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

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Albania

Albania launches investigation over high electricity imports prices – (dtt-net) Albanian authorities have launched an investigation amid reports of electricity imports prices which turned to be much higher than the regional average causing dozen of million damages to country’s budget…

Bulgaria

Electricity Price Rise in Bulgaria to be Postponed for a Month – (Energetika) Business representatives have threatened protests, explaining that such a price hike will increase their expenses, about which we previously reported HERE. Additionally, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister, Boyko Borisso...

Bulgarian Watchdog Postpones Decision on 1-Month Postponement of New Electricity Prices – (Novinite) Bulgaria’s Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (KEVR) has postponed by Tuesday a decision on the postponement of the entry into force of new electricity tariffs by 1 month…

Bulgaria may postpone planned electricity price increase as of July 1 – (Balkans) Bulgarian National Assembly approved on first reading the postponement of the planned electricity price increase as of July 1. The move came with the adoption of amendments to the Energy Act on Thursday.The amendments were adopted with 126 votes “for”, 12 votes “against”, while 9 MPs abstained…

Bulgaria utilities regulator postpones electricity price hike – (The Sofia Globe) Bulgaria’s Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) said on June 29 that it has decided to postpone the implementation of a new electricity pricing formula by one month to August 1…

Market in Bulgaria already responding to announced electricity tariff increase: trade association chair (ROUNDUP) – (Focus) “Market is already responding to the announced electricity tariff increase and at present prices of raw materials and of all prices in Bulgaria have gone up by 10% to 15%,” said Mariana Kukusheva, chairperson of the consultative council on grain, chairperson of the managing board of the trade association of bakers and confectioners, and member of the Made in Bulgaria…

Delaying Power Price Hike Harmful - Bulgaria Energy Min – (Novinite) Bulgarian Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova has warned a move to put off electricity price hikes will have a negative impact on the energy system.  The minister has also added that retaining price levels will be detrimental to the National Electricity Company (NEK), the state-owned utility which in her words…

Gas Price in Bulgaria to Decrease by 7.53% as of 1 July – (Energetika) According to the Chair of the EWRC, Ivan Ivanov, the commission revised the proposal of the state-owned gas supplier Bulgargaz for a 7.11% price decrease to a 7.53% price decrease.Read Also: Bulgaria’s Bulgarga...

Price of Natural Gas in Bulgaria Drops by 7.53% as of July 1 – (IENE) The price of natural gas drops by 40 levs, from 524 levs to 484 levs per 1000 cubic meters of gas, from July 1, according to a decision of Bulgaria’s Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (KEVR)…

Bulgaria-Greece Gas Link Has Potential to Break Russian Monopoly – FM – (IENE) Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov pointed to the planned gas interconnector between Bulgaria and Greece as having the potential to break Russian monopoly. Mitov highlighed that the swift implementation of the agreement for construction of the gas interconnector, which was likely to be signed in July, was important for the energy security of Southeastern Europe…

Bulgaria to Rely on Azerbaijan for Achieving Greater Energy Diversification – President – (Novinite) Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev stated on Sunday that the country will rely on Azerbaijan for achieving a greater diversification of its energy supplies…

Bulgaria must invest in infrastructure that connects our energy market with European energy market: economist – (Focus) “Bulgarian energy market is very restricted and the country must invest in infrastructure, connecting out market with the European market – gas pipelines and electric transmission networks,” seignior economist with Open Society Foundation, Georgi Angelov said in an interview for FOCUS News Agency…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske Cancels Tender for Electricity Surplus Sale – (Energetika) On 17 April, ERS published a tender for the sale of 22,320 MWh of surplus electricity in May. The bidding deadline was 22 April, SeeNews wrote, adding that the sole bid in the tender was filed by Sarajevo-based...

Croatia

CESEC Meeting, Croatia: Agenda on Memorandum on Implementation of Energy Projects – (Energetika) The meeting will bring together energy ministers of EU member states (Austria, Bulgaria, Croatian, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia) as well as the energy ministers from SEE countries…

Grybauskaite: Lithuanian, Croatian energy projects important to the whole EU – (The Baltic Course) President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite, on an official visit to Croatia, and Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic opened a bilateral high-level energy forum “Towards the European Energy Union”, reported BC presidential press service…

Croatian, Lithuanian presidents support energy independence – (Dalje) Energy independence is very important and Croatia can learn a lot about it from Lithuania, presidents Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic of Croatia and Dalia Grybauskaite of Lithuania said in Zagreb on Monday…

Kosovo

Kosovo: Two Kosova A TPP Units Out of Operation – (Energetika) It added that currently, despite the preliminary planning and the energy balance approved by the Ministry of Economic Development, the power system in Kosovo lacks electricity generation due to the outage…

Kosovo to Open Tender for Feasibility Study on Kosovo B TPP – (Energetika) According to the notice in the EU’s procurement journal, the project will support the government and Kosovo Electricity Corporation (KEK) in a number of activities that relate to implementation of the Energy Co...

