USEA Upcoming Events

March 25-26 2015: USAID/USEA Black Sea Regional Transmission System Planning (BSTP) Project Working Group Meeting Bucharest, Romania

March 27 2015: USAID/USEA Black Sea Regional Transmission System Planning (BSTP)/Black Sea Regulatory Initiative (BSRI) Joint Project Working Group Meeting Bucharest, Romania

 

Albania

Albania to work with German firm on power line to Italy – (Reuters) Albania signed a deal on Wednesday with German project management firm Max Streicher to create a company to build a 200 million euro ($227.1 million) power line to Italy…

Could Southeast Europe Be the Next Growth Market for Energy Storage? – (CS Week) Southeast Europe faces a wide range of political and economic challenges, not least in the energy arena…

New European gas pipeline progressing – (UPI) Planners behind a new natural gas pipeline for the European market said contractors are invited to bid on offshore construction work in the Adriatic Sea...

TAP launches two pre-qualification contracts – (World Pipelines) Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG (TAP) has launched two pre-qualification contracts for the construction of the 105 km offshore pipeline section under the Adriatic Sea. The greatest depth the pipeline will be laid is 820 m…

Albania hires German company for undersea power cable with Italy – (dtt-net) Albanian government today signed a deal with German energy company 'Max Streicher' for developing the project and the construction of the 400 Kv submarine electricity cable of 330 km from Durres (Albania) to Foggia (Italy)…

Shell discovers potential reserves in Albania – (Balkans) The discovery of an oil area in Berat County, in the south of Albania, has attracted Shell Oil Company to increase investments in Albania, according to Albanian daily news report on Monday…

Bulgaria

Bulgaria scraps incentives for new renewable energy installations – (Reuters) - Bulgaria's parliament scrapped preferential prices for new renewable energy installations on Thursday as the country is struggling to cut deficits in the energy sector and keep a lid on consumers' utility bills…

Bulgaria reports 11.3% increase in electricity production in Dec 2014  -(Focus) In December 2014 compared to November 2014 Bulgaria reports increase of the production of solid fuels by 8.8%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 4.8%, natural gas - by 140.0% and electricity - by 11.3%, shows the data of Bulgaria’s National Statistical Institute…

Hard Power, Soft Power, and Energy Power – (Foreign Affairs) The debate over whether U.S. interests abroad are better served by hard power—coercive means such as military force—or soft power—less aggressive means of persuasion, such as diplomacy, economic aid, and propaganda—is perennial…

Planned Unit 7 of Bulgaria's Kozloduy NPP to Generate USD 11 B  - (Novinite) US-based nuclear power company Westinghouse estimated that the electricity produced by unit 7 of Bulgaria's Kozloduy NPP will cost between USD 75 and 84 per megawatt-hour, if it constructs its AP1000 plant there…

EVN Bulgaria to Request 6.98% Electricity Price Hike for Households – (Public.bg) On average, the bill of a household supplied by EVN would then rise from BGN 49.35 to BGN 52.80, VAT included, calculated on the basis of 200 kWh daytime consumption and 70 kWh during the nighttime…

Bulgaria’s Parliament Approves Energy Act Amendments concerning Energy Watchdog – (Novinite) Bulgaria’s State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR) is renamed to Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (KEVR) under amendments to the Energy Act that passed second reading in Parliament on Thursday…

Bulgarian PM, Georgian Parliament Speaker Discuss Energy, Tourism – (Novinite) Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and Speaker of Georgian Parliament Davit Usupashvili discussed opportunities for cooperation in the fields of energy security, transport, agriculture and tourism…

Valentin Nikolov: Amendments to the Energy Act will prevent a hike of electricity bills – (Focus) The Bulgarian Parliament approved the final amendments to the Energy Act. Which of them are the most important ones and will they guarantee the stability of the Bulgarian energy sector and our grater security in it? Will this lead, to a certain extent, to a relief of the households’ expenses?...

Bulgaria's president Rosen Plevneliev: the interconnection of the gas pipeline between Bulgaria and Romania is a priority – (Act Media) Bulgaria's president, Rosen Plevneliev on Friday specified that the interconnection of the gas pipeline between Bulgaria and Romania, which is part of the North-South corridor is a priority and this project will be finalised as soon as possible…

Bulgaria's Chiren underground gas storage contains enough gas to meet their need – (Balkans) The information was released in response to Tuesday’s escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine over gas supplies and the warning of Gazprom that there could be problems with deliveries to Europe in two days…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Electricity production in Bosnia goes up – (dtt-net) Production of electricity in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in December went up for 21.3 percent comparing to November, data from country's agency of statistics show…

New Electricity Regulation in Bosnia and Herzegovina – (Energetika) According to RERS, the main reason for adopting the amendments to the Regulation on Tariff Methodology and Tariff Procedures for Electricity is to specify the manner of determining the price of electricity gene…

