Albania

SOCAR and Albania create working groups on establishing the gas market of this Balkan country – (ABC.az) Edmond Haxhinasto, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Energy of Albania is paying visit to Baku.  Yesterday Elshad Nasirov, SOCAR Vice President, announced that Premier Minister of Albania sent the Minister of Energy to Baku to start talks on gas supplies…

Bulgaria

Bulgaria 70th among 129 Countries in Energy Sustainability Ranking – (Novinite) Bulgaria ranks 70th out of 129 countries in the 2013 edition of the Energy Sustainability Index of the World Energy Council.  The top ten positions in the ranking are occupied by European countries, the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA) informs…

Bulgaria must improve energy efficiency, think-tank says – (Trust.org) Bulgaria's lowly energy security ranking threatens to harm its power-intensive economy and must be improved, an independent think-tank said on Wednesday…

Research Says Bulgaria's Energy Stability at Stake – (Novinite) Bulgaria puts its national energy security at the highest risk out of 75 other countries, according to Martin Tsankov, an analyst at the Center for Study of Democracy…

New energy and new directions in Bulgaria – (EuroNews) Renewable energy is not only essential for the well-being of the environment, it is also a legal requirement. By 2020 European states must reach a target of 20 percent of their energy coming from renewable sources…

3 'Bosses' Arrested in Bulgaria's Energy Fraud Special Ops – (Novinite) Two former CEO's of Bulgaria's National Electric Company, NEK, Krum Atanasov and Ivo Lefterov, have been arrested Friday during the special operation against suspected fraud in the energy sector…

Trade union foresees protests in Bulgaria’s coal output, energy and transport sectors – (Focus) “We foresee a hard autumn; protests in many sectors. The Bulgarian Posts were the first, and according to me, there will be protests in the coal output sector, too, followed by protest in the energy sector, which is seriously destabilised, and no solutions can help it…

Raids on Energy Company Don't Seal Fate of Bulgaria's Belene NPP – (Novinite) Bulgarian law enforcement authorities' raids on the offices of Risk Engineering company are not directly related to the outlook of the frozen Belene NPP project, said Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy Dragomir Stoynev…

Bulgaria Audit Office: Energy watchdog’s independence remains an open issue – (Focus) “Bulgaria’s State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC) has not adopted clear rules and procedures for the development and update of the methods, rules and regulations, and of exercising of control on their observation. Some of the sets of methods were adopted with delay or were not updated on time, while others were not issues (except for the water supply sector)…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Germany's KfW lends $232 mln for Bosnian hydro, wind projects – (Reuters) German state-owned development bank KfW on Wednesday sealed a 172 million euro ($232 million) loan deal with Bosnia to help the country develop several renewable energy projects and improve the water supply system…

Bosnia Herzegovina UNDP continue energy efficiency projects  -(Balkans) The Co-sharing Agreement between Bosnia Herzegovina (FBiH) Environmental Fund and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed this week in Sarajevo provides grounds for further development of the ongoing activities aimed at increasing energy efficiency in Federation of Bosnia Herzegovina, primarily in the public buildings sector…

Italian TRD contemplates opening another plant in Bosnia Herzegovina (Balkans) The FIPA representative Nina Pobric, the representative of Federal Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mining  of Bosnia Herzegovina Eldara Sose and representatives of Zenica-Doboj Canton Edina Islamovic and Osman Buza visited TRD dd Vares in Bosnia Herzegovina…

Regional integration key to national, global progress, leader of Bosnia and Herzegovina says –(UN News) The Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina told the high-level debate of the United Nations General Assembly today that regional cooperation remains the focus of his country as it looks toward furthering its relationship with the European Union and addressing global economic, security and environmental challenges…

Croatia

Croatia Can Meet Green Goals With Less Subsidies, Officials Say – (Bloomberg) Croatia can achieve its climate-change goals by the end of the decade even as it plans to cut subsidies by as much as two-thirds, officials said…

High energy costs hamper EU industry – Commission – (EuroNews) EU nations will be left far behind the United States unless they address high energy costs that are worsening the continent’s industrial decline, the European Commission said on Wednesday…

Kosovo

Kosovo energy authority denies reports on electricity price hike – (dtt-net) The Kosovan Office of Electric Energy Regulator said there will be no electricity price increase until April next year. 