Macedonia

A drop in electricity prices in Macedonia – (MINA) Electricity prices for end users are set to drop 0.33% as of Wednesday, it has been announced. The decision was announced on Tuesday by the Regulatory Energy Commission (REC) after holding a preparatory meeting in which it reviewed reports by energy companies…

Macedonia reiterates its alignment to EU’s energy policy over Russian ‘Turkish Stream’ gas pipeline – (DTT-Net) Macedonian officials reiterated today during a meeting with Greek counterparts that Skopje would join the Russian gas pipeline only if it meets the EU rules on energy…

Montenegro

Public Discussion on Small HPPs in Montenegro – (Energetika) Energetika.NET previously reported that the Montenegrin government is preparing to announce a public tender for the granting of concessions for the construction of small HPPs on three watercourses.According to...

Romania

Romania to Keep Regulated Electricity Prices in Second Half of of 2015 – (Energetika) ANRE also approved the amendment to the regulation on the approval of the contribution for high efficiency cogeneration and certain provisions regarding its billing. According to the amendment, the contribution...

Russian Lukoil to Drill 2 Wells Offshore Romania in 2015 – (Energetika) In February 2011 a consortium with the participation of Lukoil Overseas signed a concession agreement for the exploration and development of two blocks in the Romanian sector of the Black Sea — Est Rapsodia and...

Several Energy Infrastructure Projects Are Being Carried Out in Romania – (IENE) Romania is involved in building several natural gas pipe lines with neighbouring countries. That comes in addition to the Nabucco gas pipeline, which was supposed to link Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria and which was abandoned in the summer of 2012 due to the failure of securing gas suppliers…

Several energy infrastructure projects are being carried out in Romania – (Balkans) Romania is involved in building several natural gas pipe lines with neighbouring countries. That comes in addition to the Nabucco gas pipeline, which was supposed to link Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria and which was abandoned in the summer of 2012 due to the failure of securing gas suppliers…

‘Energy Union’ high on European agenda – (Business Review) In February, the European Commission started working on a so-called “Energy Union Package”. It consists of “the usual suspects”: energy security, solidarity, and trust; a fully integrated European energy market; energy efficiency; a decarbonized economy; and research, innovation and competitiveness…

Romania’s Hidroelectrica to open EUR 58 mln hydro power plant in late-2015 – (Romania-Insider) Romanian state-owned electricity producer Hidroelectrica will open in December the Bretea hydro power plant in Hunedoara county, after an investment of EUR 58 million. The new plant, built on the Strei river, has an installed power capacity of 12MW and is 62% done…

Serbia

Electricity Price to Rise Further in Serbia in 2016 and 2017 – (Energetika) “In 2016 and 2017 the electricity price will be further increased in order to come closer to the market price,” it says in the memorandum that Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy, Aleksandar Antić…

Another Decrease of Gas Prices in Serbia – (Energetika) This change is the result of harmonisation with oil prices, which are used as a benchmark for setting the price of gas, as well as changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar.In Serbia, 10% of households…

Vuletić: Replacing Russian Gas in Serbia in Foreseeable Future Mission Impossible – (Energetika) “Anyone can announce a project, however, whether or not this project is feasible, remains a question. I believe that almost all the announcements to replace Russian gas in the foreseeable future are a mission...

Serbia's Djerdap 1 HPP to start A1 unit overhaul phase on Aug 3 – report – (SeeNews) Serbia's hydro power plant (HPP) Djerdap 1, part of state-owned utility EPS, will start the fourth phase of the overhaul of its 190 MW A1 unit on August 3, local media reported…

Serbia to join AGRI energy project – (Balkans) Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Aleksandar Antic said yesterday that Serbia has received an offer from Romania to take part in the energy project AGRI, which should transport gas from Azerbaijan to Europe…

Serbia Invited into AGRI Gas Project – (Energetika) ʺThe AGRI project is another interesting project in which Serbia can participate and which can bring a certain amount of gas to the Balkans,ʺ Antić explained, adding that the invitation for Serbia's…

Armenia

Government Sheds More Light On Energy Price Subsidy – (Azatutyun) Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamian said on Tuesday that the Armenian government will use “extrabudgetary” funds to subsidize electricity supplies and thereby offset, for now, their increased cost for consumers, which has sparked angry street protests in Yerevan…

