Albania

Balkans energy ministers agree to set up regional power market in 2016 – (Reuters) Western Balkan countries have agreed to set up a regional power market covering seven nations as they seek to meet rising demand, increase security of supply and lower prices.  The energy ministers of Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo agreed on Friday to set up the market next year, along with EU member Croatia…

TAP starts construction and rehabilitation work on access roads and bridges along the pipeline's route in Albania – (Azer Tac) The Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG (TAP) has started construction and rehabilitation work on access roads and bridges along the pipeline's route in Albania, the consortium said on its official website…

Albanian OSHEE Investing in Power Grid – (Energetika) Both OSHEE and Gjiknuri again stressed that the Albanian electricity sector is hugely indebted and that it is consuming a lot of money from the state budget. With the improvement of the grid, electricity losses...

Bulgaria

We to establish Security of Electricity System Fund: Bulgaria energy minister – (Focus) “Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) will have the chance to make an individual price decision at RES companies where investment expenditure discrepancies are established,” said Bulgarian Minister of Energy Temenuzhka Petkova, speaking at a briefing after a meeting held at the Council of Ministers building in the capital Sofia over problems in the energy sector, FOCUS News Agency reported…

Bulgarian Development Bank to Get EUR 150 M for Energy Retrofitting of Homes – (Novinite) The Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB) will receive EUR 150 M from the Council of Europe Development Bank for energy-related renovation of residential buildings…

Bulgaria's Energy Watchdog to Go On with Power Price Hike – (Novinite) Energy regulator KEVR's head Ivan Ivanov has said that his agency will not backtrack on plans to increase power prices for industrial consumers by up to 20%.  "Until now [household and industrial] consumers were not put on an equal footing, since businesses and the free market paid two times less than household users.. What KEVR has to do is to introduce this equality…

There could be a single European energy regulator for the wholesale market – (Publics) We interviewed Mr Pototschnig for the July issue of the Bulgarian UTILITIES magazine and the online portal Publics.bg in the end of May in Sofia, where he met for the first time with the new Chairman of the Bulgarian Energy and Water Regulatory Commission - Assoc. Prof. Ivan Ivanov, who was the first Chairman to be elected by the national Parliament…

ENTSO: 2030 Projected Renewables Growth in Bulgaria, Greece, Romania Necessitates Grid Developments – (Publics) A number of cross-border and internal power lines in Bulgaria and the region, as well as the extension of Chaira pumped hydroelectricity storage are crusial for market connectivity and RES integration, ENTSO-E points out in updated draft of grid development plan…

Wirtschaftsblatt: Bulgaria, the End of a Big Energy Dream – (Novinite) Bulgaria will have to count on two prospective gas pipeline projects to secure to fulfill its recent dream and become a key player on the energy map, Austrian daily Wirtschaftsblatt says in an article…

Bulgarian Energy Ministry Battling Illegal Coal Mining – (Energetika) As Energetika.NET previously reported, the illegal practice of coal mining has been going on for years, but neither the police nor the municipality have been able to stop it. Bulgaria's Energy Ministry…

President: Ukraine key partner for guaranteeing Bulgaria’s energy security – (Focus) “Ukraine is a key partner for guaranteeing Bulgaria’s energy security, as well as the energy security of Southeast Europe and the continent as a whole,” Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev said after meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko in Kiev, FOCUS News Agency reporter said…

Bulgaria Will Establish Energy Security Council – (Energetika) The council's role will be to monitor the implementation of an integrated energy policy for the provision of affordable energy for consumers, the modernisation and completion of the national energy infrastructure…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

FERK to Hold Two Public Debates – (Energetika) Another public debate will also be held on this day, regarding the request for an electricity generation licence, submitted by the company ENERGOSOL Ltd. Stolac, FERK announced on its website…

Secretariat hosts Western Balkans 6 Ministerial Meeting on energy connectivity and power sector integration– (Energy Community) A Ministerial Meeting in the presence of EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, took place at the seat of the Secretariat in Vienna on 2 July 2015. Energy Ministers expressed support for a short list of “Projects of Energy Community Interest…

