Albania

Israeli company to build EUR 110mn power plant in Albania – (Hydro World) An Israeli company will launch a EUR 110mn project for the construction of hydropower plant on the Valbona River in northern Albania, AINA news agency reported, citing Israel's ambassador to Tirana, David Cohen…

Credins Bank Albania will expand its financing of renewable energy and energy efficiency –(Balkans) IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, with the support of the Government of Canada, is helping Credins Bank Albania expand its financing of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, promoting the efficient use of resources  and reducing greenhouse gas emissions…

Negative energy – (The Prague Post) Energy giant ČEZ is trying to distance itself from the mysterious criminal group TIM, after the mafia-style organization bought a significant stake of the Czech company's operations in Bulgaria…

Bulgaria

Power Distributor CEZ Appoints Energy Ombudsman in Bulgaria – (Novinite) Starting Tuesday, power distributor CEZ, which supplies electricity to consumers in Sofia and northwestern Bulgaria, offers the services of the first energy ombudsman – Radoslav Dimitrov…

Bulgarian Green Energy Producers Hold Urgent Meeting with National Electricity Co – (Novinite) Renewable energy producers will hold an urgent meeting Monday with representatives of the National Electric Company (NEK), the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) and the Electricity System Operator (ESO), to discuss the extraordinary suspension of thermal power plant units…

CEZ unit in Bulgaria appoints energy ombudsman – (Sofia Globe) Czech firm CEZ said that it was creating a new corporate position at its Bulgarian subsidiary, the energy ombudsman, whose job will be to improve the company’s customer relations…

Bulgaria’s Energy System May Go Bankrupt – (Standart) The power generating system in Bulgaria is experiencing serious financial difficulties, Bulgarian Energy Holding CEO Mihail Andonov told the Russian daily Komsomolskaya Pravda…

Bulgaria energy minister refers registered pledges of so-called US plants to prosecutor general – (Focus) Bulgarian outgoing Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism Delyan Dobrev held an extraordinary briefing on Monday over the registered pledges in the construction of the so-called American plants, FOCUS News Agency reporter informed…

Bulgaria’s Energy Holding Seeks EUR 250 M Loan – (Standart) Bulgaria's state energy holding company, which groups the country's top energy assets, has already launched a procedure for seeking a EUR 250 M loan…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Preparation works on 37 MW Mrsovo hydro plant in Bosnia to start in 2013 (Hydro World) The preparation works for the construction of the 37 MW Mrsovo hydropower plant in Bosnia's eastern municipality of Rudo will be launched this year, the head of the municipality, Rato Rajak, was quoted as saying by news service eKapija.ba…

Bosnia's EPBiH 2012 profit at 3.6 mln euro, output at 6,509 GWh – (Hydro World) Bosnian power utility Elektroprivreda BiH (EPBiH) said on Thursday it posted a profit of 7.1 million marka ($4.8 million/3.6 million euro) in 2012…

Republika Srpska, regional police pull the plug on electricity thieves  -(Setimes) Republika Srpska (RS) police arrested 20 employees of electric power supplier Elektrokrajina in Banja Luka, alleging that they enabled customers to decrease their electricity bills…

Kosovo

Region tackles high electric bills – (Setimes) Regional governments are responding to claims of electricity bill overcharges after demonstrators took the streets to protest billing practices and increasing electricity costs of up to 200 percent…

Kosovo Stages Mass Protest Over Corruption – (Balkans Insight) Holding banners that read “Stop theft, develop the state”, protesters marched through the capital of Kosovo to government headquarters to voice their anger about official graft, poverty and corruption in state institutions…

Kosovo power plant turns journalist to activist – (DW) Jeta Xharra has long been been a thorn in the side of corrupt politicians. But as a mother of two babies, she’s embraced the role of environmental activist in trying to stop plans for a new coal-fired power plant…

Montenegro

Memorandum of cooperation between Albania and Montenegro – (Balkans) The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania Edmond Panariti held a meeting with his Montenegrin counterpart Igor Luksic, who is on a two-day official visit to Tirana, on Monday, during which cooperation in the energy sector in particular and a possible cooperation agreement on the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project were on the agenda, Xinhua reported…