Electricity tariff to be subsidized by extra-budget means.  Armenia’s Prime Minister – (ArmenPress) The government will subsidize the increased electricity tariff by non-budget means.  Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan mentioned this in a briefing with journalists…

President suspends electricity hikes behind protest – (Concord Monitor) The president of Armenia on Saturday suspended hikes in household electricity rates in an effort to end the protests that have blocked the capital’s main avenue for six straight days. The demonstrators, however, didn’t disperse…

Putin’s Armenia Shock – (The Wall Street Journal) Ten thousand protesters over the weekend poured into the streets of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, defying the government’s crackdown. Russian-media reactions suggest the Kremlin is nervous, as Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan is a close Moscow ally…

'Electric Yerevan' protesters defiant despite leader's concessions – (The Daily Star) Hard-core Armenian protesters refused to disperse from the capital's center Sunday even after President Serzh Sarkisian said the government would shoulder the burden of a controversial hike in electricity prices…

'ElectricYerevan' Protesters Chafe At Comparisons To Ukraine's Euromaidan – (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Y EREVAN -- As protests in Yerevan and other Armenian cities enter their second week, activists are struggling with a postmodern problem -- branding.  They bristle at comparisons -- whether well-intentioned or not -- with the Euromaidan movement that ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014…

Russia, Armenia Discuss Energy Fees As Yerevan Protests Go On – (Azatutyun) resident Serzh Sarkisian and Prime Minister Abrahamian discussed on Friday with a visiting Russian government member the increased cost of power supplies by Armenia’s Russian-owned electric utility, which has sparked angry street protests in Yerevan…

Power Promise: Armenian PM says government has plan for energy sector reforms – (ArmeniaNow) Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan has acknowledged the existence of multiple problems in the country’s energy sector, giving assurances, however, that his government has a plan for solutions…

Armenia Energy Minister: We do not sidestep questions – (News.AM) Armenia’s Ministry of Energy is ready to respond to the questions concerning the latest decision on energy, Armenia’s Energy Minister Yervand Zakharyan told Armenian News…

Newspaper: Minister: Russia Energy Ministry has nothing to do with Yerevan demonstrations – (News.AM) The Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation (RF) has no connection with the electricity price increase in Armenia. The Russian Minister of Energy, Alexander Novak, made such a statement on Thursday, reported Haykakan Zhamanak daily…

RPA press secretary: Everything should be done to solve energy security issue in Armenia – (News.AM) Ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) discussed the energy security issue during its executive body session, Eduard Sharmazanov, RPA press secretary said following the session…

Azerbaijan

Declaration on AGRI proves Baku's goal to be active energy player – (Azernews) A joint declaration on supporting the development of the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania Interconnector project signed by Azerbaijan, Georgia and Romania on June 24, once again proves Azerbaijan's great ambitions to become a competitive and active player in the European energy market…

Great potential for energy efficiency in Azerbaijan – (Azernews) Azerbaijan completely ensures its gross energy consumption through domestic production, which is mainly reliant on the exploitation of the country’s hydrocarbon reserves. But this does not remove the possibility of implementing an energy saving system from the agenda…

Azerbaijan rebuffs claims about Turkish Stream's threat for SGC – (Azernews) Azerbaijan has rebuffed claims that the Turkish Stream poses a threat to its own Southern Gas Corridor project.  SOCAR Vice President Elshad Nasirov said that the Turkish Stream is not a rival to the Azerbaijan-initiated Southern Gas Corridor project, "since the country's gas volumes have been sold for a period of 25 years and the buyers are obliged to receive it…

Gazprom could start gas deliveries to Azerbaijan – Miller – (Trend) Russia's energy company Gazprom could start gas deliveries to Azerbaijan in the amount of several billion cubic meters annually, the company's CEO Alexei Miller said Friday, RIA Novosti reported…

Georgia

Romania, Azerbaijan, and Georgia Sign Support for AGRI Project – (Energetika) According to SOCAR, the ministers discussed the position of member countries, the final results of the feasibility study, and the financing opportunities for the project. The Romanian Energy Ministry mentioned...