Kosovo electricity prices to increase drastically – (dtt-net) citizens will be paying up to 40% more their electricity bills amid decision of local energy plant to increase the prices during the winter period…

Macedonia

Macedonia eyes nuclear energy plant – (dtt-net) Macedonian authorities have launched consultations of whether the country should have its own nuclear energy plant, but final decision would go to country’s citizens through a referendum in case the government would decide in favour of the project…

Regional conference on atomic energy in Skopje – (World Bulletin) Conference aims to exchange the ideas on future cooperation in this field Macedonian Union for the Energy Distribution and Macedonian Academy of Science and Arts organized a conference on cross-border cooperation in the field of atomic energy with the attendance of representatives from all the countries of the region…

The exchange of electricity is important for market liberalization says FYR Macedonia's Deputy PM  -(Balkans) Macedonia's Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Vladimir Peshevski opened the conference of the (FYR) Macedonian Committee for Large Electric Systems, held in Ohrid…

Montenegro

Montenegro's EPCG extends bidding to build new coal-fired unit – (Reuters) Montenegro's power utility EPCG said on Wednesday it had extended by a month to Oct. 31 the deadline for submission of bids for the construction of an up to 300 megawatt (MW) coal-fired unit at its 210 MW Pljevlja power plant…

Romania

Romania records this year’s peak energy consumption – (Romania Insider) The largest energy consumption in 2013 was recorded around a week ago, and stood at some 7,300 MW, according to Constantin Niță, the ministry delegate for energy…

Amromco Energy to expand in Romania after USD 50 million investment from Mercuria  -(Romania Insider) Oil and gas producer Amromco Energy has received a USD 50 million equity investment from energy trading business Mercuria…

Romania plans to roll out a new royalty regime for the oil and gas sector next year – (Balkans) As the Romanian government plans to roll out a new royalty regime for the oil and gas sector next year, experts say that higher production taxes could stifle investment, increasing Romania’s dependency on energy imports in the coming decades…

Romania wants EU compensation for abandoned Nabucco project  -(EurActiv) Romanian President Traian Băsescu has asked for compensation from the EU for the abandoned Nabucco pipeline project which had been planned to carry Azeri gas to Austria through Romanian territory…

Romania raises EUR 64 mln via stock listing of electricity producer Nuclearelectrica – (Romania Insider) The Initial Public Offering (IPO) to sell 10 percent of Romania’s electricity producer Nuclearelectrica has brought the Romanian state some EUR 64 million…

Romania raises over 63 million EUR from listing its 10% state in Nuclear Power Producer – (Balkans) The energy department said on Monday the Romanain government raised RON 281 million (EUR 63 million) from listing a 10 percent stake in state-owned Nuclearelectrica, the nuclear power producer…

EFT group plans 50 million EUR in a Romanian power generating project – (Balkans) The EFT Group, an European energy trading and investment firm, said it looks to invest at least EUR 50 million in a power generating project in Romania, planning to set up an special fund to finance regional energy investments in the coming years…

Serbia

Greens rejoice as Serbia coal project halted, but energy crisis looms  -(BNE) In Belgrade city centre, protestors stand behind a dramatic black banner depicting the outlines of two fallen bodies: "2,100 dead in Serbia. EBRD coal kills," reads the bold yellow and red text…

102MW of wind rises in Serbia  -(Re News) Naftna Industrija Srbije has kicked off construction on the 102MW Plandiste wind farm in Serbia. The 34-turbine project some 70km north-east of Belgrade in the municipality of Plandiste is being developed by NIS in a joint venture with private investors and is expected to cost €160m…

Shale gas, oil reshape world energy landscape  -(Gulf News) After unleashing an energy revolution in the United States, shale gas and oil are now becoming energy game-changers worldwide, a break with the past whose ramifications are still unclear…

Armenia

Armenian Nuclear Power Plant ceases operating for regular repair – (ARKA) Armenian Nuclear Power Plant was brought to a halt on September 22 for a regular repair, the press office of the Armenian energy and natural resources ministry, reported on Wednesday…

Armenian delegation takes part in IAEA general conference – (Armpress)   On September 16 in Vienna began its works 57^th session of the general conference of United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency…

Armenia’s Metsamor NPP, Built Near Fault Line, Gets 10 Year Life Extension  -(Oil Price) In a major piece of bad news for Armenia’s neighbors Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia, Armenia's energy minister Armen Movsisyan has told journalists that the country’s aging Metsamor NPP, originally scheduled for decommissioning in 2016," will operate until 2026."..

Armenia’s membership in Customs Union to have favorable impact on energy resources prices – (ARKA) After joining the Customs Union Armenia will pay for energy carriers the same price as the other members of the union pay, Bruno Balvanera, the EBRD Director for Caucasus Region, Moldova and Belarus, told journalists on Thursday…

Armenian nuclear power station withdrawn from energy production network (Armenpress) The Armenian nuclear power station has been withdrawn from the energy production network at 2:20 on September 22 for the organization of the events on recharge, annual planned restoration, as well as for increasing the level of safety…

Azerbaijan

High-Tech Park on alternative energy still to appear in Azerbaijan – (Abc.az) Today in Baku Deputy Industry & Energy Minister of Azerbaijan Gulmammad Javadov has stated that Azerbaijan, setting a goal to increase the share of renewable energy up to 20% of its energy balance, has already created the first technological capacity in this area - Azgüntex photovoltaic plant in Sumgait…

