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

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USEA Upcoming Events

 June 1-2, 2015: USAID / USEA Southeast Europe Distribution System Operator (DSO) Security of Supply Working Group Meeting – Athens, Greece

 June 22-23: USAID / USEA Black Sea Transmission Planning Project (BSTP) Optimal Power Flow (OPF) Training Workshop – Budapest, Hungary

June 24, 2015: USAID / USEA Black Sea Transmission Planning Project (BSTP) Working Group Meeting – Budapest, Hungary 

June 25, 2015: USAID / USEA Southeast Europe Cooperation Initiative (SECI) Transmission System Planning Project Working Group Meeting – Budapest, Hungary 

Albanian Regulator Awards Power Trading Licence to Alpiq Energy Albania – (Energetika) ERE has also certified Alpiq Energy Albania as a qualified supplier of electricity, according to ERE's website. Additionally, ERE has awarded a 5-year power trading license to the local company Electral…

Bulgaria

Bulgaria's Energy Regulator Proposes 2 % Increase of Electricity Prices from July 1 – (Novinite) A report of Bulgaria's Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (KEVR) proposes the price of electricity for end users to increase by 2 % on average from July 1…

Bulgaria Energy, Finance Mins 'to Attend Key Russia Forum' – ( Novinite) Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov and Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova will take part in the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2015, news sources say…

Bulgaria on track to extend nuclear units' lifespan - deputy minister – (Reuters) Bulgaria has stepped up work to extend the lifespan of its two Soviet-made nuclear reactors by 30 years, its deputy energy minister said on Wednesday, as the Balkan country struggles to keep a lid on politically sensitive electricity costs…

Bulgaria fines power distributors for abuse of dominant position – (Reuters) Bulgaria's competition watchdog said on Tuesday it had fined the local units of three foreign-owned power distributors, EVN, based in Austria, along with CEZ and Energo-Pro, both Czech-based, for abusing their dominant market positions…

Electricity tariff increase needed: Bulgarian energy expert – (Focus) “An increase in the electricity tariff is needed,“ said energy expert Professor Atanas Tasev, speaking Monday in an interview with Radio FOCUS…

Bulgarian power grid operator limits green energy output – (Reuters) Bulgaria's power grid operator ordered all renewable energy producers to cut output by 40 percent on Thursday as it struggles to balance production and consumption in the Balkan country, the state-owned company said…

Bulgaria's state-owned National Electric Company reported profit of BGN 25 million for the first quarter of 2015: - (Focus) Bulgaria's state-owned National Electric Company (NEK) has reported a profit of BGN 25 million in the first quarter of 2015,” Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova said during a sitting of the Energy Committee at the Parliament, a reporter of FOCUS News Agency announced…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

EBRD boosts micro-finance lending in BiH – (Financial) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting the expansion of non-banking financial services in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a €6 million loan to Partner Microcredit Foundation for on-lending to micro and small enterprises (MSMEs)… 

Croatia

Croatia Awards Six Onshore Oil And Gas Exploration Licenses – (Rigzone) Three companies will share six licences to explore for oil and gas in Croatia's northern Drava river basin and in the east of the country, the Zagreb government said on its website on Tuesday, ahead of a cabinet session to confirm the decision… 

Vrdoljak: We Must Develop Our Own Energy Resources – (Energetica) “Croatia must start developing its own resources and take partial risk, especially in oil exploitation in the Adriatic Sea. For the past 40 years a third of all gas produced in Croatia has been produced at the…

Electricity prices for households in Croatia dropped slightly – (Balkans) Electricity prices for households in Croatia dropped slightly in the second half of 2014 compared with the same period of 2013, while natural gas prices saw a modest rise, according to a report by the EU's statistical office Eurostat released on Wednesday…

Croatia to Award EUR 34 Million for Buildings Renovation – (Energetika) The strategy is important for the development of Croatia because its implementation spans the sectors of energy, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture, forestry, and waste management…

RWE Plans New Joint Venture with Croatian HEP – (Energetika) According to HEP, the business activities of the new joint venture company will be co-ordinated with the development of energy systems in the region…