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Travnik Municipality Discusses Wind Farm in Vlašić - (Energetika) As we already reported HERE, the project envisages 20 wind farms with a capacity of 50 MW.Due to the fact that the wind park is to be located under the highest mountain Vlašić (2,000 metres)…

Croatia

Croatia households to pay cheaper gas – (dtt-net) Croatian households will buy cheaper gas as of next month, country's government announced today amid a plan by the ruling cabinet of social-democrats to lower prices for local consumers…

Croatia clears purchase of energy trader by Swiss's Ezpada – (dtt-net) Croatian Competition Agency today cleared purchase of majority shares by Swiss Ezpada - a group of companies active on the European wholesale energy markets - of Croatian similar company, Proenergy, and its branches in Serbia, Bosnia and Macedonia…

Croatian Economy Minister: HEP Should Buy Energy Companies in the Region – (Energetika) ʺI want us to become the regional 'hotshots', so instead of other companies buying us, we buy them. HEP needs to be the owner of some of the companies in these countries, and we must do everything we can to get...

Croatia's HEP Signs Exclusivity Agreement on Plomin C TPP - (Energetika) ʺWith this we have successfully completed the first phase of the negotiation process in the selection of a strategic partner for the construction and management of Unit C of the Plomin TPP,ʺ HEP said…

Kosovo

Kosovo KEK to Increase Electricity Production Next Month – (Energetika) “We remain committed to our work and to raising the level of production. Despite all the challenges, works due to the overhaul of Kosova A thermal power plant are already completed…

Macedonia

Macedonia to Start Constructing National Gas Pipeline in March – (Energetik) According to this Macedonian portal, the Italian company Concordia will construct most of the national pipeline (in the regions of east Macedonia and Prilep and west Macedonia), while in the Skopje region…

Macedonia Paying the Highest Gas Price in Europe – (Energetik) For the same gas Serbia, for example, pays USD 457 (EUR 403), Slovenia USD 486 (EUR 429) and Bulgaria USD 501 (EUR 442).According to some analysts, the difference in the price is a result of the quantity of gas...

Montenegro

Italy, Montenegro start construction of undersea power cable – (dtt-net) Italy and Montenegro have started construction of 415 km long interconnection undersea power line between Pescara (Italy) and Tivat (Montenegro), with Italian side contributing with 760 Euro million and Montenegro with another 100 Euro million to the project…

Montenegro: Energy Regulatory Agency Announces Changes in EPCG – (Energetika) As we previously reported (HERE) RAE’s task is to make sure the entire Montenegrin electricity sector functions. Therefore, the Agency will be intensively engaged this year in monitoring the implementation…

Italy Starts Constructing Underwater Power Cable to Montenegro - (Energetika)The total length of the EUR 800 million underwater power cable is 390 kilometres. The first phase involves the installation of 140 kilometres of cable, and its completion is expected in 20 days…

Romania

Romania Natural Gas: Country Cuts Imports Of Russian Fuel By 61%  -(International Business Times) Romania is using less natural gas now than at any time in the past 10 years, and it is looking to expand domestic exports, reducing its reliance on gas supplied by Russian giant Gazprom, according to Interfax Energy. Romania cut its gas imports by 61 percent in 2014, according to preliminary data prepared by the Institutul National de Statistica and BP…

Watchdog says Romanian energy regulator has conflict of interest – (Reuters) Romania's anti-graft watchdog has accused the head of national energy regulator ANRE of breaching its rules by simultaneously running a private gas services firm…

Romania cuts dependence on gas and Russia – (Natural gas daily) Romania may be seeing its hopes for shale gas production disappear, but sinking annual consumption means its reliance on Gazprom imports is also steadily declining…

CEZ 2014 EBITDA in Romania falls on green certificates suspension, lower prices – (See News Renewables) Czech energy group CEZ said on Tuesday its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) from power production and trade in Romania dropped by 41% to 1.4 billion Czech crowns ($57 million/51 million euro) in 2014, while EBITDA from distribution and sales rose 28% to 2.3 billion crowns… 

Serbia

Serbia admits interest on US LNG, EU gas pipeline projects – (dtt-net) Serbia’s Minister of Energy and Mining Aleksandar Antic today said the country is interested to diversify its gas imports including the Natural Liquefied Gas (LND) from the US, the EU pipeline from Azerbaijan, on top of the new Russia’s ‘Turkish Stream’ project…

Serbia, IMF agree on 15 pct electricity price hike in 2015 – (Reuters) Serbia agreed with the International Monetary Fund that it would raise electricity prices this year by 15 percent, Daehaeng Kim, the IMF representative there said on Wednesday…