Romania

Romania needs exploration and exploitation of shale gas in national energy strategy – (Act Media) The exploration and exploitation of the shale gas should start immediately and we could talk about a viable energy strategy for Romania for a long period of time, stated in a conference Niculae Napoleon Antonescu professor and honorary dean of the Oil and Gas University in Ploiesti…

Romania plans reduced support for solar energy – (Reuters) Romania aims to lower subsidies for some renewable energy projects from 2014, trying to avoid overcompensating investors while burdening consumers with high power bills…

Romania ratifies Nabucco Project Support Agreement – (Trend) Romanian President Traian Băsescu ratified the NABUCCO Project Support Agreement (PSA) signed between Romania, NABUCCO Gas Pipeline International GmbH (NIC) and the NABUCCO National Company Romania, NIC reported on Thursday…

REC Acquires Project Rights For 8MW Solar Farm In Romania – (Energy Matters) REC has commenced construction on an 8 MW solar park in the north of Bucharest, Romania; building substantially on the existing 20MW capacity the company has sold in the country…

Enel Green Power invests 251 mln euro in Romanian wind farms in 2012 – (Power Engineering) BUCHAREST (Romania), March 13 (SeeNews) - Italy's Enel Green Power said it invested a combined 251 million euro ($326 million) in wind plants in Romania last year…

Analysis - Romania set for standstill with incentive cut – (Wind Power) Romania's wind energy sector risks a prolonged standstill after the government earlier this year presented a draft law with major cuts in market support for wind and other renewable sources…

Romanian Photovoltaic Industry Association fears government intentions would wipe 4000 green jobs – (Balkans) The Romanian Photovoltaic Industry Association (RPIA) warns the government’s intention to axe the incentives for renewable projects would see investments dry up, wiping out around 4,000 green jobs in the process…

Serbia

Energy Agency of the Republic of Serbia : 5.3.2013 - Consultations on Projects of Energy Community Interest – (4 Traders)  The Energy Community Secretariat (ECS) has announced the public consultation period from March 5 to April 29 on the list of potential Projects of Energy Community Interest (PECI), in electricity, natural gas and oil fields…

Serbia and Turkey agree to cooperate in the field of energy – (Balkans) Serbia's Minister without Portfolio Sulejman Ugljanin and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey Taner Yildiz stated today in Ankara that the energy sector will become a new area of economic cooperation between Serbia and Turkey…

Serbian reps inform EC about reform progress – (B92) The EC and Serbian government representatives discussed the sectors of transport, energy, environment and regional development…

Serbia's energy regulator AERS raises power transmission tariffs to help EPS – (Balkans) In a move that will help the financially struggling national power monopoly EPS, Serbia's energy regulator AERS on Wednesday approved a 29% increase in electricity transmission tariffs for large industrial consumers from March and a 9.2% rise for retail customers at a later stage, which will be included in energy bills once the state-run utility EPS gets approval to raise power prices, Reuters reported…

Armenia

Armenian nuclear plant suffers in an earthquake – (Vestnik) Today, 15 km north of the Armenian town of Armavir at 15:11 local time, a 2.5-point magnitude earthquake took place, the press service of the Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations reports…

Azerbaijan

Energy cooperation positive aspect of US-Azerbaijani relations - Eric Rubin – (News.az) Congressman from Texas, Ted Poe, a member of the Parliament of Azerbaijan Samad Seyidov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to U.S. Elin Suleymanov, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Eric Rubin, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, Director for European and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council in the White House David Merkel, a former congressman from the state of New York, Michael McMahon had speeches at the discussions on cooperation with Azerbaijan.

"TANAP marks revolution in energy history of Azerbaijan and Turkey" – (Turkish Weekly) Trans-Anatolian pipeline project (TANAP) marks a revolution in the energy history of Azerbaijan and Turkey, as it will be implemented at the expense of funding and infrastructure of these two countries, the head of SOCAR Turkey Enerji, a board member of Petkim Petrochemical Holding Kenan Yavuz told Trend on Tuesday…

Azerbaijan announces a contest of ideas on energy saving and energy-efficient solutions – (abc.az) A contest for students on the theme "Life in the style of Energy Smart Buildings” was started since 1 March within the framework of project "Initiative for Energy Conservation in Buildings in Eastern Europe and Central Asia” (ESIB) in Azerbaijan with the support of program INOGATE.

