Weekly collection of energy news articles for the region

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USAID/USEA ETAG Upcoming Events

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October 27, 2014       USAID/USEA Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey (AGT) Power Bridge Project Working Group Meeting Baku, Azerbaijan 

October 27-30, 2014       USAID/USEA Armenia Energy Assistance Program Working Group Meeting Yerevan, Armenia

November 3, 2014       USAID/USEA Southeast Europe Cooperation Initiative Transmission System Planning Project (SECI) Group Meeting Skopje, Macedonia 

Albania

Albania Launches 110 kV Transmission Line – (Energetika) Minister Gjiknuri said the transmission line Erseke-Permet was very important for improving the quality of electricity supply in the south of Albania. According to him, the respective investment along with man…

Albania electricity market opening too slow – Statkraft – (ICIS) The liberalisation and integration of the Albanian electricity market has been slower than expected, according to Norwegian energy producer Statkraft which is a major investor in the country. However, the government is committed to take the necessary steps to improve market conditions…

Ties with Azerbaijan of great importance for Albania – (Azernews) The relations with Azerbaijan, as well as the implementation of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project are of great importance for Albania.  This remark was made by Speaker of the Albanian Parliament Ilir Meta who was received by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on October 20. The Albanian delegation led by Meta arrived in Azerbaijan with an official visit on October 19…

Secretariat to cooperate with International Energy Forum on capacity building in the area of statistics – (Energy Community) Director Kopač and Energy Community Secretariat experts met with Mr. Fuad Al-Zayer, Coordinator for Energy Data Transparency – Joint Organisation Data Initiative (JODI) of the International Energy Forum (IEF) Secretariat on 22 October. Agreeing on the benefits of joint cooperation, they decided to work together to achieve the participation of all…

Bulgaria

Bulgaria's Energy Market 'Needs More Dealers' – (Novinite) There is a lack of competitors in energy trade on the liberalized energy market, the Bulgarian energy watchdog DKEVR warned Tuesday.  Trade to household consumers is where the biggest insufficiency has been registered, the website Dariknews quoted the regulator's chair Svetla Todorova as saying at a DKEVR meeting…

Bulgarian Government: No New Electricity Price Increase – (Energetika) Meanwhile, the representatives of Bulgarian employers’ associations and trade unions have complained of the presence of strong lobby groups in the Energy Board, Novinite wrote. The letter, addressed to Interim…

Electricity price not on agenda of Bulgaria’s state energy watchdog: chair – (Focus) ”Electricity price is not on the agenda of the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC),” said SEWRC Chairperson Svetla Todorova, speaking for the Bulgarian National Television (BNT).  ”The increase we adopted as of October 1 we believe to be the maximum for now the commission has to assume as responsibility over the results in the sector…

I expect Bulgaria’s new govt, parliament to decide on electricity price: SEWRC chair – (Focus) “There are no new circumstances calling for re-consideration of the electricity price,“ said Svetla Todorova, Chairperson of the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC), speaking at a briefing, FOCUS News Agency reported…

Bulgarian Energy Bill Set to Divide Energy, Water Regulation – (Publics) The members of Bulgaria’s State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission, which is to shed the “State” from its name, will be chosen by the Parliament and not by the Council of Ministers, as is the current situation. A planned amendment to Bulgaria’s Energy Act sets a number of changes in the functioning of the energy and water watchdog…

Bulgaria’s energy regulator hasn’t mentioned new power price hike as of January 1: Deputy PM – (Focus) ”I have not personally heard of a new electricity price increase as of January 1, I read that in the media several times. Neither the regulating body has said such a thing, nor requests have been filed, as far as I know so I think these are speculations…

Bulgarian Watchdog Chair, Caretaker Deputy PM Vow No Power Price Hike in January – (Novinite) Svetla Todorova, Chair of Bulgaria’s State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR), has suggested that power rates should not increase further as of January 1. “Until the state takes steps to alleviate the impact of power prices, I think that the rates should not increase,” Todorova stated in an interview for 24 Hours daily…