AGRI LNG system may become a part of Southern Gas Corridor – (ABC.AZ) Yesterday Energy Ministers of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary had a meeting in Bucharest on AGRI project intended for delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe…

Turkey

Turkey’s largest hybrid power plant established in İzmir – (Daily Sabah) A Turkish university has established Turkey's largest hybrid power plant in its campus in western city of Izmir, setting a good example of a renewable energy project.  The hybrid power plant of Gediz University located in the 3,000 square meter student car park area produces 500 kW per hour, which can approximately meet the electricity demand of around 100 houses…

Turkey to Privatize 29 Power Plants by 2020 – (IENE) 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…

USTDA strengthens support for geothermal energy development in Turkey – (YourRenewableNews) This week, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a grant to Turcas BM Kuyucak Jeotermal Elektrik Üretim A. Ş. (TBK), a Turkish joint venture owned primarily by BM Holding and Turcas Energy Holding.  The grant funds a feasibility study that will evaluate the technical and financial specifications for a geothermal energy project designed to supply 13.2 Megawatts (MW) of renewable energy to the Turkish electrical grid…

US agency backs geothermal project in Turkey – (EBR) The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has issued a grant to Turcas BM Kuyucak Jeotermal Elektrik Üretim (TBK), to fund a feasibility study for 13.2MW geothermal energy project in Turkey…

EBRD allocates major energy loan to Turkey – (Trend) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) allocated a long-term financial package to a project for creation of the Efeler largest geothermal power plant in Turkey, said the EBRD in a message June 29…

Turkey’s energy watchdog issues pre-license for nuclear plant – (Hurriyet Daily News) Turkey’s Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) announced June 25 that it granted a pre-license to Akkuyu Nuclear Joint Stock Company for 36 months for Turkey’s first nuclear power plant…

Turkish energy watchdog issues pre-license for Akkuyu nuclear plant – (BGNNews) The Akkuyu Nuclear company will build the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in the province of Mersin in southern Turkey. It will become fully operational in 2023, coinciding with the 100-year anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey…

UPDATE 1-Turkey's first nuclear plant gains investment green light – (Reuters) The company slated to run Turkey's first nuclear power plant has won a preliminary licence for the next three years allowing it to make necessary investments, the energy market watchdog said on Thursday…

Ukraine

Hungry for Power: Luhansk electricity plant key target for Kremlin force – (UA Today) Power plants like this one in Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland, are a key target for Russian-backed militants. The complex is capable of supplying electricity for at least a million people and is vital for local industry, including coal mines and steel manufacturers…

Ukraine hopes to sign agreement on EIB's EUR 400 mln loan under energy efficiency program on July 23 – (Interfax-Ukraine) Ukraine hopes to sign an agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) on a loan worth EUR 400 million under an energy efficiency program on July 23, according to Deputy Prime Minister Henandiy Zubko…

UPDATE 1-Russia backs down from abandoning gas transit through Ukraine – (Reuters) Kremlin-controlled gas producer Gazprom is rethinking plans to stop transporting gas to Europe via Ukraine after 2019, a change of tack that comes just days before talks on supplies to Ukraine are due to resume…

Ukraine must reform to free itself from dependence on Russian gas – (Financial Times) Germany – and its chancellor Angela Merkel – deserve credit for the continuation of the EU’s sanctions regime against Russia. But Germany happens also to be home to the energy giant E.ON, which recently signed a (non-binding) memorandum, together with Russia’s Gazprom, Austria’s OMV, and Shell from the UK and the Netherlands, agreeing to the extension of the Nord Stream pipeline, which brings Russian gas into the European Union (EU)…

Russia softens Ukraine gas price stance ahead of talks – (The Economic Times) MOSCOW: Russia proposes keeping the gas price for Ukraine unchanged in the third quarter, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday, a day before Russia's energy minister goes to Vienna for gas talks…

Russia softens Ukraine gas price stance ahead of talks – (Energy Voice) Russia proposes keeping the gas price for Ukraine unchanged in the third quarter, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday, a day before Russia’s energy minister goes to Vienna for gas talks…

Ukraine does not agree with gas discount proposed by Russia for Q3 – RIA – (Reuters) Ukraine does not agree with gas discount proposed by Russia for third-quarter gas deliveries, Russia's RIA news agency quoted Ukraine's Energy and Coal Minister Vladimir Demchishin as saying on Tuesday…

Yatseniuk demands that regions join energy efficiency programs – (Interfax-Ukraine) Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk has demanded that local authorities contribute to the funding of energy efficiency and preservation programs…

Trapped on Ukraine's frontline: Life in one of Europe's biggest coking plants – (UA Today) Here in east Ukraine lies one of Europe's biggest coking plants. In order for it to feed steel plants in other cities around the country hundreds of workers have to man its furnaces around the clock even if a barrage of rockets is falling all around them. It's been hit by about 230 rocket and artillery attacks since the start of the conflict with Russian-backed insurgents in east Ukraine over a year ago…

Ukrainian energy minister to participate in June 30 gas talks – (Interfax-Ukraine) Energy and Coal Industry Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Demchyshyn will take part in trilateral gas talks on June 30, the ministry said on its website…

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.