GDF SUEZ : signs its first long term contract for Azerbaijani gas – (4 Traders) GDF SUEZ announces the signing of a natural gas long-term contract with the Shah Deniz Consortium1, to be sourced from the stage 2 of the Azerbaijani giant field of Shah Deniz, in the Caspian Sea…

Azerbaijan keen on environmental protection – (Azernews) Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the environmental safety issue within the framework of the development of industrial production, Azerbaijani Deputy Industry and Energy Minister Gulmammad Javadov said at the "GreenEvo - Green Technology Accelerator" workshop on September 25…

Minister: Azerbaijan’s diversification policy changes global energy market – (Trend) Azerbaijan will act as a reliable and a major supplier of gas to the world market for more than 100 years, the Minister of Industry and Energy of Azerbaijan Natig Aliyev said in his article published in Respublika newspaper on Thursday…

Azerbaijan orders first batch of domestic inverters for solar power plants – (ABC.az) Azerbaijan has made a technological breakthrough in the development of alternative energy on its own technologies.  Deputy chairman of the State Agency for Alternative and Renewable Energy (ABEMDA) Jamil Melikov has stated that scientific and development research (R&D) in the development of hardware and peripheral devices for solar energy have been successfully completed…

Industry Ministry: Azerbaijan attaches great importance to protection of environment – (Trend) Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the issue of environmental safety within the framework of the development of industrial production, Deputy Industry and Energy Minister of Azerbaijan Gulmammad Javadov said at the GreenEvo - Green Technology Accelerator seminar on Wednesday…

Azerbaijan’s power generation up 40 percent in past decade – (Azernews) Azerbaijan's power generation has expanded 40 percent in the past decade to more than 6,000 megawatts, Industry and Energy Minister Natig Aliyev said in an interview with state-run Respublika newspaper…

Azerbaijani TPP generates over five billion Kw/h of electricity in January-August – (MENA) McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --The Azerbaijani Thermo Power Station generated around 5.16 billion kilowatt of electricity per hour in January-August, according to a message from Azerenergy JSC (production and distribution of electricity in Azerbaijan) published on Wednesday…

Georgia

Georgian Energy Minister to familiarize with gas exploration operations in Samgori – (Turkish Weekly) Georgian Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze, director general of the Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation David Tvalabeishvili and representatives of 'Jindal Petroleum Georgia limited' investment company will familiarize with the drilling operations at a new gas well in Samgori…

Georgian Energy and Natural Resources Minister inspects construction site of country’s first wind power plant – (Trend) Georgian Energy and Natural Resources Minister Kakha Kaladze inspected the construction site of the country's first wind power plant, "Kartli"…

Russia

DOE Signs Updated Nuclear Energy Research Agreement With Russia – (Knovel) The United States and Russia may not have seen eye to eye on a potential intervention in Syria, but in terms of engineering research related to the further development of nuclear energy, both countries are certainly on the same page…

500MW in first Russian RE auction – (ReCharge) Russia’s first renewable energy tender has auctioned off about 500MW in capacity, mostly to solar projects, the head of the country’s solar energy association Aser said…

Russia's energy trade with China to quadruple by 2025 – (Petroleum Economist) The report from consultancy Wood Mackenzie, Russia's pivot east: the growth in energy trade with China, said Russo-Sino energy deals could top 100 million tonnes of oil equivalent (toe) by 2025…

Russia offers 5,000MW of electricity through Afghanistan  -(International News) A high-level Russian energy delegation is visiting Pakistan to extend cooperation in all fields of energy, ranging from import of electricity to LNG, natural gas, coal power production and oil and gas exploration…

Russian energy majors clash as gas export reform looms – (Reuters) Rivalry between Russia's two state energy majors broke out into the open on Wednesday as gas export monopoly Gazprom denounced a push by oil company Rosneft into its core business…

Russian Natural Gas Export Opens Eastern Horizons – (The Energy Collective) Since the adoption of the “third energy package” in 2009, Moscow has been deeply disappointed by European red tape in the sphere of energy policy…

Russia To Export Liquefied Natural Gas – (Energy Tribune) A bill that would allow independent producers to export LNG has been written and submitted to the president’s administration for approval by the Ministry of Energy. The bill effectively destroys Gazprom’s monopoly on exporting LNG abroad, which has been in effect since 2006…

Turkey

Turkey Gas Grid Operator Palmet Hires Advisers for IPO Next Year – (Bloomerbg) Palmet Enerji AS, a Turkish group with interests in power generation and gas trading, hired Garanti Yatirim Menkul Kiymetler AS and BGC Partners (BGCP), Inc. to sell as much as a 20 stake in an initial public offering…

