Weekly collection of energy news articles for the region

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USAID/USEA ETAG Upcoming Events

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October 27, 2014       USAID/USEA Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey (AGT) Power Bridge Project Working Group Meeting Baku, Azerbaijan 

October 27-30, 2014       USAID/USEA Armenia Energy Assistance Program Working Group Meeting Yerevan, Armenia

November 3, 2014       USAID/USEA Southeast Europe Cooperation Initiative Transmission System Planning Project (SECI) Group Meeting Skopje, Macedonia 

Albania

Albania borrows $150MM to improve power systems – (Penn Energy) The World Bank is lending Albania $150 million (€118 million) to help overhaul its dysfunctional state-run power sector and pay for electricity imports from other Balkan states.  The Energy Ministry said Tuesday the loan will also be used to boost the efficiency of bill collection from power consumers — some 400,000 of whom have been cut off over the past year for outstanding debts…

Janez Kopač Presents Secretariat’s 2014 Annual Implementation Report – (Energetika) Janez Kopač discussed the progress made in transposing and implementing the Energy Community acquis and outlined the key challenges and priorities for the respective contracting party. He also raised the important…

Albanians will pay 20 percent more for electricity – (Balkans) Albanians will pay 20 percent more for electricity. This is the proposal that comes from the World Bank, after a loan approval of $ 150 million for the energy sector.  In an official document, World Bank estimates that fees should be increased at least by 15-20 %, so that OSSHE in 2016 would become profitable…

TAP pipeline offers Europe new gas supply – (Deutsche Welle) As of 2020, Europe will receive natural gas from the Caspian Sea through the Trans-Adriatic-Pipeline. After some initial difficulties, the project is beginning to take shape. And it will bypass Russia.  The Trans-Adriatic-Pipeline (TAP) is to deliver natural gas from the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan - via Georgia, Turkey, northern Greece and Albania - to southern Italy to feed into the European gas network…

Bulgaria

Three Countries Give Bulgaria EUR 16 M for Energy Efficiency – (Novinite) Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein have announced they will grant some EUR 16 M to support Bulgarian projects involving energy efficiency and renewables.  The European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism adopted for 2009-2014 will be used to allocate the funds…

Companies in Bulgaria invested BGN 8 billion in green energy – (Focus) Investors invested BGN 8 billion in green energy in Bulgaria in 2012, an analysis of the European Commission showed, as cited by Presa daily.  According to it, 11 EU member states have deficits in electricity tariffs: Bulgaria, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Malta, Romania, France, Italy, Hungary and Estonia…

Bulgaria’s Electricity Group held its first sitting at the Economy Ministry – (Focus) The first sitting of the target Electricity Group with the Energy Board was held at the Ministry of Economy and Energy, press centre of the Ministry of Economy and Energy announced. The sitting was chaired by Deputy Minister of Economy and Energy Anton Pavlov and attended by representatives of the Electricity System Operator (ESO), the National Electricity Company (NEC)…

Bulgaria’s Energy Watchdog Mulls New Fee for All Power Generators – (Novinite) Bulgaria’s State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR) mulls introducing a new fee in the sector which will be applicable to all power generators, according to DKEVR Chair Svetla Todorova…

EU Commission Criticizes Bulgaria's 'Low' Electricity Prices – (Novinite) Bulgaria ranks among eleven EU member states suffering from deficits in power tariffs, the European Commission believes.  In a report issued last week, the EU's executive body recommends that electricity prices be hiked to address flaws in financing of power system…

European Commission report points to electricity tariff deficit in Bulgaria – (The Sofia Globe) A new report by the European Commission indicates that there is an electricity tariff deficit in Bulgaria – the result of retail electricity prices being set below the costs borne by energy companies.  Released on October 3, the report by the EC’s directorate-general for economic and financial affairs, coincidentally, emerged two days after energy prices for consumers in Bulgaria were increased…

Reuters: Bulgaria hikes electricity prices to plug funding shortage – (Standart) Bulgaria hiked electricity prices by nearly 10 percent on Wednesday in an effort to cut huge deficits in the Balkan country's energy sector, triggering protests in front of the state regulator's offices…

10-Percent Electricity Price Hike Confirmed with Delay by Bulgarian Regulator – (Publics) Bulgaria’s State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission confirmed late yesterday with a 1-day delay the anticipated 10% price hike of regulated electricity prices.  Households and small businesses supplied by CEZ will see the biggest increase of 9.97% for daytime and of 9.84% for nighttime consumption…

Bulgaria has produced 34.4 million MWh of electricity from the beginning of 2014 – (Balkans) Bulgaria has produced 34.4 million MWh of electricity from the beginning of 2014 until October 5 which represents a 9.61 percent increase in comparison to the same period of 2013, data from Bulgaria's Electricity System Operator (ESO) show. Meanwhile domestic consumption has increased with merely 1.58 percent to 27.83 million MWh. Electricity exports mark a steep growth of 64.8 percent to 6.57 million MWh…

