and could be completely subscribed by Monday, two days before the end of the subscription period, according to Razvan Nicolescu, delegate minister for Energy, Mediafax reports…

Romania nuclear energy consumption up 1.6 pct, accounting for 0.5 pct of 2013 world- (Act Media) The Romanian nuclear energy consumption totalled 2.6 million tonnes of oil equivalent last year, accounting for 0.5 percent of the world consumption, according to statistic figures released by British Petroleum company…

Energy efficiency requirements drive up demand for AC systems in Romania- (Business Review) As office developers and tenants start to pay more attention to reducing utility costs and energy efficiency, sales of air conditioning (AC), ventilation and heating systems are expected to go up, said Florin Radulescu, founder of AVI Compact, this Wednesday…

Investors have put over EUR 6 bln in Romania's renewable sector- (Balkans) Romania has attracted over EUR 6 billion worth of renewable investments in the last few years and the government should send a “signal” to investors that are grappling with legal uncertainty as some of them plan to exit the market, said Monday Valeriu Binig, director, financial advisory services/energy & resources/corporate finance at professional services firm Deloitte Romania, during the eight Focus on Energy event organized by Business Review...

Serbia 

Putin's South Stream Pipeline Could Face a New Obstacle, in Serbia- (Business Week) The newest front in the Russia-Ukraine gas war is in the Balkans. On June 16, hours after Gazprom (GAZP:RM) shut off gas supplies to Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Serbia for talks about the planned South Stream pipeline, which would carry Russian gas to Europe without crossing Ukraine…

South Stream project to ensure energy stability — (Itar Tass) Serbian Minister of Energy and Mining Aleksandar Antic says South Stream is the major infrastructural project in Europe that would benefit Serbia’s economy and energy stability…

Serbia: We want South Stream, but don’t decide anything- (Vestnik) The head of the Ministry of Energy of Serbia, Alexander Antić, made a statement that construction of the South Stream pipeline is one of the national interests of Serbia and the country is attentively following the talks, but it cannot influence them…

RBK-TV: Serbia interested in South Stream- (Focus) Serbia is interested in the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline project...

Lavrov reassures Serbia on South Stream- (Euractiv) On a visit to Belgrade, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated the position that his country “respects and supports” the European integration of Serbia, but warned against new dividing lines in Europe and pleaded for the Gazprom-favoured South Stream gas pipeline...

UPDATE 2-Serbia, Russia say ready to go ahead with South Stream gas line- (Reuters) - Serbia is expected to begin building its stretch of Russia's South Stream gas pipeline next month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday after meeting his Belgrade counterpart...

Armenia 

Parliament hearing on energy tariff review starts in Armenia – (ARKA) YEREVAN, June 17.. The parliament hearing on electricity price review started in Armenia on Tuesday…

Armenian government to seek financing opportunities to rule out energy tariff increase- (ARKA) YEREVAN, June 12. Armenia’s government will look into opportunities of financing the energy system to rule out tariff increases, the minister of energy and natural resources Yervand Zakharyan said at a government hour in the parliament on Wednesday…

Poor management or wrong calculations?: PSRC head makes case for electricity tariff rise- (ArmeniaNow) The discussion of the need to raise the electricity tariff has revealed the possibility of some inefficient management by companies involved in the sphere…

Members of the Armenian delegation sounded threats on the security guarantees for energy projects in the region- (APA) Mubariz Aslanov – Member of the Azerbaijani delegation Siyavush Novruzov made a speech in the next part - “Energy security: New opportunities in the South Caucasus and Caspian regions” of the 86th NATO PA Rose-Roth seminar titled “The South Caucasus: Challenges and Opportunities…

Bargaining in Baku: Regional affairs on agenda of Russian FM’s talks with Azeri leadership- (ArmeniaNow) Despite the fact that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has been on a visit to Baku since June 17, as of Wednesday morning there is still no information either in Azeri or Russian media about his meetings and arrangements…

Azerbaijan  

Azeri oil exports decline 0.4 pct in Jan-May- (Reuters) Azerbaijan’s oil exports fell 0.4 percent year-on-year in the first five months of 2014 due to a decline in oil production at its main fields, where BP has a major interest, a source at the State Customs Committee said…

Azerbaijan produces over 900,000 bpd of oil in 2013: BP- (Azernews) Azerbaijan's oil production in 2013 amounted to 931,000 barrels per day (bpd), which is 1.2 percent more compared to 2012, British BP's annual Statistical Review of World Energy said…