Training course on economic aspects of energy audit and energy efficiency held in Baku – (abc.az) Training course on the theme "Economic aspects of energy audit of buildings and preconditions for development and realization  of energy policy for buildings" has been held today for students of the Azerbaijan University of Architecture & Construction by specialists of project Eastern Europe and Central Asia Energy Efficiency Initiative in Buildings (ESIB) of European Union’s program INOGATE…

EBRD signs agreement within first energy efficiency project in Azerbaijan – (Trend) Azerbaijani AccessBank started implementing the first project on energy efficiency in the country. On Thursday, the bank signed an agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to get a loan worth $ 4.2 million which will be aimed at the reconstruction of the head office of the bank with the total area of 9840 square metres…

New power facility to be commissioned in Azerbaijan – (Trend) A new electric power station "Janub" will be put into operation in Azerbaijan in the coming months, head of "Azerenergy" company's department…

The New Silk Road and Regional Economic Integration – (State.Gov) Good morning, and thank you for that kind introduction. It is my pleasure to join you here at the Turkic-American Convention. The Turkic-American Alliance has assembled an impressive and dynamic schedule for today’s theme of “Energy, Trade, and Development…

Georgia

Minister: Agreement on cross border transit of electricity is important topic in Azerbaijani-Georgian relations – (Trends) He said that a new model of the Georgian electricity market will be prepared within the initiation of the agreement. Its goal is to develop the…

SOCAR head inaugurates new gas pipeline section – (The Messenger Online) Georgian Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze and SOCAR President, Rovnag Abdullayev, opened a new gas pipeline in the village of Pvrhvlo, in the Bolnisi region on eastern Georgia…

Minister: Tbilisi and Sukhumi solved problems around functioning of Inguri HPP – (Trend) Tbilisi and Sukhumi have agreed on solutions to issues surrounding the operation of Inguri HPP after the Georgian government approved special procurement rules for two companies - Inguri HPP and National Electrical System of Georgia JSC, Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze said…

Russia

Ghost of Kyoto Protocol haunts Russia’s energy plans – (RTCC) The Russian government has recently endorsed a draft state program for energy efficiency and energy sector development that lists part of the Kyoto Protocol as a major source of funding, months after leaving the UN emissions cutting process…

GE wins $333m contract extension for LNG project in Russia – (EBR) GE Oil & Gas has secured a 16-year service contract extension, worth $333m, for Sakhalin-2 liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in the Sakhalin Island, Russia…

RusHydro Dropping to VTB as Sales Slump: Russia Overnight – (Bloomberg) OAO RusHydro, the Russian renewable energy producer that sank to a record low in London yesterday, will extend declines as a second year of sliding revenue dims dividend prospects, according to VTB Capital…

Hydro-Quebec and EuroSibEnergo to start strategic cooperation on hydropower generation and transmission research and development projects – (Power Engineering) Irkutskenergo, part of Russia's largest independent power company EuroSibEnergo and Hydro-Quebec, one of the world's largest hydropower producers, have entered into a two-year agreement to start a strategic cooperation on hydropower generation and transmission research and development projects…

Russia set to drive long-term demand for uranium: report – (Mining.com) Uranium miners could soon receive a boost from the end of Russia's 1993 disarmament treaty that requires the nation to unload the radioactive material from discarded nuclear weapons, reveals a study published Wednesday by Five Star Equities…

Turkey

Turkish government committed to liberalize gas market; energy minister – (Gas to Power Journal) The gas market is not yet fully liberalized and things still needs time, but as the government we are committed to duplicating the efforts made when we liberalized the power market, Turkey's deputy minister for energy and natural resources, Hasan Murat Mercan, told a conference in Istanbul organized by Gas to Power Journal…

SOCAR Turkey head: TANAP marks revolution in energy history of Azerbaijan and Turkey – (Trend) Trans-Anatolian pipeline project (TANAP) marks a revolution in the energy history of Azerbaijan and Turkey, as it will be implemented at the expense of funding and infrastructure of these two countries, the head of SOCAR Turkey Enerji, a board member of Petkim Petrochemical Holding Kenan Yavuz told Trend on Tuesday…