New CEO of South Stream Bulgaria – (Energetika) South Stream Bulgaria, the company tasked with building the Bulgarian section of the South Stream gas pipeline, decided at a general meeting on 3 October to replace the CEO, Vladimir Inkov, with Dimitar Gogov…

False Data in EIA for New Bosnian and Herzegovinian Power Plant Ugljevik III – (Energetika) The EIA study for the planned power plant Ugljevik III near Bjeljina in Republika Srpska, which is one of two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, contains data on the plant's SO2, NOx, and dust emissions which…

Croatia  

Without New Investments Croatian Power System could Collapse by 2020 – (Energetika) Since 2010, Croatia recorded a continuous decline in electricity consumption, due to the economic crisis. In 2010, the consumption of electricity amounted to 17,943 GWh, in 2011 to 17,703 GWh, in 2012 to 17,52…

Croatia's INA to Start 13.1 Mln Euro Redundancy Program – (IENE) Croatian oil and gas company INA [ZSE:INA-R-A] said on Tuesday its management has adopted a redundancy program worth over 100 million kuna ($16.5 million/13.1 million euro).  The redundancy program was initiated as a result of…

Kosovo

EBRD Announces Best Energy Efficiency and Renewable-Energy Projects in Kosovo – (Energetika) It’s been a year since EBRD has launched its Kosovo Sustainable Energy Projects (KoSEP) framework in response to growing demand for finance for energy-efficiency improvements. The Bank provided a 12-million-eur…

Montenegro

SEEbiz: Siemens Wants EUR 14 Million More to Build Montenegrin Transformer Station Lastva – (Energetika) Due to the poor conceptual design in terms of geology, done by company Elektroprenos, Siemens, who is responsible for the construction of the transformer station (TS), demands an extension of time for up to 500…

Director presents Secretariat’s Implementation Report to Parliaments of Serbia, Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro – (Energy Community) Director Kopač presented the key findings of the Secretariat’s 2014 Annual Implementation Report to Members of Parliaments of Serbia, Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro during a visit to the region from 30 September to 3 October. The Director discussed the progress made in transposing and implementing the Energy Community acquis and outlined the key challenges and priorities for the respective Contracting Party…

Montenegro urged to sunder public energy company according to EU rules – (DTT-Net) Representatives of the European Energy Community have told Montenegrin authorities that country’s public energy company must be separated into production, distribution and supply entities as of January next year according to EU energy rules…

Romania

Romania’s electricity exports reach new record highs – (Romania-Insider) Romania has recorded its largest electricity exports ever in the first nine months of this year, as floods in spring affected the power producing capacities of neighboring countries.  The higher internal energy production this year also pushed prices down, which made it more attractive for companies in other countries to buy energy from Romania…

Renewable energy projects reached capacity of 4,704 MW at the end of August – (ACT Media) Renewable energy projects reached a total capacity of 4,704 MW at the end of August, according to data released by the state-owned operator of Romania's transmission grid Transelectrica. Thus, the wind projects connected to the grid had a capacity of 2,800 MW, the capacity of solar parks was 1,234 MW, micro-hydro power plants represented 570 MW and biomass power plants had an aggregate capacity of 100 MW…

Romania’s Nuclearelectrica buys USD 26.7 mln equipment from GE – (Romania-Insider) State-owned electricity producer Nuclearelectrica signed a USD 26.7 million contract with American group General Electric to replace a control system at Unit 1 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant.  General Electric was the sole bidder capable of providing the required services, according to the official announcement for assigning the contract…

Trade Exchange between Romania and Turkey also to Grow due to Energy Sector – (Energetika) “Energy is the most important field and the most important strategic goal for Turkey, Romania, and for other countries in the Black Sea region,” Ponta is convinced. He stressed the importance of having energy…

Test Period for CZ-SK-HU-RO Market Coupling Planned for Middle October – (Energetika) “Stepwise market integration is the only way forward due to a blocked situation and slow progress in the CEE region. CEE regional solution is not agreed yet. Also, the extension does not hinder the regional…

Romania plans to be gas independent by 2020 – (Balkans) Romania will produce more gas than it and smaller eastern neighbor Moldova consume by 2020, and the country's gas grid operator will need to invest in its infrastructure to handle additional resources, the energy minister said on Wednesday…

Romania's nuclear bridge to the 2030s – (The Diplomat) On May 28, 2014, the European Commission published its recommendations for the establishment of a European Energy Security Strategy. The core of the proposed strategy strongly highlights the need to increase its indigenous energy production based on a technology level-playing field, reduce its dependence upon external suppliers, and encourage diversity in the energy mix in order to meet its energy needs…

Russia again tightens the valve on gas deliveries to Romania – (Romania-Insider) Russia decreased gas deliveries to Romania again on Wednesday morning, October 8, according to a statement of the Romanian Ministry of Energy. Gas imports from Russia were 18% lower than normal.  This is not the first time Gazprom cuts gas deliveries to Romania. Earlier this month, on October 1, deliveries of Russian gas…