Croatia plans to offer several exploration licenses to foreign energy companies – (Balkans) Peter Fries has been coming to Croatia for years after falling in love with its pristine coastline, fresh seafood, mellow wine and friendly hosts…

Macedonia

Macedonia to Clean Industrial Sector Using EUR 7.3 Million in Next 3 Years – (Energentika) In her opening speech, Director of REC Macedonia, Katarina Georgievska, said that strengthening policy and regulatory frameworks for better and sustainable operations in industry and integrating energy efficiency…

Macedonia Caught In East-West Pipeline Tug-Of-War – (Oil Price) The tiny Balkan state of Macedonia can now join neighboring Greece as a pawn in the tug-of-war between Moscow and the West on developing alternative routes for delivering Russian gas to its customers in Europe…

Deputy PM: Macedonia to Fully Liberalise its Energy Market in 2020 – (Energetika) According to Pesevski, one of the main challenges of the Macedonian government is to harmonise the energy sector with EU targets, including the opening of the energy market, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions...

Montenegro

First Micro HPP Installed in Montenegro's Village Lijeska – (Energetika) The investment is worth EUR 1.7 million. The 615 kW micro HPP, the investor in which is the Synergy Company, will produce 2.7 GWh of electricity annually. Žurić stressed that investment in HPPs in Montenegro…

Environmentalists Concerned About Small HPPs in Montenegro – (Energetika) Green Home Project Assistant Milija Čabarkapa believes that hydro power plants (HPPs) do produce clean energy, though the instalment of HPPs could also ruin small water flows, SEEbiz reports…

Romania

Romania’s energy strategy vexed in Brussels – (Business review) Over 130 energy policy promoters from 14 countries participated on May 26 at the fourth edition of “Romania Energy Day” event titled “The Energy Union: Challenges and Opportunities in Central and South-Eastern Europe”…

Romania's energy Min wants a balanced, competitive and technologically neutral energy mix – (Act Media) Romania's Minister of energy Andrei Gerea presented Romania’s energy policy in European context and the national objectives in the field of energy and environment…

E.ON Romania estimates for this year a 6 per cent increase in the price of natural gas – (Act Media) E.ON Romania estimates for this year a 6 per cent increase in the sales in the natural gas sector and a 9 per cent sale increase in the electricity sector…

Romania reconnects nuclear reactor to power grid – (Reuters) Romania's state-owned power producer Nuclearelectrica has reconnected its second nuclear reactor to the national electricity grid on Tuesday after being shut down for routine maintenance since May 8, the company said in a statement…

Romania’s energy regulator releases Q1 monitoring report – (Act Media) The National Authority for Energy Regulation (ANRE) has published the monitoring report of the support scheme for promotion of cogeneration based on thermo energy demand in Q1 2015…

Romania to export electricity to Turkey through submarine cable – (Business Review) Romania is keen to press ahead with electricity interconnection projects in the Black Sea, such as a submarine power cable between Romania and Turkey…

Serbia

Serbia's Evolving Energy Policy – (Stratfor) Since the cancellation of the South Stream pipeline project, Russia's financial constraints, coupled with possible Western incentives for participation in alternate energy projects such as the Southern Corridor, have begun pushing Serbia toward the Western-led projects in the region…

Serbia Has No Coherent Foreign Policy – (New Eastern Europe) First of all, it means Serbia has neither a coherent foreign policy nor even a strategy for its foreign policy….

PM says Serbia will reduce dependency on Russian gas – (B92) Aleksandar Vucic has told AP in an interview that his government "will accept U.S. calls to reduce dependency on Russian gas."..

Serbia to diversify its energy suppliers – (EurActiv) During a visit to Tirana on 27-28 May, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić said that Serbia would join a US-backed pipeline that would transport gas from Azerbaijan, while Minister of Energy Aleksandar Antić said that a gas interconnection with Bulgaria are priorities…

Serbia-Bulgaria Gas Interconnection By 2018 – (In News) The 150 kilometer-long gas interconnection between Bulgaria and Serbia is to be completed by 2018 so that gas could start flowing in 2019, Serbian Minister of Energy ad Mining Aleksandar Antic said on Tuesday…

Serbia Looks West to Weaken Russia's Energy Dominance – (Stratfor) The West is boosting its efforts to counter Russia's energy-fueled influence in the Balkans. During the first week of June, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic will visit Washington, where he will reportedly meet with U.S. officials…

“Serbia Should Turn To All Sources Of Gas” – (In News) Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister Zorana Mihajlovic said Tuesday that Serbia should turn to all sources that could provide it with energy stability and that it was vital to have the project to build the pipeline connection between Nis and Dimitrovgrad realized as soon as possible…

Gas and Serbia: Is Moscow worried, what does U.S. say– (B92) The prime minister says solutions are sought in the interest of citizens, not of great powers, while the presidency says "Moscow doesn't mind."..

