Weekly collection of energy news articles for the region.  Click on the links for access to original publications.

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June 25, 2015: USAID / USEA Southeast Europe Cooperation Initiative (SECI) Transmission System Planning Project Working Group Meeting – Budapest, Hungary 

Albania: Seasonal Businesses Not Paying for Electricity – (Energetika) Cela also warned that in the case of non-payment, these businesses will not be supplied with electricity. He noted that the businesses are seasonal and are operating only from May to September…

Bulgarian Company to Help Repair Albanian Power Plant – (Energetika) Komani is Albania's biggest hydro power plant (HPP) and repair works are expected to extend the HPP's life by 8 to 10 years. The voltage transformers currently in use were produced in 1984 and have not been upgraded…

Bulgaria

Bulgaria parliament to postpone electricity price hike? (ROUNDUP) – (Focus) Bulgaria’s parliamentary Committee on Supervision of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) adopted legislative amendments to extend the price/regulatory period ending on June 30, 2015, on prices of companies in the sectors of electricity and heat energy by July 31, 2015…

Bulgaria’s electricity price hike row reaches Parliament – (The Sofia Globe) The simmering opposition to plans by Bulgaria’s utilities regulator to increase electricity prices starting July 1 appears to have reached boiling point, with Parliament scheduled to hear out the regulator’s head on the House floor on June 24…

Bulgaria Parliament Committee Agrees to Delay Power Price Hike – (Novinite) A committee with Bulgaria's Parliament overseeing activities at energy watchdog KEVR has passed amendments to put off an increase in electricity prices for a month. The move allows for price hikes in electricity industrial consumers to take place a month later than initially planned…

Roundup: Bulgarian energy regulator insists on new electricity pricing model – (Global Post) Bulgaria's Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) chief here on Tuesday insisted on the implementation of the new electricity pricing model, despite pressure on the commission from industry associations…

Protest of Bulgarian business against electricity price hike not to be only symbolic: businessman – (Focus) “Friday protest of the companies against the planned electricity price hike will not be only symbolic. Indeed, there will be a protest,” said Kiril Domuschiev, Chairperson of the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria (CEIB), speaking after a meeting with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov over the planned electricity price increase in Bulgaria as of next month…

Electricity price hike can be compensated by prevention of thefts and misuse of electricity: chairman – (Focus) The electricity price hike can be compensated by prevention of thefts and misuse of electricity. That is what chairman of the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria Vasil Velev said for FOCUS News Agency…

Bulgaria proposes gas storage facility for Turkish Stream – (Anadolu Agency) Bulgaria wants to build a storage facility for the natural gas from the Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline project, said Alexander Novak, Russian energy minister.  Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the cancellation of the South Stream gas pipeline project on Dec. 1, 2014. Instead, he proposed a new natural gas pipeline route through Turkey's northwestern Thrace region to reach Greece. This route is commonly referred to as the Turkish Stream…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Secretariat and ENTSOG hold workshop on implementing gas interoperability network code – (Energy Community) The Energy Community Secretariat together with the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG) held a joint workshop on the implementation of the Network Code for Interoperability and Data Exchange Rules in Vienna on 18 June. ENTSOG’s Early Warning System was also discussed. The workshop brought together more than 50 participants…

SEE CAO Publishes Results of Capacity Auction for July – (Energetika) In the direction from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to Croatia, 201 MW of capacity was offered, all of which was allocated Physical Transmission Rights. The total requested Physical Transmission Rights were 688...

Kosovo

Kosovo to launch energy efficiency projects financed by the World Bank – (dtt-net) Kosovo is set to launch several energy efficiency projects with the help the world lending institution with a total loan of 31 million USD…

World Bank Supports Kosovo Energy Projects – (Energetika) In his meetings with heads of the World Bank, Stavileci discussed sustainable development in Kosovo’s energy sector, including projects which are aimed at increasing generation capacities, enhancing energy efficiency...

Kosovo Launches EUR 28 Million Worth Energy Efficiency and RES Project – (Energetika) ʺThe Kosovo Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Project will be a good example that our country is implementing the measures and standards that relate to energy efficiency in public buildings, which, among...”