Serbia: Heat Pumps on Sava River to provide heating in Belgrade apartments  -(Balkans) Belgrade is an exceptional place where heat can be produced using ecologically advanced heat pumps which would provide heating for Belgrade citizens, officials said during a conference on heating and cooling held in Brussels, reports Tanjug…

Gas prices in Serbia go up – (dtt-net) Prices of gas in Serbia will increase from 5 to 13 percent as of today depending on the distributor, country’s energy agency announced…

"Great progress in harmonizing energy sector with EU" – (B92) Serbia has made great progress in harmonizing energy sector regulations with EU standards, Energy Minister Aleksandar Antic and EC officials have concluded…

Serbia seeks more time from EU to implement CO2 goals – (dtt-net) Serbia is asking from the European Union additional time to adopt and implement laws for its industry sector when it comes to meeting of environment criteria set by Brussels on reducing C02 emissions…

Armenia

Energy minister discusses Armenia’s mining sector prospects in Toronto – (ARKA) Armenia’s energy and natural resources minister Yervand Zakaryan had a series of meeting with heads of major mining companies on the sidelines of the Prospectors and Developers Association Conference (PDAC) in Toronto, Canada, Armenian energy and natural resources ministry said today…

Armenia to become part of energy chain with Georgia and Iran – (Armenpress) Armenia is going to build new electric lines in its northern and southern borders to connect to the energy systems of Georgia and Iran and in case of necessity the Republic will be able to su0pply energy to these countries…

Energy Concerns: Gas, electricity issues in Armenia may impact regional geopolitics – (Armenia Now) Serious problems appear to be emerging in Armenia’s energy sector and they may lead to changes in the geopolitical situation in the region, where energy is one of the main components. Energy-wise Armenia completely depends on Russia, and if this dependence decreases, it will also have an impact on geopolitics…

Armenian energy efficiency project showing gains – (Cistran Finance) The World Bank’s Energy Efficiency Project in Armenia has improved public facilities since it began six years ago and has provided cost savings of approximately $360 million….

Armenia Wants Russia To Freeze Gas Price – (Radio Free Europe) Armenia says it is seeking to freeze the price it pays for Russian natural gas, a key source of electricity in the economically struggling South Caucasus nation…

Azerbaijan

"The security of Azerbaijan, through which energy resources are supplied, means the security of Europe"  -(Vestnik) Speaking at the forum, the Vice-President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR/SOCAR), Elshad Nasirov, said that over the years thousands of Germans have been working in Azerbaijan…

Azerbaijan to define investment options of International Energy Charter – (ABC.AZ) Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Azerbaijan is likely to determine the investment options of an International Energy Charter to replace the current Energy Charter…

In September ADB ready to fund $150 million to improve electricity distribution in Azerbaijan – (ABC.AZ)  The Asian Development Bank (ADB) continues to prepare Power Distribution Enhancement Project in Azerbaijan. The Bank reports that it is considering the issue of allocation of $150 million for financing PDEP, waiting for the provision of another $187 million from Azerbaijan…

Despite Low Oil Prices, Azerbaijan Increases Electricity Exports – (Silk Road Reporters) The global downturn in oil prices has hit many petrostates hard, particularly the post-Soviet states clustered around the Caspian…

ADB assesses possibilities of alternative energy development in Azerbaijan – (Trend) The Asian Development Bank is currently working to assess the possibility of alternative energy development in Azerbaijan, the Baku office of the bank…

ADB focuses on alternative energy development – (Azernews) Although Azerbaijan remains an energy rich country, it has greatly invested in the alternative energy sector in order to not only diversify its portfolio but also protect the environment…

Azerbaijan and Afghanistan may cooperate in energy sector – (News.AZ) According to sources in the ministry, the meeting was also attended by Minister of Mining and Oil Industry of Afghanistan Daud Saba and chief executive officer of the government of Afghanistan Abdulla Abdulla…

Georgia

Four Georgian border villages connected with gas – (Agenda.GE) Four Georgian villages located near the so-called occupation line with Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region are now supplied with gas…

Turkey

Turkey Aims to Become Energy Hub for Russian Gas – (Voice of America) With Moscow declaring in the coming years that it will divert its gas supplies away from Ukraine and through Turkey to supply Europe, Ankara said it is a step closer to its goal of being a major gas hub. But critics point out Turkey still has many hurdles to overcome…

Energy, security top focus of Turkish and Turkmen leaders – (Daily Sabah Business) ing a joint press conference held with Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, who came to Turkey for a series of official talks, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, "In the future as well, we will continue to work with and be in close consultation with Turkmenistan for the prosperity, stability and security of the region."..

