Albania

Alstom wins €100m contract to deliver equipment to Devoll Hydropower project in Albania – (EBR) French multinational conglomerate Alstom has secured a €100m contract from Statkraft for the delivery of six turbine-generator units and auxiliaries to Devoll Hydropower in southern Albania…

Alstom bags €100m Albania hydro – (Re News) Alstom has clinched a €100m contract with Norwegian company Statkraft to supply generating equipment to the 243MW Devoll River hydropower project in Albania…

Alstom to supply turbines to Devoll River hydropower project in Albania (Electric Light and Power) Alstom won a contract worth about $132.4 million by the Norwegian company Statkraft AS to supply 6 Francis turbine-generator units and auxiliaries to its unit in Albania, Devoll Hydropower Sh.A…

Bulgaria

Bulgarian Minister Decries Plight of Energy Sector – (Novinite) Bulgaria's energy sector is experiencing an extremely difficult situation, according to a report of Economy and Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev…

Bulgaria’s energy watchdog expected to approve new electricity prices – (Focus) Sofia. Bulgaria’s State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission is expected to approve at a closed meeting the final new electricity prices, which will come into force on August 1…

Bulgaria cuts electricity prices by 5 pct, business concerned – (Reuters) Bulgaria's state energy regulator cut the electricity costs for households by an average of 5 percent as of August 1 as part of a pledge by the ruling Socialists to reduce power costs' burden in the European Union's poorest country…

Bulgarian minister speaks about Belene NPP project with Russia’s voice: former minister – (Focus) Sofia. Bulgaria together with its lawyers in the arbitration trial has said that the National Electricity Company (NEK) will not pay any expenses made after 31 March 2012…

Coal production in Bulgaria has decreased by 30.7% - (Balkans) Coal production in Bulgaria has decreased by 30.7% in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the same period of 2012, Minister of Economy and Energy Dragomir Stoynev stated during today's meeting of the Parliamentary Energy Committee…

Minister of Economy: We are still paying hundreds millions for NPP Belene – (Standart) Bulgaria continues to pay millions to the Russian contractor for the construction of the nuclear power plant Belene, although the Parliament decided to suspend the construction back in March 2012, Minister of Economy and Energy Dragomir Stoynev stated yesterday at a meeting of the Parliamentary Energy Committee…

Bulgaria energy watchdog applied butcher's method in new price formation: expert – (Focus) Aiming at balance of the energy system the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission has applied surgical and even butcher's method in single cases when forming the new model of pricing…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

TAP consortium says of prospects of gas supplies to the Balkans and cooperation with other pipelines – (abc.az) Trans Adriatic pipeline (TAP), selected for export of Azeri gas to Europe, assesses perspectives for energy supplies to the Balkan states.

Bosnia's Aluminij agrees power supply deal with Slovenian trader – (Reuters) Bosnia's aluminium smelter, Aluminij Mostar, which has struggled to keep going due to high electricity costs, said it has secured an advantageous 100 megawatt (MW) power supply deal for the rest of 2013 with Slovenian electricity trader GEN-I…

Croatia

Croatia: Aeolian park worth 65 mln euros opens in Dalmatia – (ANSA) An Aeolian park with 14 generators was inaugurated Tuesday in the Dalmatian hinterland, in Croatia. President Ivo Josipovic attended the event. The Aeolian park is the most significant single investment made in renewable energy in Croatia and so far also the most significant direct investment in general for a total value of 65 million euros…

EBRD invests in energy efficiency in one of the largest food producers in Croatia – (Balkans) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting investments in improving the energy efficiency of Podravka d.d. – one of the largest food producers in Croatia – with a €9.9 million loan…

New Gas Market Act – (ACC) The new Gas Market Act adopted by the Croatian Parliament on 22 February 2013 was published in the Official Gazette of Croatia (“Narodne Novine”) No. 28 on 6 March 2013 and fully came into force on 1 July 2013 (“GMA”) as the day of the Croatian accession to the EU. Along with the GMA, the Croatian Ministry of Commerce adopted the amendments to the pertinent law - the Bylaw on Organization of Natural Gas Market…

Macedonia

Germany's KfW lends $46 mln for Macedonian wind, hydro projects – (Reuters) German state-owned KfW Bank made a 35 million euro ($46.3 million) loan on Thursday to Macedonia's power utility ELEM for a wind farm and an upgrade of a hydro-power plant…

German support for ELEM energy projects -Germany will provide support in the amount of EUR 35 million for two energy projects of Macedonian Power Plants (ELEM). EUR 15 million will be used for completion of the Wind Farm Bogdanci, whereas the remaining EUR 20 million for revitalization project of Spilje 2 hydro plant…