Macedonia

ECRB report examines independence of national energy regulators in the Energy Community – (Energy Community) The Energy Community Regulatory Board (ECRB) published today a report assessing the legal independence of national energy regulators in the Energy Community. ECRB President, Mr Branislav Prelevic, said: “The report allows us to take stock of the current state of regulatory independence in the Energy Community and identify the legal gaps between the current state of play and what still must be done to implement the Third Energy Package in full…

MEPSO to Invest EUR 155 Million in Transmission System in next 10 Years – (Energetika) “The Štip – Niš connection transmission line with Serbia, which cost Macedonia EUR 11 million, should be operational in a few months, and the preparation of the project documentation for interconnection with…

Montenegro

Montenegro's upgraded TPP Pljevlja capacity raised to 223 MW – (SEE News) he installed capacity of Montenegrin thermal power plant (TPP) Pljevlja has increased to 223 MW from 190 MW thanks to two upgrades in the past three years, state-controlled power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) said in the June edition of its corporate newsletter…

In Montenegro, Consultation on Power Price Regulation Still On – (Energetika) The Montenegrin Energy Regulator made available for a public consultation a draft methodology for amendments to the methodology for determining the regulatory revenue and prices for the use of the transmission...

Romania

Collapse of Romanian Green Certificates’ Market– (Energetika) On 14 May 2015, 111 offers for the sale of green certificates were made, however, there was no buyer. Following this, on 16 June 2015, there were 91 sale offers and again there were zero transactions...

Deal for Construction of Two Units at Romania's Cernavoda NPP by Year-end – (Energetika) CGNPC won a public tender last year, Romanian media recall. The Chinese company was the only one that submitted a proposal for building the two new units. The project is estimated to be worth EUR 6.45 billion...

EU takes Romania to court over gas supply rules – (Energy Live News) The European Commission is referring Romania to the EU Court of Justice for failing to adopt an emergency plan in case of gas supply disruptions.  The Security of Gas Supply Regulation aims to ensure countries in the EU are well prepared to deal with possible supply disturbance…

EC starts new infringement against Romania on gas supply security – (Romania-Insider) The European Commission announced on June 18 that it would go to the European Court of Justice against Romania for failing to adopt an emergency plan to ensure the country’s gas supply security…

European policymakers seek more cross-border power trade–draft – (Reuters) An EU-wide system for cross-border intra-day power trade needs to be set up as part of the bloc's plans for a fully connected European energy market with secure, affordable supplies, according to a draft European Commission document…

Serbia

EU energy roadmap more cost effective for South East Europe than current policies, shows new energy model – (EIN News) By aligning their energy policies with the EU energy roadmap and closing all coal power plants and replacing them with renewable energy sources, the countries of South East Europe (SEE) can have a cleaner and cheaper energy system…

Serbian Unions Slate Electricity Price Hike – (EIN News) The association of Serbian unions, Sloga, on June 16 slated the government's announced electricity price increase, saying it will impact on citizens' declining living standards.  Unions say electricity should have remained a “social category” and thus exempt from market rules…

Gazprom and NIS Setting Up Company to Construct TPP in Serbia – (Energetika) According to the agreement, Tsentrenergoholding will own a 51% stake in Serbskaya Generaciya Novi Sad, whilst NIS will own 49%. The construction of the EUR 140 million worth power plant is expected to start in...

Serbian EPS Sells 1,450 GWh of Electricity on Free Market in First Half of 2015 – (Energetika) The Nikola Tesla Thermal Power Plant (TENT), the largest power plant in Serbia, generated slightly more than 7,000 GWh of electricity in the first five months of 2015.According to Ljubiša Mihailović, TENT's Dir...

Armenia

Armenia’s ‘Electric Yerevan’ Protesters Return to Streets Despite Arrests and Water Blasts– (The New York Times) Thousands of protesters confronted riot police in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, for a second night on Tuesday, just hours after a previous demonstration was dispersed with blasts of water and more than 200 arrests…

Armenians protest electricity prices – (Euractiv) Several thousand people protested in the Armenian capital Yerevan on Monday (22 June) against a recent decision to raise electricity prices. Media reported police violence and arrests.  About 5,000 demonstrators marched to the presidential headquarters, but were stopped by riot police and began a sit-in protest on the road, blocking traffic…

Armenian police arrest 200 at protest over energy prices – (BBC News) More than 200 people have been arrested in Armenia during protests about rising electricity prices. Some 5,000 demonstrators marched to the presidential headquarters in the capital, Yerevan, but were stopped by riot police with water cannon.  The protesters then sat on the road to block traffic, before officers moved in to disperse them early on Tuesday morning…

Armenians resume energy price protests, defying police – (Reuters) Thousands of Armenians staged a second day of protests on Tuesday in the capital Yerevan against a hike in electricity prices, defying police who used water cannon to try to disperse them…

Protesters Renew March Against Electricity Prices in Armenia – (ABC News) Several thousand demonstrators marched toward the presidential residence in the Armenian capital on Tuesday to protest a hike in electricity prices, renewing their demonstration in even greater numbers after riot police used water cannons to forcefully disperse them earlier in the day…