Greece and Azerbaijan discuss major energy investments- (Balkans) Greece's Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and visiting Azeri President Ilham Aliyev discussed two major investments that promise to draw much-needed revenue – the privatization of Greece’s gas transmission network (DESFA) and the construction of the Trans Adriatic Gas Pipeline (TAP), that would cross Greece…

Barroso: “Our cooperation with Azerbaijan covers not only the energy area, but also many other areas”- (APA) Baku. Anakhanum Idoyatova. “We held a very successful meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, and made important decisions, one of which was to hasten the completion of a new agreement between Azerbaijan and the EU…

Barroso: EU, Azerbaijan Consider Southern Gas Corridor Mutual Priority – (Novinite) The EU and Azerbaijan have agreed to fast-track the strategic modernization partnership deal and to boost efforts on the Southern Gas Corridor, according to Jose Manuel Barroso...

Greece Wants Azeri Gas Investment, TAP- (Greek Reporter) With privatization and foreign direct investment lagging, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has discussed the sale of the country’s gas transmission network DESFA with visiting Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, and the construction of the the Trans Adriatic Gas Pipeline (TAP) that would cross Greece...

Azerbaijan to open new stage in European energy security- (Azernews) Azerbaijani gas will be the first alternative source for the European Union is due to reach European countries in 2019. Greece will be the starting point in the European direction transportation route. Gas will be transported through the Trans Adriatic Pipeline in the amount of ten billion cubic meters with the possibility of the further expansion...

Azerbaijan and EU discuss financial incentives for alternative energy- (ABC.az) Baku, Fineko/abc.az. A seminar on improving the financial incentives for alternative and renewable energy sources and improving the energy efficiency has been held in Baku today...

Energy tops talks agenda between Azeris and Greeks- (Ekathimerini) Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and visiting Azeri President Ilham Aliyev on Monday discussed two major investments that promise to draw much-needed revenue – the privatization of Greece’s gas transmission network (DESFA) and the construction of the Trans Adriatic Gas Pipeline (TAP), that would cross Greece...

Greece and Azerbaijan aim for strategic gas cooperation- (LSE) Athens (Allience News)- Greece and Azerbaijan on Monday will aim for closer "strategic gas cooperation" in the future, the presidents of the two countries said Monday...

Georgia 

Georgians waiting to see what the EU treaty will bring-(DFWatch) As ten days are left until the signing, there is little debate among ordinary Georgians about what the treaty will really mean to this mostly agrarian society where little is left of the protection the state once offered citizens…

Georgia not to reject Azerbaijani gas in favor of Russian- (News.Az) The Georgian government has ceased the search of alternative gas sources…

The Partnership Fund starts installation of gas turbines plant in Gardabani- (Messenger) The Partnership Fund (PF), a state-owned shareholding company, has begun installing General Electric turcines at the Gardabani Combined Cycle Thermal Power Plant (CTPP)…

Moldova 

The EBRD, Moldova, Georgia and the Eastern Partnership- (Financial) The EBRD has been a major investor in the EU partnership countries since their independence at the end of 1991 and remains an important contributor…

Turkey 

Pace of Turkish energy market liberalization slows- (Platts) Only a year ago, plans for the liberalization of Turkey's wholesale power market were far advanced with a new electricity market law in place and creation of the planned EPIAS exchange imminent…

Turkish oil supply safe from Iraqi unrest, claims minister- (World Bulletin) Fears grow over ISIL group's hold over northern Iraqi oil facilities, but Turkey’s energy minister has denied that the country’s crude oil supply has been affected…

No risk to Turkey’s oil supply from Iraqi violence, says energy minister- (Hurriyet) Recent developments in Iraq do not pose risks to Turkey’s energy supply security because the oil flow from the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline has been suspended for three months anyway, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yıldız has said…

Nordex hat-trick in Turkey- (renews) German manufacturer Nordex has secured three contracts totalling 44.4MW in Turkey…

HELICOPTERS REDUCE POWER BLACKOUTS IN TURKEY- (Daily Sabah) ANKARA – Turkey is to introduce helicopters to monitor the country's 51,000km of electricity cables, the energy minister announced on Tuesday…

Turkey: energy saving projects to get incentives from Ankara- (ANSAmed) ISTANBUL, JUNE 18 - Turkish government is set to include energy saving investments within the scope of incentives, as it hopes to save around 15 billion lira-worth of energy per year (5,15 billion of euros), daily Hurriyet online reported quoting Energy Minister Taner Yildiz as saying...