Complete liberalisation of energy market most difficult issue each country that undertakes it faces: Bulgaria’s SEWRC chair – (Focus) “Complete liberalisation of the energy market, including for clients connected to the low-voltage grid is the most difficult issue each country that undertakes it faces,“ said Svetla Todorova, Chairperson of the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC), speaking at a briefing, FOCUS News Agency reported…

Kozloduy NPP Transferred BGN 7 M to Westinghouse under Upgrade Program for Units 5, 6 – (Novinite) Bulgaria’s Ministry of Economy and Energy specified that US company Westinghouse Energy Systems had been transferred over BGN 7 M under a program for the upgrade of units 5 and 6 of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Energy Community delays sanctions on Bosnia and Serbia – (Interfax) Eastern Europe’s Energy Community has postponed possible sanctions against Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina until 2015– despite the fact that they have made a number of breaches of the community’s gas law…

Energy Community Delivers 3rd Energy Package-Compliant Draft Gas Law to Bosnia – (Energetika) "The lack of an appropriate legal framework constitutes a very serious obstacle to the development of the gas sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina and harms energy consumers. This draft law could be immediately…

Bosnia and Herzegovina Invests More than EUR 100 Million in Renewables – (Energetika) According to the data of the Association of renewable energy producers in BiH (APEOR), BiH is the one of few countries in Europe with an integrated system of construction of facilities for the production of…

Secretariat delivers Third Energy Package-compliant draft gas law to Bosnia and Herzegovina – (Energy Community) As called for by the Ministerial Council, the Energy Community Secretariat submitted today a Third Energy Package-compliant draft gas law to the relevant authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina…

Croatia 

GEN-I's and RWE's Permits for Electricity Trade in Croatia Extended – (Energetika) HERA also approved the Proposal of the Network Rules for the Gas Distribution System, and the Proposal of the Gas Market Organisation Rules…

US offers mediators for INA-MOL energy row – (Reuters) Washington has offered to help resolve a long running dispute between Croatia and Hungary's MOL over their jointly-owned oil firm INA by proposing international mediators to steer the talks on INA's future…

12th Days Gas, Croatia: Gas Supply during Winter Should Be Secure – (Energetika) The players on the Croatian gas market (Podzemno skladište plina, Hrvatska elektroprivreda – opskrba plinom, Prirodni plin, Plinacro and Prvo plinarsko društvo) assured that they were ready for a new heating…

Hrvatska Elektroprivreda: Plomin C Not in Conflict with Climate Policy – (Energetika) Zelena akcija wants to persuade the government to adopt the construction of TPP Plomin C. As Energetika.NET already wrote (HERE), Plomin C is one of four strategic development projects in Croatia and is worth…

‘Stress test’ measures EU’s ability to survive without Russian gas – (EurActiv) Ahead of the 23-24 October EU summit, on Thursday (16 October), the Commission presented a first-ever analysis of the consequences of a disruption of Russian gas supplies, or even a complete halt of such imports to the Union, and neighbouring states. The result, which was not difficult to predict, is that some countries would be much more affected than others…

Kosovo

EBRD to provide €30m loan to boost power sector in Kosovo – (EBR) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will provide €30m loan to Kosovo Transmission, System and Market Operator (KOSTT) to improve energy security in Kosovo and the region…

EBRD Approves EUR 30 Million Loan for Kosovar Power Sector – (Energetika) According to EBRD, the loan will enable the company to finance the construction, rehabilitation, and placing into operation of selected substations, transformers, and electricity transmission lines. ʺThis will…

Macedonia

Macedonia Wants to Postpone Full Electricity Market Liberalisation by 2020 – (Energetika) Macedonia's government decided to amend the Energy Law and to submit it to the Parliament. The new draft envisages the delay of the liberalisation of electricity until 1 July 2016. Then the liberalisation would…

Macedonia among most affected countries if Russia halt gas export to Europe – (Shanghai Daily) Macedonia is among the five countries which would suffer the most if Russia halt gas export to Europe, according to the European Union (EU)'s gas stress test report published on Thursday in Brussels…