South Stream project will accelerate (FYR) Macedonia's) gasification says Vice Premier – (Balkans) Macedonia's involvement in the South Stream project through the agreement we signed in Moscow will accelerate the country's gasification, said Vice Premier and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski on Thursday…

Montenegro

Montenegro plans to invite bids next month for exploration and exploitation of oil and natural gas – (Balkans) Montenegro's Economy minister announced that the government plans to bids for exploration of oil and natural gas off its Southern Adriatic Coast in next month. Montenegro signed, in November, a declaration on the accession of Montenegro Energy Charter…

Romania

Romania's energy regulator, removed the transportation tariffs related to the import-export of electricity – (Balkans) ANRE, Romania's energy regulator, removed the transportation tariffs related to the import-export of electricity to stop an infringement procedure of the European Commission (EC)…

Romania to Build Gas Pipeline to Moldova with Major Political Implications – (Oil Price) Romania announces that construction will begin soon on a natural gas pipeline to neighboring Moldova, in a project that will underbid Gazprom prices and challenge Russia’s control in Moldova and with respect to the frozen conflict over Transnistria.

Romanian Green Certificates for Solar Photovoltaic are Set to be Changed – (Balkans) Global Data has recently released a report entitled "Romanian Green Certificates for Solar Photovoltaic and Other Renewables are Set to be Changed."..

Romanian Green Certificates report:  Romanian Green Certificates for Solar Photovoltaic and other renewables are Set to be Changed – Romania is a republican country in southeast Europe, bording Bulgaria and Ukraine…

Romania is looking to lower the co-generation tax and the electricity transport tariffs – (Balkans) The Romanian government is currently working on a raft of measures that will lower the impact of the deregulation of the electricity and gas prices for households and industrial consumers, said Constantin Nita, delegate-minister for energy, on Thursday…

Poland, Romania enter project linking electricity markets – (The Slovak Spectator) Romania and Poland are closer to linking their daily electricity markets with the markets of Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic…

Romania's State-owned Hunedoara Energy, a power generator, has absorbed the National Coal Company Petrosani – (Balkans) Romania's state-owned Hunedoara Energy Holding, a power generator, has absorbed the National Coal Company Petrosani, in a move to cut production costs…

Serbia

Serbia's electricity utility awards Voith $84.4 mln hydro deal – (Reuters) Serbia's state-owned electric power utility awarded Germany's Voith Hydro a contract worth 63.7 million euros ($84.42 million) to overhaul an ageing hydro power plant on the Drina river and boost its capacity by a third…

Serbia: Increase Of 10.9 Per Cent In The Electricity Price Approved – (In Serbia) The Energy Agency of the Republic of Serbia (AERS) approved Tuesday the request of the Electric Power Industry of Serbia (EPS) for the price of electricity in households to increase by 10.9 percent, Tanjug learnt at the AERS…

Contract signed for the rehabilitation of Serbia's hydropower – (Balkans) Aleksandar Obradovic, Acting Director General of "Serbian Electric Power Industry", Mijodrag Čitaković, director of the company "Drina - Lim hydro" and Leopold Heninger, chairman of the Board of Directors of the company, "Voith Hydro", signed a , worth 63.7 million euros for the rehabilitation of Serbia's hydropower "Zvornik"…

Serbia’s Power Purchases Will Make Renewable Projects Bankable – (Bloomberg Business Week) Serbia will offer investors new power purchase agreements beginning next week, unlocking potential for investments in renewable energy generation units…

Serbia will invest €10 billion in the development of energy sector over the next eight years – (Balkans) Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said that Serbia would invest €10 billion in the development of energy sector over the next eight years…

Serbia and Bulgaria to Team Up in Energy Policy – (FriedINews) Serbia's Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and Speaker of Bulgarian Parliament Mihail Mikov highlighted the commitment of the two countries to build the closest relations possible because that is in the interest of the whole region…

Armenia

Electricity Production in Armenia – (The Armenian Weekly) Electricity production in Armenia has fully recovered from the major problems it was facing in the early 1990’s and is now a reliable industry…

Iran – Armenia air power transmission line in building process – (ArmenPress) The construction of the Iran-Armenia two chain air power transmission line and Noravan Substation will make the electricity exchange capacity between the two countries from the current 300 megawatts to 1200 megawatts…

Armenian Labor and Social Affairs Ministry studies impact of hike in energy and transport tariffs on poor families - (ARKA) Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia is studying the impact of the recent increase of energy tariffs and transport fares on poor and socially vulnerable strata of the population, minister Artem Asatryan said Thursday at the government briefing…

Armenia Faces Opposition over Gazprom Deal – (Oil Price) Armenia’s plans to hand over the state’s remaining stake in its natural gas monopoly to Gazprom has opposition politicians furious over the prospect of ceding total control of energy supplies to Russia…

Armenian regulator approves AMD66 mln of investments for “Shake” hydro power plant – (ARKA) Armenia’s public services regulatory commission approved at its meeting Wednesday the investment program of “Hydro power plant of Hakobjanyan and Galstyan” Ltd.  for a total of 66 million drams aimed at rehabilitation of infrastructures at “Shake” midget hydro power plant...