Armenia

PSRC Chairman promises to inform about energy tariff increase in a week – (Armpress) The public Service regulatory Commission will inform about the position on the energy tariff increase application in a week…

Energy Price Rise Inevitable, Says Armenian Regulator – (In English) Armenia’s chief public utility regulator said on Tuesday that the prices of electricity in the country will again rise soon despite strong resistance from opposition parties and many ordinary Armenians…

Minister Rules Out Sharp Rise In Energy Fees – (In English) The impending increase in the electricity prices in Armenia will not be as drastic as has been requested by the Russian-owned national power distribution network, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Yervand Zakharian said on Thursday…

Ministrer doesn’t expect rise in price of Energy – (Armpress) The Minister of Energy and Natural resources of the republic of Armenia Yervand Zakharyan does not think that the tariff for the Electricity will rise by 17 drams in Armenia…

Vorotan Power Plant Sale Nearly Complete – (Asbarez) Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Ara Simonyan told a meeting of Armenia’s National Assembly Tuesday that a landmark deal finalizing the sale of Armenia’s Vorotan Hydro Cascade to a US-based company, ContourGloba, will be signed within the next two to three days…

Opposition Resists Electricity Price Hike – (In English) Armenia’s leading opposition parties on Monday pledged to work together in trying to prevent a more than 35 percent surge in electricity prices sought by the Russian-owned national power distribution network…

Thousands Rally in Yerevan Against Energy Price Hike – (Massispost) Thousands of people took to the streets of Yerevan on Wednesday to protest against a more than 35 percent rise in electricity prices sought by Armenia’s loss-making national power distribution network…

Who will pay for debts of Electric Networks of Armenia? – (Vestnik) In the upcoming months in Armenia it is planned to increase prices for electricity for the forth time in the last five years. On May 8 CJSC Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA)  officially submitted an application to the Commission for Regulation of Public Services (CRPS) to increase electricity tariffs…

Azerbaijan

New wind farm commissioned – (AzerNews) Azerbaijan, the country rich of natural recourses, has put into operation the first turbine of the Yeni Yashma wind farm and plans to commission more…

Azerbaijan creates energy diversification opportunities for region – (Azernews) Azerbaijan, which has become an important energy player, has created opportunities to diversify export routes not only for itself, but also the entire region…

Azerbaijan becomes global energy player – (CIHAN) Azerbaijan is clearly becoming a regional and maybe a global player, Iraqi Oil Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi said…

President Aliyev: Azerbaijan showing energy potential to world last 22 years – (Trend) Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva took part on June 2 in the opening of the 22nd international Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition and Caspian Power 2015, the 5th Anniversary Caspian International Power and Alternative Energy Exhibition…

Robert Cekuta: US closely cooperating with Azerbaijan in energy, security, economic development areas – (APA) Baku. Malahat Najafova – APA. “The US closely cooperating with Azerbaijan in the areas of energy, security as well as economic development,” US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta said, APA reported…

Azerbaijan may leave Europe without gas – (Trends) The phrase "energy security" has recently become just as significant as political, military or any other traditional challenges that countries are facing…

Azerbaijan launches wind park – (APA) On May 28, the State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources, SAARES conducted a full test of all stations in a wind park "Yeni Yashma" with a capacity of 59 MW in the Khizi region and launched a wind turbine with a capacity of 2.5 MW, APA reports…

Georgia

Georgia planning to build about 100 new hydro power plants – (Trend) Georgia is planning to build 91 new small hydro power plants, said the country’s energy ministry. Among those planned the Khaishi Hydro Power Plant, the Tobari Hydro Power Plant and the Pari Hydro Power Plant, as well as a cascade of hydro power plants on the Tskhenistskali River are the largest ones…