Western Balkan countries agree on regional power market initiative – (SeeNews) The Energy Community, a Vienna-based international energy policy organization, said on Friday that the setting up of a regional power market initiative in the Western Balkans has been agreed at a meeting in Vienna…

Croatia

UPDATE 1 - RWE, Croatia's HEP set up renewable energy JV – (SeeNews Renewables) Croatian state-owned energy utility HEP has set up with German energy company RWE a 50/50 joint venture (JV) for managing renewable energy projects, the two companies said on Thursday…

PM: Croatia Could Become Energy Independent with Gas Reserves in the Adriatic – (Energetika) ORaH claims that, from the start, the process of exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Adriatic Sea has not been transparent, nor has it been fully in line with Croatian laws and the directives…

Kosovo

Kosovo-Albania Power Interconnection to Be Completed by Middle of 2016 – (Energetika) The 241 kilometre-long interconnector will be funded by the German bank KfW. In Albania, this project will cost around EUR 42 million, while in Kosovo around EUR 16.5 million, the Independend Balkan News Agency...

Macedonia

EU to Finance Power Interconnector between Albania and Macedonia – (Energetika) The ministers of the above mentioned countries also approved a list of priority projects, among them the interconnection line connecting Albania and Macedonia. This project is foreseen to begin next year when…

Macedonian Bogdanci Wind Park Supplying Electricity to 60,000 Households – (Energetika) The Bogdanci wind park is a EUR 55 million project, which has recently been awarded a technical license, Gruevski said at the opening. The park comprises 16 windmills, the construction of which was completed on...

Montenegro

EBRD brings wind power to Montenegro – (Financial) In a landmark project for Montenegro’s energy sector, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting the first commercial wind power plant in Montenegro, to be located at Krnovo, near the town of Niksic in the western part of the country…

Wind comes to Montenegro – (reNews) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting the first commercial wind power plant in Montenegro in the first large-scale investment in the country's electricity generation capacity since the 1980s…

Nearly EUR 100 Million Loan for Wind Power Plant in Montenegro – (Energetika) “This is the first large-scale investment in Montenegro’s electricity generation capacity since the 1980s. Once constructed and operational the wind farm will represent 8% of the total installed capacity and 6%...

Romania

Romania to prioritize ‘connectivity’ as Black Sea chair – (World Bulletin) Romania will concentrate on “connectivity” among members of Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation as Bucharest takes the reins of the regional body for the next six months…

The first regional energy observatory in Romania was opened by the Alba Local Energy Agency – (ACT Media) The Alba Local Energy Agency (ALEA) has opened the first regional energy observatory in Romania under a European project called DATA4ACTION, funded under Intelligent Energy Europe…

Romanian prosecutors seize Lukoil assets in probe, report says – (Energy Voice) Romanian prosecutors seized assets of Russian oil firm Lukoil worth up to 2 billion euros ($2.22 billion) in an investigation on suspicion of money laundering, a local court was quoted as saying on Wednesday by state agency Agerpres…

Romanian Assets of Russia's LUKoil Haven't Been Frozen 'Yet' – Report – (The Moscow Times) A Romanian oil refinery owned by Russia's LUKoil is still operating as usual, despite reports that up to 2 billion euros ($2.22 billion) of the energy major's Romanian assets had been seized, news agency RIA Novosti reported Thursday, citing an unidentified source at LUKoil's Romanian subsidiary…

Serbia

Five Priority Energy Projects for Western Balkans Defined – (Energetika) Antić said the first priority project is the gas interconnector to Bulgaria, followed by the electricity interconnector with Romania - namely the 400 kV Pančevo-Rašice power line, the Serbian government press…

Providing Stable Sources of Energy Supply Important for Serbia – (IENE) Serbia's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic received U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Bureau of Energy Resources Mary Warlick, who is on a visit to Serbia. The main topic of discussion was the issue of energy security of the Republic of Serbia and the Western Balkans…

Serbian EPS Names Directors of EPS Snabdevanje and EPS Distribucija – (Energetika) ʺWith regard to the opening of the electricity market, the future priority objective of EPS Snabdevanje will be to improve the business so that the company will remain the dominant and reliable supplier for the...