Macedonia most affected if Russia halts gas export to Europe – (Daily Times) Macedonia is among the five countries which would suffer the most if Russia halt gas export to Europe, according to the European Union (EU)’s gas stress test report published in Brussels…

Montenegro

Electricity Consumption in Montenegro Falls 19.5% – (Energetika) On average, the households paid EUR 30.93 for electricity, which is 16% less than in August.About 2.65% of the households consumed more than 1000 kWh in September and had to pay more than EUR 100.Read Also: Ele…

In 32 Years, Montenegrin Pljevlja TPP Generated Nearly 30,000 GWh of Electricity – (Energetika) The strategic role of Pljevlja TPP was confirmed also by this year’s production result, which has already achieved 95% of the annual set goal. Since its start of production in 1982, this power plant has produce…

Romania

Romania's Electricity Exports Increase by 3.8 Billion kWh in First Eight Months – (Energetika) Electricity production and imports totalled 41.77 billion kWh in the first eight months of 2014, up 8.5% compared to the same period last year. The Romanian thermal power plants' production rose by 5.5%…

Romania could switch from gas and fuel oil to electricity for household heating – (Romania-Insider) Electricity could replace natural gas and fuel oil as an energy source for household heating in Romania, said energy minister Razvan Nicolescu quoted by Mediafax newswire…

Romania seeks investors to reach energy sufficiency – (ACT Media) While Razvan Nicolescu, delegate minister of energy, has stated that Romania needs EUR 50 billion of fresh energy investments to strike sufficiency around 2020, experts say European financiers’ appetite to back major projects has been curbed…

Commission OKs Romanian Green Certificate Reduction for Energy-Intensive Users – (Energetika) "The Romanian scheme enables companies that are both electro-intensive and exposed to international  trade to remain competitive without unduly distorting competition in the Single Market…

EC drops infringement against Romania over liberalization of energy market – (Business Review) The European Commission (EC), the executive arm of the EU, has stopped the infringement procedure against Romania after the country transposed EU directives of the Third Energy Package…

EC Infringement Procedure Halted against Romania – (Energetika) The European Commission infringement procedure started on 29 September 2011, alleging non-implementation of the Third Energy Package of EU internal energy market liberalization…

EC has stopped thee energy infringement procedure against Romania – (Balkans) The European Commission (EC), the executive arm of the EU, has stopped the infringement procedure against Romania after the country transposed EU directives of the Third Energy Package…

Gazprom Cuts Gas Deliveries to Romania by 27% – (Energetika) Romania currently imports from Gazprom less than 0.2 million cubic metres of natural gas per day.ʺYesterday, the Russian ambassador to Bucharest sent us an official response, explaining that the decline in the…

EU urges Romania to accelerate the gas development with Bulgaria – (Balkans) The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, urged Romania to accelerate the development of gas interconnections with neighboring Bulgaria and Hungary to better manage any potential disruption of gas imports from Russia this winter, according to a gas stress test conducted in 38 European countries…

Serbia

Serbia’s Nikola Tesla TPP Is Ready for New Heating Season – (Energetika) Repairs will wrap up on 23rd of October on block A-1 and by the end of the year on block A-3. After that, the power plant will continue its production at full power, Čedomir Ponoćko explained to the media…

Serbia: Nearly 60 Year Old Kolubara TPP Generates 50,000 GWh of Electricity – (Energetika) Exactly 58 years ago, the first 32 MW block in the Kolubara TPP started to operate. Despite this milestone, which was celebrated yesterday in the Kolubara TPP, together with the mother company Elektroprivreda…

More Than 500 Million Tons of Coal from D Field in Serbia’s Kolubara Coalmine – (Energetika) The D field was opened in 1961, while coal production began in 1966 and lasted for 48 years. This mine is recognised as a symbol of the Mining Basin Kolubara and has decisively influenced the development…

TE-KO Kostolac: Production of Coal and Electricity Is Safe – (Energetika) TPP is ready for the coming winter season, having finished all activities on both blocks of the thermal power plant Kostolac A. Veselin Bulatovic, Assistant Director TE - KO Kostolac, emphasized that the activities…