Azerbaijan

Gas and Grid Codes to appear in Azerbaijan after adoption of laws on electricity and gas supply – (abc.az) Azerbaijan does not refuse from its obligations as a participant of the European Energy Charter.  A government source says that Azerbaijan has already started creating the legal framework for the application of the third energy package of the EU…

Azerbaijan: Consortium Formed To Build Trans-Adriatic Pipeline – (Eurasia Review) Azerbaijan’s Socar has announced its alliance with Western oil companies to construct the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which is planned to carry Azerbaijani gas to Europe via a European Union-backed route…

Eyes on alternative gas connections – (BBJ) When Azerbaijan dealt a final blow to the Nabucco natural gas pipeline at the turn of the month by awarding its natural gas resources to a rival project, Hungary’s government quickly stated that it wasn’t left distraught by the events and would be looking for alternative means to realize its strategic goals in energy policy…

Azerbaijan has vast potential for use of biogas – (Azernews) The use of methane generated from biomass in landfills can partially meet the electricity needs in Azerbaijan, the State Agency for Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources said on its website…

Azerbaijan has great biogas potential – (Trend) The use of methane, which is harnessed from biomass processing plants in landfills can partially meet the demand for electricity in Azerbaijan, according to a report from the official website of Azerbaijan's State Agency for Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources…

IFC Signs First Loan In Energy Efficiency In Azerbaijan – (Bernama) - The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has signed an agreement with Azerbaijani Bank Respublika on a US$15 million-loan to finance energy efficiency projects, Azerbaijan's Trend news agency reported…

INOGATE ESIB comments to draft-law on energy efficiency in Azerbaijan to be expected in fall – (abc.az) “Energy Saving Initiative in the Building Sector in Eastern Europe and Central Asia” (ESIB) of INOGATE program of the European Union continues preparing to make the new recommendations for beneficiary countries…

Energy majors get behind TAP gas project – (UPI) The consortium behind the TAP gas pipeline from Azerbaijan said BP, French oil company Total and Azerbaijan's energy company came on board as members Tuesday…

World oil and gas industry leaders to discuss latest developments and opportunities in Azerbaijan – (Trend) Thought to be the oldest oil-producing region in the world, it is unsurprising that "Today, offshore Caspian has become one of the world's leading hydrocarbon provinces", Oliver Kinross company reported…

Georgia

Georgia, EU discuss prospects for deepening cooperation in energy sector – (Trend) Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Pandjikidze has met with European Commissioner for Energy Gunther Oettinger. The sides discussed prospects for deepening cooperation between Georgia and the EU in the energy sector, Georgian MFA told Trend…

Georgia to implement energy strategy until 2015 – (Turkish Weekly) There is an action plan for the formation of a long term Georgian energy development strategy; an initial SWOT analysis will be known next month…

Several houses evacuated in Batumi due to gas leak – (Trend) Residents of several houses were evacuated in Batumi. The workers damaged the pipeline during gasification of the Parnavaz area, resulting in the leak of natural gas, the Georgian media reported on Wednesday…

SOCAR Georgia Gas injects $147 mln in Georgian gas distribution sector – (Azernews) Georgian Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze together with representatives of Azerbaijani company SOCAR Georgia Gas familiarized himself with the process of gas supply to the Chagani village of Samtredia region in Imereti, western Georgia, on July 29…

SOCAR completes next stage of gasification in Georgia – (Trend) Georgian Energy and Natural Resources Minister Kakha Kaladze and Director General of Azerbaijani company SOCAR Energy Mahir Mammadov got acquainted with the completed gasification works in Tianeti settlement and symbolically lit a torch in the center of the settlement…

Russia

Russians to face curb on wasted electricity – (RT) Russian consumers are to encouraged to be more efficient with their use of electricity next year. From 2014 anyone deemed a 'waster' will be charged a higher tariff…

19% of Russia’s electricity generating capacity in use for more than 50 years - June 2013 – (Construction Russia) The country’s power generating and transmission capacities are in an unsatisfactory condition. Most generating capacity is outdated…