TAP invites pre-qualification for offshore construction and line pipe – (Pipelines) Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG (TAP) has launched two pre-qualification contracts for the construction of the 105 km offshore pipeline section under the Adriatic Sea…

Turkey secures 10.25 discount on Russian gas, says energy minister – (Daily News) Turkey has secured a discount of 10.25 percent in the price of what it pays for Russian gas, but consumers won’t see any changes in their utility bills due to the current weakness of the Turkish Lira, Energy Minister Taner Yıldız said on Feb. 27…

Energy: A new world challenge and a complex dilemma for Turkey – (Daily News) The ongoing energy crisis, originating from the substantial and totally unexpected drop in the price of oil, is nothing like what we have seen before…

Greek company Photovoltaic to invest in renewable energy in Turkey – (Customs Today) Greek solar energy company Photovoltaic Energy Systems is preparing to invest in renewable energy in Turkey, a company official said…

Gazprom cuts gas price to Turkey to no benefit of customers – (Today’s Zaman) Russian energy firm Gazprom has cut natural gas prices to Turkey by 10.25 percent; however, due to the ever-weakening Turkish lira, customers will not benefit from the reduction, Energy Minister Taner Yıldız said in an announcement on Friday…

Turkey, Turkmenistan seal new energy deals – (Todays Zaman) Following a meeting with turkmen president Gurbanguli Berdimuhamedov in Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced that Turkey, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan will establish a trilateral mechanism on energy issues, with the first leaders' meeting to take place in Turkmenistan…

Ukraine

Ukraine to suspend Russian electricity imports ASAP – (Interfax- Ukraine) Ukraine will suspend imports of electricity from Russia when the country no longer needs it, First Deputy Energy and Coal Industry Minister of Ukraine Yuriy Ziukov has said…

Ukraine approves increase of electricity tariffs for households by 3.5 times in five stages by April 2017 – (Kyiv Post) The National Commission of Ukraine for Energy, Housing and Utilities Services Regulation (NCER) has approved the five-stage increase in electricity for households: they to grow by 3.5 times by April 2017, reaching Hr 122.83 kopecks per kilowatt-hour (kWh)…

Ukraine to increase minimum household electricity tariff by 19 percent from April, medium tariff 50 percent, maximum tariff 5 percent – (Kyiv Post) The National Commission of Ukraine for Energy, Housing and Utilities Services Regulation (NCER) will from April 1, 2015 increase the minimum tariff for household electricity by 19 percent or 5.8 kopecks per kilowatt-hour…

Belarus ready to supply electricity to Ukraine – (Interfax – Ukraine) Belarus is ready to supply electricity to Ukraine, Belarusian Energy Minister Vladimir Potupchik said at a press conference in Minsk on Thursday…

NCER cuts feed-in tariffs for electricity by 50-55% - (Interfax-Ukraine) Ukraine's National Commission for Energy and Housing and Utilities Services Regulation (NCER) cuts feed-in tariffs for electricity generated from renewable sources by 50-55%...

Cash-strapped Ukraine struggles to keep Russia gas supplies – (The Blade) Cash-strapped Ukraine sought to buy time in its effort to ensure continued gas supplies from Russia, making a $15 million payment to Moscow today as it waits for international rescue loans to arrive…

Naftogaz saves $100 mln due to gas purchase in Europe in Feb – (Interfax – Ukraine) Naftogaz Ukrainy in February 2015 saved $100 million on the difference between the price of gas purchased in Europe and the price proposed by Gazprom, according to the director for business development at Naftogaz Ukrainy, Yuriy Vitrenko…

Ukraine ready to make ‘small’ March prepayment to Gazprom by March 6 – energy minister – (RT) Naftogaz of Ukraine is ready to transfer another ‘small’ portion of its March prepayment to Gazprom by the end of this week, Ukrainian Energy Minister Vladimir Demchishin has said…

Ukraine and Russia reach gas agreement  -(Ukraine Today) Ukraine and Russia have reached a deal which will ensure that Ukraine will be supplied with gas for the month of March…

‘Gas supply remains secure’ after EU-Ukraine-Russia energy talks – (Financial) European Commissioner for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič said he was “reassured that the supply of gas to the EU markets remains secure”, in comments after gas talks with Russia and Ukraine yesterday, adding he was satisfied they had managed to safeguard the full application of the Winter Package for supply needs in Ukraine…

Ukraine sends $15 million for gas, says Russian energy minister – (Business Insider) Ukraine has sent $15 million to pay for Russian gas, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday, just days after Moscow had threatened to cut off supplies to its neighbor due to non-payment…

Ukraine makes gas payment ahead of energy talks with Russia – (Kyiv Post) Ukraine has paid for another month of Russian gas, following threats Moscow would cut off deliveries. Brussels has summoned Russian and Ukrainian officials for talks to resolve a gas dispute between the two countries…

Coal mine explosion leaves more than 30 dead in rebel east Ukraine, local official says – (The Telegraph) More than 30 people are thought to be dead after a methane gas explosion at a notoriously dangerous coal mine in eastern Ukraine…

 

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.