Only new nuclear reactors can curb Turkey's gas power demand – Deloitte – (Gas to Power Journal) Turkey's gas-fired power generation capacity will continue to expand until new nuclear capacity starts operation. "We believe 60 bcm is a viable figure for Turkey's total gas demand volume by 2020, as gas-fired capacity will defend its 45 percent levels of market share until new nuclear capacity starts operation, said Ali Güleç, Senior Consultant at Deloitte…

Energy Minister admits bad choices for hydro plants’ locations – (Daily News) Energy Minister Taner Yıldız has publicly admitted that some of hydroelectric power plants have been built in controversial areas, but still lays blame at the door of contractors…

Turkey incentivises use of domestic lignite to ease gas import dependency – (Gas to Power Journal) The hunger of Turkey's industry for natural gas is unabated, while new government incentives and tax breaks aim to put the use of domestic lignite resources at an advantage over natural gas as a fuel source for power generation…

Second nuclear plant accord ready by month’s end: Turkish Energy Minister – (Daily News) Turkey’s energy minister has set a deadline for an agreement on a second nuclear plant to be built in Sinop for the end of the month…

Turkey: Limak wins energy plant tender – (Balkans) Turkish construction giant Limak placed the highest offer to buy the Hamitabat electricity generation plant with $105 million, promising to invest $1.2 billion in the plant to make it more efficient…

Ukraine

Ukraine boosts electricity exports 39.3% in 2M – (Power Engineering) Ukraine boosted electricity exports by 39.3% year-on-year in January-February to 1.436 billion kilowatt-hours, a source at the Energy and Coal Industry Ministry told Interfax…

Ukraine boosts electricity exports 39.3 percent in 2013 – (Kyiv Post) Ukraine boosted electricity exports by 39.3% or 405.1 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) in January and February 2013 year-over-year, to 1.436 billion kWh, a source at the Energy and Coal Industry Ministry has told Interfax-Ukraine…

Energy Community gives Ukraine two months to boost grid capacity – (Ukrainian Journal) The Energy Community's Secretariat has sent a letter to Ukraine giving it two months to bring the allocation of capacity to the country's electricity interconnectors with its Western neighbors and Moldova in line with the Energy Community's Auction Rules, or to justify its position…

EBRD contributes to safety of Ukraine’s nuclear power stations – (The FINANCIAL)  The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has decided to participate in a comprehensive safety upgrade programme for the operating nuclear power units of Ukraine with a €300 million loan…

Ukraine gets €600m for nuclear safety upgrade – (Energy Live News) Ukraine is getting a loan worth €600 million (£519m) in total to help upgrade nuclear power plants in the country…

Ukrenergo To Auction Capacity For Export Of 3 GW Of Electricity In April  -(ELP) On March 12, the Ukrenergo national power company (Kyiv) will auction access to power transmission lines with a total capacity of 2.95 gigawatts for exporting electricity in April…

Guest post: safeguarding nuclear’s role in Ukrainian energy – (Beyondbrics) The use of nuclear power generates at least as much debate as electricity. This is especially true in the case of Ukraine, where in 1986 the Chernobyl accident happened. The events demonstrated that in nuclear power generation safety always must be the utmost priority…

Ukraine, Russia may agree gas price reduction in 2013, says energy minister – (Kyiv Post) Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavytsky thinks that his country and Russia will agree to a price reduction for Russian gas this year…

US' Cub Energy boosts Ukrainian gas acreage with $25 mil acquisition – (Platts) US independent Cub Energy said Friday is has agreed to acquire a privately held Ukrainian oil and gas explorer, PrivateCo, for $25 million to increase its existing gas acreage in Ukraine…

PE-Backed CUB Energy Buys Ukrainian Exploration Business – (PeHub) a Ukraine-focused upstream oil and gas company with offices in Houston, Texas and Toronto, Ontario, has entered into an agreement to purchase a private Ukrainian oil and gas exploration business for approximately US$25 million. The transaction is expected to be completed by June 2013…

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