Georgian power market deepens regional links – (Argusmedia) Georgia is boosting cross-border power trading activities with its neighbours and is assessing the feasibility of imports from Turkey and the development of a new asynchronous connection with Armenia, Georgian deputy energy minister Mariam Valishvili told Argus…

Georgia hopes to be member of European Energy Union – (News Videonews) Georgia has hopes to become a member of the European Energy Union as its energy infrastructure develops, said Mariam Valishvili, deputy minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Georgia on Wednesday…

Georgia announces new Hydro Power Plant - Khedula 3 – (Agenda) Khedula 3 – this is the name of a new Hydro Power Plant (HPP) that will soon be built in Georgia’s Lower Svaneti region…

Turkey

Deputy Minister: TANAP diversifies energy supplies to Turkey – (News AZ) TANAP to promote diversification of energy supplies in Turkey and implementation of other projects in the future…

Global energy regulators choose Turkey’s Bayraktar as new chairman – (Daily News) Alparslan Bayraktar was elected as the new chairman of the International Confederation of Energy Regulators at the sixth World Forum on Energy Regulation in Istanbul on May 28…

IAEA 'secret' report reveals Turkey's nuclear duties – (News AZ) Turkey has not fulfilled many of the recommendations in a study by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on its bid to acquire nuclear energy, according to a document seen by Hürriyet…

TANAP important for Turkey, region – (Trend) The construction project of the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP) is an important project for Turkey, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during his visit to the province of Kars, the Turkish TV channel TRT Haber reported June 2…

Gazprom plans to start building a pipeline to Turkey this month – (Balkans) Russia's Gazprom plans to start building a pipeline to Turkey this month to get gas to Europe without going through Ukraine, company sources said, although it has no firm agreement with Ankara and faces opposition from the European Union…

Turkey interested in gas supply from Iraq to Europe – (Trend) Turkey is interested in supplying energy from Iraq to European markets, Turkish Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Sefa Sadik Aytekin told Trend…

Russian firm gives Turkish Stream gas pipeline details – (Daily News) Detailed information concerning the Turkish Stream gas pipeline, the latest project to carry Russian gas to Turkey via the Black Sea before it finally reaches Europe, has been presented at the 26th World Gas Conference in Paris…

Ukraine

Risking lives to restore power in front-line villages – (ICRC) When conflict spreads, front lines may divide more than just communities. They can also split water and power systems, blacking out homes, crippling hospitals and closing schools…

Ukraine's DTEK aims for $3 bln long-term debt deal by October – (Reuters) Ukraine's biggest private power producer DTEK hopes to hammer out a deal with banks by October to delay payment of most of its $3 billion in debt as it is unable to service obligations after being hit by the country's political crisis, its CEO said…

Ukraine interested in gas imports via Lithuanian LNG terminal – Energy Ministry – (Interfax) Ukraine and Lithuania will consider the issue of gas supply through the LNG terminal in Klaipeda and the Lithuania-Poland interconnector to Ukraine, head of the European integration department at the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry, Mykhailo Bno-Airiyan, wrote on his Facebook page…

Ukraine leaders aim to learn about energy independence – (Wausaudailyherald) A delegation of Ukrainian leaders searching for ways to expand their country's production of alternative and sustainable energy will visit central Wisconsin next month…

Russia Wants to Include Ukraine’s Gas Obligations Into New Gas Agreement – (Sputnik) Russia wants to include Ukraine’s obligations on gas into the agreement that might be signed during the upcoming three-party gas consultations…

Ukrainians to explore Iowa environmental practices – (Globe Gazette) An Open World delegation from Ukraine is to arrive in Osage on Friday, June 12, for a week-long program to promote mutual understanding between Ukrainian and Iowa environmental specialists…

Electricity fails in second east Ukraine mine, 576 trapped

– (Reuters) Shooting in eastern Ukraine cut off electricity on Wednesday at a second mine, called Zasyadko, leaving 576 miners underground without light, a pro-Russian separatist commander was quoted as saying by rebel press service DAN.

 

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