Thousands Rally Against Energy Price Hike in Armenia – (MassisPost) Thousands of people demonstrated in Yerevan on Friday to condemn the test increase in the prices of electricity in Armenia which was authorized by regulatory authorities on Thursday.  A non-partisan pressure group that organized the demonstration in the city’s Liberty Square gave the authorities until Monday to reverse the more than 16 percent price rise or face fresh street protests…

Energy supply restrictions beyond Bibin’s competence – Armenian minister of energy– (ARKA) General director of the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) Yevgeniy Bibin is not authorized to restrict energy supplies in the country, Armenia’s minister of energy and natural resources Yervand Zakharyan said in his interview to Zhoghovurd (People) newspaper, in commenting Bibin’s recent letter to the Public Service Regulatory Commission…

Leaving Armenia out of energy projects violates stability: British expert – (ArmenPress) Armenia has been left out of the energy projects of the South Caucasus, which emerges a sense of insecurity and violates the stability…

Some 20 international teams visit Armenia annually to inspect level of nuclear safety at Metsamor nuclear power plant – (ARKA) Some 20 international teams from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)  and the European Union  visit Armenia annually to inspect and help improve the level of nuclear safety at Metsamor nuclear power plant, the head of Armenia's State Committee on Nuclear Safety, Ashot Martirosian, told a news conference today…

Deputy minister: Armenia reckons on energy cooperation with Turkey – (ARKA) Armenia counts on establishing energy cooperation with the neighboring Turkey, Armenia’s deputy minister of energy Areg Galstyan said at the Rose-Roth seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Yerevan on Saturday…

Armenia official: Country is heavily dependent on primary sources of energy – (News.Am) Armenia receives most oil products from Russia and Europe, especially from Romania.  The Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Armenia, Areg Galstyan, on Saturday noted the above-said at the 89th Rose-Roth seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and which is held in Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan…

Azerbaijan

UNIDO begins transferring solar energy knowledge to Azerbaijan – (ABC.AZ) The State Agency for Alternative & Renewable Energy Sources (ABOEMDA) has been involved in the International Solar Energy Center under UNIDO (UNIDO-ISEC).  According to the Agency, together with the Ministry of Commerce of China the UNIDO-ISEC held an international seminar on the implementation and management of solar energy, which was attended by the ABOEMDA group of specialists…

Azerbaijani gas in ‘Turkish Stream’ – (Trend) Unlike other suppliers of gas to Europe, Azerbaijan has never used its advantages as a means of political pressure on the EU.  Since Azerbaijan’s foreign policy is aimed at establishing good-neighborly relations with other countries, the most important thing for Baku is to reach the world markets…

Gazprom ready to provide Azerbaijan with natural gas – (News.Az) Today, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum - 2015 held a working meeting of the Chairman of the Board of OAO "Gazprom" Alexey Miller and President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) Rovnag Abdullayev, Oxu.Az reports quoting the press release of "Gazprom…

Alexei Miller: Gazprom is ready to export gas to Azerbaijan – (APA) President of State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Rovnag Abdullayev has today met with the chairman of Management Board of Gazprom Alexei Miller within the framework of St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.  The sides have discussed development of future cooperation in energy sphere…

Climate change sets new challenges for Azerbaijan – (Azernews) At a time when UN talks are underway to develop a new universally-recognized international climate change agreement, the world is bracing for new wave of global warming from man-derived greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution…

Azerbaijan’s power export starts growing – (ABC.AZ) Azerbaijan’s export of electric power started growing in May 2015.   The State Customs Committee reports that according to electric meters’ data over Jan-May 2015 electric power export from the country totaled 148.5 million kWh that exceeds the 2014 same term’s index (116.927 million kWh) by 27.04%. Delivery for power export reached 60.5 million kWh in January, 7.27 million kWh in February, 21.89 million kWh in March…

Moldova

SUN DA-I Fest, third edition, brought together thousands of renewable energy promoters – (AEE) Thousands of Moldovans discovered eco technologies at SUN DA-I Fest – Live Music Festival, powered by solar energy. The event culminates the European Union Sustainable Energy Week and is organised by the EU-funded Energy and Biomass Project, together with the Energy Efficiency Agency and POT Music…

Turkey

Gazprom's new pipeline inching forward – (UPI) Russian company Gazprom said it was issued a permit by the Turkish government to start survey work for the offshore section of the Turkish Stream pipeline. "Turkey has issued a permit on engineering surveys for the offshore section of Turkish Stream," the company said in a statement…