Turkey: new instruments on the way for 'Energy Bourse'  -(ANSAMED) The Istanbul stock exchange plans to introduce new financial instruments for new participants, such as an energy bourse, by 2014 and 2015, Bourse Istanbul (BIST) Vice President Mustafa Kemal Yilmaz, said yesterday during the "All Energy Turkey Conference and Exhibition" as reported by Anadolu Agency…

Turkey seeks Canada, US aid on shale gas reserves  -(Daily News) Turkey has begun to carry out hydraulic fracturing operations to extract shale gas from wells in a number of regions, while a delegation from the Energy Ministry has visited the US and Canada to seek aid…

Energy Ministry: In Turkey, gas is cheaper than in 28 EU countries  -(Trend) "Last year, all the wind power plants in Turkey produced 5.7 billion kilowatt hours of electricity that is just as much as all the houses in Ankara consume,"..

Plenty Of Shale Gas In Turkey: US Gas Boom Could Help Turkey Meet Energy Needs By Using New Methods Of Fracking And Drilling Horizontally – (International Business Times) Turkey is looking west to North America for help in extracting large shale gas reserves in southeastern Anatolia using hydraulic fracturing, the technology that has spawned an oil and gas boom in the U.S. but is heavily criticized by environmentalists for allegedly contaminating groundwater…

Energy: Turkey; Borusan starts to build new wind power plant – (ANSA) Turkish conglomerate Borusan Holding's energy company has started the construction of a wind power plant in the northwestern province of Tekirdag, which is slated to have 50 megawatts (mW) installed power as Anadolu Agency reports...

Ukraine

Ukrainian President focuses on sustainable energy in General Assembly address  -(UN News) A new, inclusive approach to the sustainable development of energy is needed to ensure the efficiency and safety of all energy sources, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych told world leaders attending the United Nations General Assembly today…

Tombinski calls energy key area of Ukraine, EU cooperation – (Forum) The energy industry is one of the key areas in cooperation between Ukraine and the EU, head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Jan Tombinski told journalists during the official opening of the XI International Forum "Fuel and Energy Complex of Ukraine: Present and Future", ForUm correspondent reports…

In Yalta, top official praises Ukraine's strides for energy independence –(Kyiv Post) Ukraine has made major progress in diversification of energy sources this year by launching gas import from Europe at a large scale, increasing its own production and investing in renewable energy sources, Deputy Prime Minister Yuriy Boyko said on Sept. 20…

Shale Gas Development By the US In The Ukraine Can Help Promote Energy Security – (International Business Times) The United States will actively cooperate with Ukrainian authorities to strengthen their nation's energy independence, the U.S. ambassador in Kiev said Wednesday…

Russian-Ukrainian intergovernmental talks on energy issues to be held in October – (Forum) Intergovernmental negotiations between Russia and Ukraine on energy issues will be held in Moscow in early October, Russian Deputy Energy Minister Anatoly Yanovsky said at the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council at the level of the heads of governments…

Excelerate Energy provides Ukraine with proposal on renting floating LNG terminal, says Boiko – (Kyiv Post) Yalta, September 20 (Interfax-Ukraine) - US-based Excelerate Energy has provided the Ukrainian government with a proposal on renting a floating LNG terminal that is to be placed next to Yuzhny port (Odesa region), Vice Premier Yuriy Boiko said at the tenth Yalta annual meeting on Friday…

Energy ministry preparing technical specifications to expand capacities to export power to Poland  -(Kyiv Post) The Energy and Coal Industry Ministry of Ukraine is preparing technical specifications to realize a project on the expansion of capacities to export electricity to Poland, Deputy Energy and Coal Industry Minister Serhiy Chekh told reporters in Kyiv on Tuesday…

Ukraine: new local content determination procedure for renewable projects – (Lexology) On 27 June 2013 the National Commission on the State Regulation of the Energy Sector (NERC) adopted a procedure for calculating the “local content” (“LC”) share in renewable energy power plants (“LC Procedure”)…

Energy Ministry considers effective energy policy to be key for sustainable development – (Focus) The main goal of the energy policy of Ukraine today is the efficient use of natural resources and energy, deputy energy and coal industry minister Serhiy Chekh told journalists during the official opening of the XI International Forum "Fuel and Energy Complex of Ukraine: Present and Future", ForUm correspondent reports…

Electricity generated in Ukraine reported down 3.2% through Aug. 31 – (Ukrainian Journal) KIEV, Sept. 16 - Electricity generated by the integrated power grids in Ukraine January through August fell by 3.2%, or by 4.236 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) year-over-year, to 127.114 billion kWh, a source at the Energy and Coal Industry Ministry told Interfax-Ukraine…

 

  

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