Serbia: Half the Number of Serbian Consumers without Power – (Energetika) Snow that fell last night and strong gusts of wind led to problems with the electricity supply in the areas of Prijepolje, Raska, Nova Varos, Cacak, Guca, Tit, and Ivanjice. The main reason for power failure is…

Armenia   

Armenian Minister to participate in meeting of CIS Electrical Energy Council – (News.AM) Armenia's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Yervand Zakharyan will participate in the regular meeting of the CIS Electrical Energy Council that will be held in Sochi from October 23 to 25…

Armenia to attend CIS electrical energy council session in Russia – (ARKA) Armenian minister of energy and natural resources Yervand Zakharyan will fly to the southern Russian city of Sochi to attend the 46th session of the CIS Electrical Energy Council, slated for October 23-25…

Azerbaijan 

Baku to host ERRA conference on investments and energy regulation – (Azer Tac) Baku will host 13th conference on investments and energy regulation of the Energy Regulators Regional Association (ERRA) late this month.  According to Azerbaijan`s Ministry of Economy and Industry, the annual conference will be attended by 200 experts from more than 30 countries…

ERRA conference on investments ,energy regulation due in Baku – (Azernews) aku will host the13th conference on investments and energy regulation of the Energy Regulators Regional Association (ERRA) in late October.  Azerbaijan`s Economy and Industry Ministry reported that the annual conference will be attended by 200 experts from more than 30 countries.  The conference will see Azerbaijan`s Tariff (Price) Council present its experience of regulation and national approaches to tariff regulation of alternative energy…

Azerbaijan is ready to provide up to 50% of current power generation by means of alternative energy – (ABC.AZ) Azerbaijan is ready to provide up to 50% of current power generation by means of alternative energy.  Akim Badalov, Chairman of the State Agency for Renewable and Alternative Energy Sources (ABOEMDA), stated with regard to celebration of the day of power energy specialists that by 2020 total capacity of alternative generating facilities can be increased up to 2,500 MW in the country…

5.2% of Azerbaijan’s power generation still has not commercial importance – (ABC.AZ) The State Statistics Committee reports that 5.2% of power generation in Azerbaijan still has not commercial significance.  The Committee informs that total power generation reached 16.97 bn kWh for Jan-Sept 2014 that was by 6.8% the generation level for Jan-Sept 2013. However, traded generation totaled only 16.095 bn kWh (+6.3%) or 94.8% of total generation…

Azerbaijan sees almost 7% increase in annual electricity generation – (Trend) Azerbaijan produced 16.97 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in Jan.-Sept. 2014, which is 6.8 percent more than in the same period of 2013, the country's State…

Azerbaijan to launch 2nd combined cycle power plant – (Azernews) Azerbaijan's main electricity producer Azerenergy JSC will put into operation the second combined cycle power plant at the Shimal power plant in the first quarter of 2015, Head of Azerenergy JSC, Etibar Pirverdiyev, said on October 20.  He added that the Shimal power plant plays an important role in Absheron peninsula's total power supply…

Azerbaijan to commission major combined cycle unit by mid-2015 – (Trend) Azerbaijan’s main electricity producer Azerenergy JSC will put into operation the second combined cycle unit at the Shimal power plant in the H1 of 2015, head of Azerenergy JSC Etibar Pirverdiyev said on Oct.20.  He said the Shimal power plant plays an important role in the power supply of the Absheron peninsula…                                                                        

Azerbaijan waiting for the meeting on Trans Caspian gas pipeline with the EU and Turkmenistan – (ABC.AZ) The Trans Caspian gas pipeline (TCP) is in wait for further agreements between the parties-potential project members.  According to Natig Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy, earlier Günther Oettinger, the EU Commissioner for Energy, announced meeting on this issue between Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and the European Union but it has never been held because of Turkmenistan…

Georgia

Electricity export on Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey route launch date announced – (Trend) Georgia will serve as a transit country, and it will also export electricity, the ministry of energy of the country previously said. Azerbaijan will be primarily able to…

Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey set tariffs for power transit and supply – (ABC.AZ) Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey set tariffs for power transit and supply.  According to Natig Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy, mutual power supplies between Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey can be provided in 2015…

Georgia to build main gas pipeline – (Azernews) Around 73 percent of the work has been conducted at a 20-kilometer section of the Gori-Kareli main gas pipeline, the Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation told Trend October 16.  This section is being constructed as part of the fourth phase of the rehabilitation of the East-West main gas pipeline, financed by the U.S Agency for International Development…

EU includes Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine into European Gas Stress Test – (Kyiv Post) The European Commission has included Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine in the European Gas Stress Test to see how Europe would cope in the worst-case scenario of restricted gas supplies, Vice President of the European Commission for Energy Gunther Oettinger said at a press conference in Brussels on Thursday, Oct. 16…

Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia included in EC gas stress testing – (Ukrainian Journal) The European Commission has included Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine in the European Gas Stress Test to see how Europe would cope in the worst-case scenario of restricted gas supplies, Vice President of the European Commission for Energy Gunther Oettinger said…

Moldova

European Union supports the launch of 30 businesses and creation of 100 new jobs in the biofuel manufacturing sector – (AEE) 30 businesses have been launched and developed further, and circa 100 new jobs have been created in the biofuel manufacturing sector thanks to the Leasing Programme implemented by the Energy and Biomass Project over the period 2012-2014. Agricultural entrepreneurs managed to purchase by instalments…

Turkey

Turkish households pay 51 pct more than industry for electricity – (Today’s Zaman) According to TurkStat's “Electricity and Natural Gas Prices” report for the first half of this year, household consumers paid on average TL 0.354 per kWh for electricity, whereas business consumers paid on average TL 0.234…

Households pay 51 pct more than industry for electricity – (Cihan) The price of electricity per kilowatt hour (kWh) for household consumers is 51 percent more expensive than the price for business consumers, a report by the Turkish Statistics Institute (TurkStat) revealed on Wednesday…

Geothermal energy plants in Turkey help save water – (Hydrogen Fuel News) Water usage has been reduced by three geothermal power plants in the country.  Three Turkish geothermal energy facilities owned by Kipas Holding have dramatically lowered water usage, decreased CO2 emissions, reduced corrosion and are utilizing the Industrial Internet with assistance from GE’s water treatment technology…

100-200 trees shouldn’t stop Turkey’s development: Energy minister – (Hurriyet Daily News) Energy Minister Taner Yıldız has defended the controversial razing of an olive grove for the construction of a coal plant in the mining town of Soma, arguing that “100-200 trees shouldn’t stop Turkey’s development…

Energy: Turkey plans to build third nuclear power plant – (ANSA Med) "Turkey will build a third nuclear power plant by 2018-2019, when we have sufficiently qualified people to build it as a national project," World Bulletin online reported quoting Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu as saying on Tuesday. Davutoglu was briefed on the recent studies of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. The three-hour presentation was closed to the press…

Turkey plans to build third nuclear plant with own resources – (Hurriyet Daily News) Turkey plans to start building its third nuclear power plant with its own means by 2018-2019 after it has acquired quality human resources, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said late on Oct. 22, after a three-hour meeting with representatives from the Energy Ministry…

Energy: Turkey aims to become a gas hub for Europe – (ANSA Med) Turkey could become a natural gas hub with its LNG terminals at the border of Greece and Bulgaria, as Anadolu Agency reports quoting an official from BOTAS, Turkey's state-run gas pipeline company. "The natural gas transmission pipelines of Turkey could be integrated with the EU if Greece does not build a new LNG terminal…

Pipeline Boost Not Enough to Shield Turkey From Russian Gas Cut – (Bloomberg Businessweek) A capacity increase in the Blue Stream natural gas pipeline from Russia won’t prevent Turkey from facing natural gas shortages, according to energy company Akfel Holding AS.  Western Turkey gets most of its gas through pipelines crossing Ukraine, and the ability to send Russian supplies from Blue Stream in the east is limited, Fatih Baltaci, president of Akfel, the Istanbul-based private gas importer…