First visit of Serbian Energy Minister Antic to the Secretariat – (Energy Community) Today the Minister for Mining and Energy of Serbia, Mr Aleksandar Antic, for the first time paid a visit to the Secretariat and informed about the recent developments made regarding the unbundling of Srbijagas. The Secretariat welcomed the substantial progress made…

Serbia and the U.S. Discuss Issues of Mutual Interest in Energy Sector – (Energetika) At the meeting, they discussed the diversification of energy sources and transportation, the energy security policy, and the development of renewable energy sources in Serbia…

Armenia

Armenia: Evaluating Electric Yerevan’s Impact – (ValueWalk) The Electric Yerevan protest in the Armenian capital did not manage to attain the critical mass needed to transform into a Euromaidan-type event, leading to an overhaul of the country’s political system. But local analysts believe that Electric Yerevan will nevertheless prompt changes in government policy…

Armenian-Russian relations in light of 'Electric Yerevan' protests – (The Hill) The Armenian public protests of the past weeks against government electricity tariff hikes have raised questions about the potential start of a popular movement resembling Ukraine's Euromaidan in another post-Soviet state. What sets the capital city of Yerevan's protests apart is the fact that there are neither political demands nor calls for a change in the country's foreign policy…

Fresh protests in Armenia over energy price increase – (Pulse) Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in a central square in the Armenian capital to continue protests over energy price hikes after police cleared a key artery they had blocked for weeks…

Demonstrators regroup after Armenian police break up energy price protest – (Tengri News) Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on a central square in the Armenian capital on Monday pledging to carry on protests over energy price hikes after police cleared a key artery they had blocked for weeks, AFP reports…

Demonstrators regroup after Armenian police break up protest – (Yahoo) Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on a central square in the Armenian capital on Monday pledging to carry on protests over energy price hikes after police cleared a key artery they had blocked for weeks…

Energy Sector Concerns: Experts say problems in sphere far greater than just electricity distribution – (ArmeniaNow) Power grid problems in Armenia are much deeper than the ones concerning the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) which needs “system changes”, experts say…

Azerbaijan

Demand for electricity increased in Azerbaijan – (ABC.AZ) Demand for electricity in Azerbaijan that had been falling for two months, has increased and Azerenerji OJSC, the Azerbaijan’s national power generator, increased its generation in June…

Azerbaijan proposed declaration on support of transboundary power cooperation in South Caucasus – (ABC.AZ) Azerbaijan proposed a declaration on support of transboundary electric power cooperation in the South Caucasus.  According to the Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Energy, the declaration was discussed at the meeting dedicated to the regional electric power cooperation in the South Caucasus held in Tbilisi by initiative of Natig Abbasov, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy…

Expeditionary group for alternative energy started its marches all over Azerbaijan – (ABC.AZ) Expeditionary group for alternative energy formed by the State Agency for Alternative and Renewable Source (ABOEMDA) started its marches all over Azerbaijan…

Azerbaijan requested political support for Southern Gas Corridor, U.S. raise a question of Turkish Stream – (ABC.AZ) The Southern Gas Corridor from Azerbaijan to the EU has become a subject of Azerbaijani-American consultations…

Natig Aliyev: “TAP realization needs political support” – (APA) Energy Minister Natig Aliyev has received the US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta.  According to Ministry’s press service, the sides discussed cooperation issues of the US with Azerbaijan as an energy producer and supplier to provide regional, European and global energy security…

Political support important for implementation of TAP – (News.Az) Oxu.Az reports citing the press service of the Ministry that during the meeting they discussed issues of cooperation between the US and Azerbaijan as a reliable manufacturer and supplier of energy to ensure energy security at the regional, European and global level…