Russia’s Rosneft seeks Azeri gas field stake – (Daily News) Russian oil major Rosneft is seeking a stake in Azerbaijan’s Absheron gas project, sources close to the talks said, in the latest move that may help it become a competitor of Russia’s gas exporter Gazprom…

Plug pulled on Russia's flagship Shtokman energy project  -(The Guardian) A $15bn (£9.4bn) flagship energy project in the Russian Arctic promoted by Vladimir Putin and state-owned Gazprom has been sunk by soaring costs, falling European demand and cheap shale gas in America…

Rosneft - The new star of Russian energy – (Turkish Weekly) In Energy Strategy-2030 of Russia, enacted at the end of 2009, it was stated that Moscow would put emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region in its energy exports in the coming years…

Polar Ice Thaw Exploited by Russian Energy Developers – (My Desert) While post-Soviet Union Russian businesses are not exactly known for their innovative acumen, Moscow has jumped to a big lead in exploiting the opportunities made available through the rapid melting of the North Polar icecaps, and the waters around it…

Chevron betting on fracking over Russian energy – (Journal Gazette) Chevron is betting it can win over Eastern Europeans with the idea of energy independence even after dry wells and government delays led Exxon Mobil and Talisman Energy to scrap efforts to tap natural gas deposits in Polish shale…

Russia Prepares To Liberalize LNG Exports – (Oil Price) Bottom Line: By January 2014, Russia may liberalize LNG exports currently monopolized by state-run Gazprom, in order to make room for expansion of LNG exports to the Asia-Pacific region…

Turkey

Building of Turkey's first nuke plant faces delay risk – (Daily News) The construction of Turkey’s first nuclear plant seems likely to be delayed as the Environment and Urban Planning Ministry rejected the Environmental Impact Analysis Report for the Akkuyu plant, citing deficiencies in form and content…

Electricity network in Turkey second largest in Europe – (World Bulletin) Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz said Wednesday that the electricity network in Turkey was the second largest in Europe with its capacity of service to 95 million people…

Turkey’s Zorlu Energy starts test and run operations in six gas turbines in Ashkelon, Israel, - (Balkans) Turkey’s Zorlu Energy announced that Dorad Energy Limited, 25 percent of which is owned by the company, started July 26 to test and run operations in six gas turbines in Ashkelon, Israel, by a written statement to the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) yesterday…

Turkey good at refixing gas prices: Energy agency – (Daily News) The International Energy Agency (IEA) came out in favour of the spot gas market on late Wednesday over contracts that link gas to oil prices, citing Turkey as an example of a successful renegotiation…

Alstom to supply equipment for three hydro projects in Turkey – (EBR) Hydropower equipment provider Alstom has won three supply contracts worth €100m in Turkey. The manufacturer will supply equipment for 292MW Alpaslan II, 636MW Upper Kaleköy1 and 72MW Tepekisla2 hydro power plant projects…

Turkmenistan to supply electricity to Turkey via Iran – (Azernews) Turkmenistan intends to supply electric power to Turkey by transiting through Iran, Donya-e-eqtesad News reported. According to the publication, the country plans to become one of the largest exporters of electric power in the region by 2020 and has signed an agreement with a private Turkish company on the export of electric power to Turkey's capital Ankara… 

Ukraine

Ukrenergo sees 4.6 percent drop in power transmission via trunk power grids in Jan-June 2013 – (Kyiv Post) National energy company Ukrenergo in January-June 2013 reduced electricity transmission through the country's backbone and interstate power grids by 4.6 percent, or by 3.076 billion kWh compared to the same period of 2012, to 64.485 billion kWh, the company's press service has reported…

Shell rejects Ukrainian-made pipes for Yuzivska shale gas field- (UPI) Royal Dutch Shell said this week Ukrainian pipe makers won't be included in its plans to develop the country's shale gas reserves due to low-quality product…

DTEK appoints electricity generation director – (StockMarketWire) - DTEK has appointed deputy director for operations, Duisen Mergaliyev, as acting head of the electricity generation director…

Parker to lead Texas tour for Ukraine delegates – (South Lake) State Rep. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound) saw the economic opportunities Ukraine has to offer when he traveled to the region last year. So next week, he is going to guide key Ukraine delegates across the state to show what Texas can provide as well…

Solar PV in Ukraine, Market Outlook to 2025 - Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends – (Environmental Experts) Solar PV in Ukraine, Market Outlook to 2025 Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles is the latest report from GlobalData, the industry analysis specialists that offer comprehensive information and understanding of the solar PV market in Ukraine…

 

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