Turkey to refuse from “take or pay” principle in gas import – (Azernews) Turkey will abandon the "take or pay" principle in gas supplies from Azerbaijan and Iran, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz told local media.  Yildiz said that Turkey will abandon the "take or pay" principle in gas supplies from Iran in late 2014. He reminded that Turkey completely abandoned this principle in gas supplies from Russia in 2013…

Ukraine

Ukrainian nuclear energy fully ready for autumn-winter period of 2014-2015 – (Kyiv Post) The Ukrainian nuclear energy is fully ready to the autumn-winter period of 2014-2015, President of National Nuclear Generating Company Energoatom Yuriy Nedashkovsky has said…

Ukraine relies on South African coal to stay warm during winter – (Kyiv Post) The nation’s electricity and heat generating companies are heavily dependent on coal for fuel, but the war that erupted in the main Donets coal basin in March has caused extraction of the highly thermal types A and T coal to decline by a critical 13 percent in nine months…

First ship carrying South African coal to Ukraine arrives in Odesa – (Kyiv Post) The first ship carrying coal from South Africa dropped anchor in the Illichivsk commercial port in the Odesa region on Oct. 23, a source in the Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry told Interfax…

Ukraine's regulatory chief ousted – (WNN) Ukraine dismissed 39 high-ranking officials yesterday as a new law on "power purification" came into effect.  According to local newspaper Kyiv Post, the list includes the first deputy head of Ukraine's State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate (SNRI), Mikhail Gashev.  Gashev was critical of Westinghouse-made nuclear fuel assemblies used in Ukrainian reactors, claiming that they were defective. Westinghouse maintained that errors had been made during fuel loading…

Poroshenko: Ukraine will have the gas and heating – (Public Radio of Armenia) Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko confirmed that an agreement has been reached with Russia on a provisional price for gas supply during the winter months, Aljazeera reports.  Poroshenko stated the agreement was reached during the talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Milan earlier on  October 17…

Ukraine Asks Poland for Free Coal: Russian Presidential Spokesperson – (Ria Novosti) Ukraine has asked Poland for free provision of coal for the country's power plants, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Friday in Milan, where a working breakfast involving Russian President Vladimir Putin, his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko and a number of key EU leaders was held…

Ukraine-Russia Gas Deal Still Possible Despite Setback – (Oil Price) Negotiations over a natural gas deal between Ukraine and Russia have faltered since the spring, but the standoff has taken on a new urgency as winter approaches.  Following the overthrow of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich in February, Russia altered the terms by which it sells natural gas to Ukraine…

Flat prices despite failed Russia-Ukraine energy talks – (Energy News Live) Prices on the UK power and electricity Markets looked flat this morning despite energy talks failing between Russia and Ukraine over an unpaid gas bill, according to the daily market report from npower…

Fears over gas supply as Russia-Ukraine talks fail – (CNBC) Russia and Ukraine failed to reach an accord on gas supplies for the coming winter in EU-brokered talks on Tuesday but agreed to meet again in Brussels in a week in the hope of ironing out problems over Kiev's ability to pay…

Ukraine, Russia, EU energy chiefs meet to finalise gas deal – (Reuters) Russia and Ukraine aim to resolve an impasse over natural gas supplies on Tuesday as their energy ministers meet in Brussels for talks brokered by the European Union's energy commissioner…

Ukraine, EU to hold closed-door meeting on energy cooperation — source – (TASS) EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger will hold a closed-door meeting with Ukraine’s Energy and Coal Minister Yuriy Prodan on Monday to discuss energy cooperation, a source in the Ukrainian government said…

Buildings hold key to Europe’s gas independence, study says – (EUEA) The released analysis “Increasing the EU’s Energy Independence: A No-Regrets Strategy for Energy Security and Climate Change” argues that carbon reductions of 49% or more could be achieved, and comes just days before the European Council meets to set new climate change targets…

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