Southern Gas Corridor: in right place and at right time – (Trend) All kinds of rumors and speculation about various difficulties in the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor project, initiated by Azerbaijan, have not ceased since the very first day it was announced…

Georgia

Georgian Energy Independence to Cost USD 2 Billion – (Financial) Lack of certainty is the major problem being faced by the Georgian energy sector. By creating a stable and predictable legal framework it is believed the country will get a flow of investment in the energy sector. Georgia has all the ingredients to become fully independent on the energy side, and at a low cost. An overall volume of USD 1.5-2 billion would be needed to make the electricity sector fully secure and more competitive…

Georgian and EU officials discuss energy, transport, climate and environmental issues – (ENPI) The Georgian government's progress in adopting EU rules and standards was in focus at an annual Georgia-EU mMeeting on Transport, Energy, Climate Action & Environment in Tbilisi last week, according to a press release from the EU Delegation to Georgia…

Georgia reveals progress in adopting EU regulations – (Agenda.ge) The Government of Georgia is sharing details with its international partners of the country’s progress and ongoing efforts to assimilate with the European Union (EU) – something it is obligated to do under the Georgia-EU Association Agreement (AA)…

Moldova

President Timofti says partnership with Romania will increase Moldova’s energy self sufficiency – (ACT Media) Nicolae Timofti, the president of Moldova, declared in Suceava on Tuesday that joint energy projects with Romania will increase his country’s energy self sufficiency, with positive effect on the whole economy…

Turkey

Designing a new EU-Turkey strategic gas partnership– (Financial Times) The 2014 Ukraine crisis reinforced the EU’s quest for security of gas supply. The European Commission released an Energy Union Communication in February, calling for intensified work on the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) and for the establishment of a new strategic energy partnership with Turkey…

German-Turkish partnership opens wind power plants– (Today’s Zaman) A partnership between Turkish Borusan Holding and German firm EnBW celebrated the opening of two new wind energy power plants in Turkey at a launch ceremony in İstanbul on Wednesday attended by Energy Minister Taner Yıldız.  Power plants in the provinces of Mersin and Çanakkale each with a capacity of 53 megawatts began operations…

Turkey Energy Profile: Increasingly Important Transit Hub For Oil And Natural Gas – Analysis – (Eurasia Review) Turkey is an increasingly important transit hub for oil and natural gas supplies as they move from Central Asia, Russia, and the Middle East to Europe and other Atlantic markets…

Turkey is an increasingly important transit hub for oil and natural gas – (Balkans) Turkey is an increasingly important transit hub for oil and natural gas supplies as they move from Central Asia, Russia, and the Middle East to Europe and other Atlantic markets.  Turkey is well placed to serve as a hub for oil and natural gas supply headed to Europe and other Atlantic markets from Russia, the Caspian region…

Turkey seeks hydropower project efficiency studies – (HydroWorld) Turkey's energy ministry invites expressions of interest from consultants to assess energy efficiency of hydropower generating facilities in Turkey. Responses are due July 22.  The Turkish government recently allocated US$16 billion to develop its hydropower sector through 2018 under its 10th Development Plan…

Turkish Energy Regulator Grants Pre-License to Akkuyu NPP Project – (Publics) 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…

Turkey, Russia have no final agreement on construction of Turkish Stream for present – (Trend) Turkey and Russia have no final agreement on construction of Turkish Stream pipeline for the present, however, currently, the sides continue the talks on this issue,Turkish Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Taner Yildiz said, Anadolu agency reported…

Turkish diesel oil prices fall – (Video News) Turkish Petroleum Refineries Corporation (TUPRAS) dropped Turkish diesel oil prices on Wednesday by 0.18 lira per liter in Turkey, according to Turkey’s Energy Market Regulatory Authority.  Officials of Turkey’s Energy watchdog, (EMRA) told  Anadolu Agency that TUPRAS reduced the diesel prices by 0.18 lira…