Nearly 30 power plants to be privatized in Turkey by 2020 – (Hurriyet) A total of 29 hydroelectric and gas-turbine powered  power plants of the Turkish Electricity Generation Corporation (EÜAŞ), and Turkey’s state-run oil company TPAO’s oil distribution unit, TP Petrol Dağıtım, have been put under a privatization program, according to a written statement published in the Official Gazette on June 24…

Nuclear Power in Turkey - Steps Taken & Steps Ahead – (Power Engineering) Turkey has been trying to establish nuclear power plants since the 1960s. Five different attempts have been made between 1960 and 2010, but none of them have borne any fruit for political and economic reasons. The Turkish government issued separate pieces of legislation at different times, which together form the legal backbone governing the establishment and operation of nuclear power plants…

Turkey’s solar energy potential underutilized – (Daily Sabah) The International Solar Energy Society's Turkey head Gani Bayraktar said a solar energy plantation on 790 square kilometers can meet Turkey's entire energy demand, and that current plantations can produce up to 71,430 megawatts…

EU Energy Union: Turkey should develop nuclear safety in line with EU – (Hurriyet) For Turkey’s accession process to the European Union, it needs to develop an adequate framework to ensure a high level of nuclear safety, said EU energy union chief Maros Sefcovic on June 19…

Turkey should develop nuke safety in line with EU – (World Bulletin) For Turkey's accession process to the European Union, it needs to develop an adequate framework to ensure a high level of nuclear safety, said the EU’s energy union chief Maros Sefcovic on Friday…

Ukraine

In Ukraine's Energy Sector, Failure is Not an Option– (Huffington Post) During OPEC's oil embargo in the 1970s, America learned what happens when a reliance on foreign energy meets geopolitics. Today the situation in my country -- Ukraine -- is even more serious. Our energy policy has long been linked with politics, and our dependence on Russian energy supplies has left us vulnerable to political blackmailing…

Ukraine delegation learns about renewable energy – (Progress Newspaper) A Ukraine delegation recently spent a week in northwest Ohio learning about renewable and alternative energy sources. One day was spent in Paulding County as the delegation received a first hand look at how renewable energy is working in Haviland at the Haviland Plastic Products/Quasar BioMass facility…

Ukraine electricity production reported down 12.7% through May 31 – (Ukrainian Journal) Electricity production in the united power system of Ukraine in January-May 2015 decreased by 12.7% compared to the same period in 2014, to 70.189 billion kWh, a Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry source has told Interfax-Ukraine…

Ukraine makes $75 mln Russian debt payment – (World Bulletin) Ukraine has made a $75-million interest payment on a $3-billion Eurobond held by Russia, the Russian Finance Ministry told RIA Novosti news agency on Monday…

Ukrainian delegates wrap up visit at Energy Fair – (Wausau Daily Herald) Ukrainian delegates wrapped up their U.S. visit at the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair on Friday, after a week of traveling throughout Wisconsin learning about renewable energy initiatives…

UPDATE 1-Slovakia rejects Ukraine complaint over gas flows – (Reuters) Slovak gas pipeline operator Eustream on Wednesday rejected Ukrainian government complaints about Slovakia's refusal to provide more capacity for reverse gas flow to Ukraine, saying any change must be negotiated on a multi-lateral level…

Ukraine appeals to EU over 'illegal' Gazprom-Slovak pipeline contract – (Reuters) Kiev has appealed to the European Union over an agreement between Slovak pipeline operator Eustream and Russia's Gazprom that it says violates EU law in allowing Gazprom to prevent reverse flows back to Ukraine in a key pipeline, according to a document seen by Reuters…

Energy Ministry believes privatization of CHPPs is a priority – (Interfax-Ukraine) Ukraine's Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry believes that the privatization of combined heat and power plants (CHPP) is a priority, minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn has said…

EU-Russia talks for Ukraine winter gas days away – Sefcovic – (Reuters) Talks with Russia on a planned gas package for Ukraine for next winter are set to take place in "coming days", European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic said on Wednesday, stressing he wanted the negotiations concluded in one meeting…

'Transit of gas via Ukraine of strategic importance' – (Web India) The transit of gas via Ukraine is of strategic importance and needs to be maintained even in the future, said Maros Sefcovic, the vice-president of the European Commission's Energy Union, at the GLOBSEC security forum here…

Ukraine imports 15,000-20,000 tonnes of coal from occupied areas of Donbas per day – (Kyiv Post) Ukraine imports 15,000-20,000 tonnes of coal from the occupied areas of Luhansk and Donetsk Oblasts every day, Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Volodymyr Demchyshyn has said…

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