Turkey to ask Russia for lower gas prices- (Daily Sabah) MOSCOW – Turkey is to ask Russia to reduce the price of the natural gas it buys, the country's energy minister said on Thursday...

UPDATE 2-Iraq's higher demand for Turkish fuel a strain on border crossings- (Reuters) MOSCOW, June 19 - Iraq's extra demand for Turkish fuel due to the Baiji refinery attack will strain the limited border export capacity, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said on Thursday...

Iraq unrest to boost demand for Turkish oil products - minister- (Reuters) MOSCOW, June 19 - Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said on Thursday the unrest in Iraq and resulting halt in refinery production there will boost Iraqi demand for refined oil products from Turkey...

Ankara: More Kurdish oil set for exports- (UPI) ANKARA, Turkey, June 17 --Ankara expects a third tanker loaded with oil from the Kurdish north of Iraq will leave port before the end of the month, the energy minister said...

Half-Price Kurd Oil Threatens Iraq Breakup with Turkish Help- (BusinessWeek) A tanker containing a million barrels of crude oil is floating around the Mediterranean, and its cargo is available at half-price. Yet if any country seizes the bargain, it may be pushing Iraq closer to disintegration...

Turkey would support Iraqi Kurd's bid for self-rule, Spokesman says in historic remark- ( Huffington Post) ERBIL, Iraq -- In a statement that could have a dramatic impact on regional politics in the Middle East, a spokesman for Turkey's ruling party recently told a Kurdish media outlet that the Kurds in Iraq have the right to self-determination...

Iraqi Kurds link Kirkuk to own oil pipeline, plan more exports via Turkey- (Hurriyet) Iraqi Kurdistan has built a link connecting Kirkuk to its newly-built pipeline to Turkey, its minister of natural resources said, potentially cementing Kurdish control over the northern oil hub and reducing its reliance on Baghdad...

Ukraine 

Ukraine facing halt to Gas supply- (MINA) Gazprom has reaffirmed its Monday deadline for Ukraine to pay its debts after talks between Moscow and Kiev ended without agreement, BBC reads…

Gazprom Cuts Russia’s Natural Gas Supply to Ukraine- (New York Times) MOSCOW — Further aggravating already tense relations between Russia and Ukraine, the Russian energy giant Gazprom cut off natural gas supplies to its neighbor on Monday, warning that the reduction could diminish the amount of gas flowing to Europe…

Russia cuts gas supply to Ukraine after deadline passes without deal- (Fox News) MOSCOW –  Russia on Monday cut gas supplies to Ukraine as a payment deadline passed and negotiators failed to reach a deal on gas prices and unpaid bills amid continued fighting in eastern Ukraine…

Ukraine crisis: Russia halts gas supplies to Kiev- (BBC News) Ukraine says Russia has cut off all gas supplies, in a major escalation of a dispute between the two nations…

Ukraine Declares Emergency in Energy Sector: Report- (NDTV)  Kiev:  Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk on Monday declared a state of emergency in the energy sector after Russia suspended its natural gas supplies to the country…

Kiev seeks to continue gas talks with Russia’s Gazprom – (Turkish Weekly) KIEV, June 18 (RIA Novosti) – Ukraine calls to continue gas negotiations with Gazprom though it believes Russia’s stance on the issue is non-constructive, Ukrainian Deputy Energy and Coal Industry Minister Vadym Ulyda said Wednesday…

Russia-Ukraine: the second front- (EurActiv) Europe should learn from the gas war between Russia and Ukraine, writes Olena Pavlenko…

Ukraine energy firm sues Russia for $6.0 bn- (Focus)  Ukraine's state energy firm Naftogaz said Monday it had filed a $6.0-billion (4.4-billion-euro) suit against its Russian counterpart Gazprom in a Stockholm arbitration court…

Ukraine’s stance in gas talks with Russia is ‘blackmail’- (RT) Gazprom considers Ukraine’s position a form of blackmail and a method to negotiate an ultra-low price, Aleksey Miller, head of Russia's Gazprom, said on Monday…

Ukraine Creates Energy Crisis Headquarters- (RIA Novosti) KIEV, June 17 — The Ukrainian government has created an energy crisis headquarters, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said at a parliamentary session Tuesday…

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.