Ukraine

Russia cuts off power supplies to Ukraine rebels: Kiev – (Yahoo) Kiev said Tuesday that Russia had cut off electricity to Ukraine's rebel-run regions in what appears to be another sign that Moscow is losing interest in plans to splinter its neighbour…

Russia Cuts Electricity Supplies To Ukraine Rebels – (ValueWalk) According to reports from Kiev, Russia has cut electricity supplies to rebel-controlled areas of Ukraine.  Ukrainan officials claim to have reached an agreement with their Russian counterparts concerning the supply of energy, and the developments may provide further evidence of Moscow's declining interest in supporting pro-Russian separatists, according to AFP…

Yatseniuk advises coal shipments by sea be contracted to reduce dependence on Russia – (Interfax-Ukraine) Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk has instructed the Energy and Coal Industry Ministry to contract vessels to deliver power-generating coal by ship to reduce dependence on Russia…

Ukraine cuts coal output by 52.2% in H1 – (Interfax-Ukraine) Ukrainian coal mining enterprises in January-June 2015 reduced production of raw coal by 52.2%, or 21.27 million tonnes, year-over-year, to 19.469 million tonnes, according to rough estimates…

Ukraine to create stabilization energy fund worth $1 billion – (Kyiv Post) Ukraine will create a stabilization (reserve) energy fund worth $1 billion in 2015…

Energoatom welcomes government go-ahead for electricity exports – (World Nuclear News) The Ukrainian government's approval last month of a pilot project to transfer electricity from unit 2 of the Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant to the European Union will not only fund the addition of two reactors, but will also "open up new prospects" for the country to export power to European markets, the head of Energoatom said yesterday…

Cabinet approves project on electricity exports from Khmelnytsky NPP to EU – (NRCU) The decision is stipulated in cabinet resolution No. 671-r of June 15. "[The Cabinet] agrees with a proposal of the Energy and Coal Industry Ministry to draw up a pilot project "Ukraine-EU Energy Bridge" aimed at boosting the capacity of interstate power lines, creating favorable conditions for attracting investment and the implementation of EU Regulation 714/2009 of July 13, 2009," reads the resolution…

Ukraine mulls withdrawing from nuclear construction deal with Russia – (Global Post) The Ukrainian government is considering a possibility to withdraw from a deal with Russia on joint construction of two reactors at the Khmelnitsky Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in western Ukraine, Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk said Wednesday…

Russia agrees to exclude ATO zone from agreement on power exchange –Ukraine's energy minister – (Interfax-Ukraine) Ukraine has managed to hold fairly successful negotiations with Russia to suspend the supply of electricity to the uncontrolled territory in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said…

Ukraine raises electricity price for Crimea by 14.4 percent from July – (Kyiv Post) Ukraine has increased the price of electricity for occupied Crimea by 14.4 percent, Ukraine's Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Volodymyr Demchyshyn has told reporters…

Ukraine raises electricity price for Crimea by 14.4% from July – (Interfax-Ukraine) Ukraine has increased the price of electricity for occupied Crimea by 14.4% (by RUR 0,43 per kWh), to RUR 3.42/kWh from July, Ukraine's Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Volodymyr Demchyshyn has told reporters…

Ukraine cuts electicity to Crimea – (World Bulletin) After failed Vienna talks over new gas prices for Ukraine, Ukrainian government decided to suspend gas purchases from Russia from July 1, and at the same time decided to cut supply of electricity to annexed Crimea…

Environmental group promotes solar energy in Ukrainian communities – (Kyiv Post) Vitaliy Shramko never though that making solar panels would become his passion. He had always been interested in renewable energy sources, but over the last three years Shramko has been working to educate others about alternative heating energy sources…

Russia’s gas pipeline strategy and Europe’s alternatives – (ECFR) There is an immediate threat to gas supplies that the European Commission needs to deal with. The recent break-down in negotiations over gas supplies to Ukraine should be taken very seriously: Europe cannot bet on warm weather to deliver security of gas supplies. Ukraine (and by implication Europe) was lucky to live through the last winter safely with minimal gas purchases from Russia…

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