Opinion: Is shale gas the answer to Europe’s energy independence? – (Energy Voice) When Russia cut off natural gas supplies to Ukraine in a disagreement over unpaid energy bills in the winter of 2009, many countries in eastern Europe were plunged into freezing cold. At the time, 80% of Europe’s gas flowed from Russia through Ukraine and the supply interruption left Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Romania and others without their primary source of heating…

Serbia

EU puts pressure on Serbia to stop South Stream gas pipeline – (EU Observer) The European Commission is to tell Serbia its accession prospects will suffer if it builds South Stream, a Russian gas pipeline.  It says in its annual enlargement report, out on Wednesday (8 October), that “the intergovernmental agreement signed between Serbia and Russia to build the South Stream pipeline is not compatible with the acquis…

South Stream could stop Serbia joining EU, energy chief says – (EU Observer) Serbia has defied EU calls to change the terms of its gas pipeline deal with Russia, but the European Energy Community (EEC) says it “cannot” join the EU unless it does so.  The European Commission in its annual enlargement report on Wednesday (8 October) repeated warnings to Belgrade “not [to] commence work” on the South Stream pipeline until it renegotiates its agreement with Russia…

Serbia Committed to Building South Stream Pipeline: Foreign Minister – (Ria Novosti) Serbia on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to building a leg of the South Stream pipeline, a Russia-led project that would bypass Ukraine to bring natural gas to Europe, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said…

South Stream alternative gas transit route but must operate by EU rules − ex-PM – (TASS) South Stream is an alternative gas transit route for Europe but it must operate by uniform European rules, former Slovenian Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek said on Monday.  Bratusek, who is a candidate for the post of European Commission vice-president for Energy Union in 2014-2019, spoke at a hearing organized by the European Parliament’s Committees on Industry, Research and Energy, and on Environment, Public Health and Food Security…

Serbian population to benefit from enhanced energy security – (Balkans) The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved a EURO227.5 million loan (US$300 million equivalent) for the Floods Emergency Recovery Project for Serbia.  The loan will support Serbia in meeting critical needs in the power and agriculture sectors, repairing damaged flood control infrastructure, and helping the country better respond to natural disasters. The project was prepared following flooding in mid-May, which was the worst to hit the country in documented history…

As much as 20% of Serbia's entire population has been impacted by floods – (Balkans) On May 15, 2014, a national state of emergency was declared in Serbia. Unprecedented rainfall over a three-day period caused eight of the main rivers in the country to overflow their banks – resulting in massive flooding and landslides, and forcing more than 30,000 from their homes…

Armenia    

New Lab Equipment Enables Mining Communities In Armenia To Take Control Of Their Health Risks – (Mining Weekly) Company Announcement - ONEArmenia has launched its newest crowdfunding campaign, this time for lab equipment that will enable mining communities in Armenia to detect toxic pollution in their soil, and water, and identify lead contamination in children’s blood…

Gazprom Armenia CEO talks company’s investments – (Pan Armenian) Gazprom Armenia CJSC is one of the main investors in Armenia's economy, with the investment for the 10 years totaling $900 million, the company’s deputy CEO said.  At an event in Tsakhkadzor, Hrant Tadevosyan spoke about the use of natural gas as a motor fuel. “At present, 334 gas stations are operating in Armenia, with 1 station for every 90 square kilometers…

Azerbaijan  

''Southern Corridor'': Crucial Step Towards Global Energy Security – (News.AZ) The groundbreaking ceremony of the ''Southern Gas Corridor'' was held in Baku on September the 20th. It was also the 20th anniversary of the ''Contract of the Century''. The event organized in the capital of Azerbaijan hosted number of foreign dignitaries. They have all stressed strategic significance of the ''Southern Corridor…

Azerbaijan’s power generation reduces after 2 months of growth – (ABC.AZ) In September 2014 Azerbaijani national energy producer Azerenerji OJSC decreased power generation. Before that its growth was observed in July and August of the year. Last year power generation index exceeded by 0.9% the figure for 2012 when rise was 6.5%...

Azerbaijan increases electricity generation – (Trend) Azerenergy JSC, the main producer of electricity in Azerbaijan, generated over 16.7 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in Jan.-Sept., compared to over 15.8 billion kilowatt hours in the same period of 2013 (an increase by 5.7 percent)…

Azerbaijan’s energy operator enters into open labor market (ABC.AZ) Azerbaijan’s national energy operator Azerenerji enters into the open labor market.  The Company informs that with the purpose to increase the transparency of filling the vacant positions Azerenerji will take part in the VIII exhibition "Career"…

Energy efficiency in Azerbaijan boosted with loan – (Cistran Finance) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will lend $3 million to help fund projects throughout Azerbaijan that increase energy efficiency, according to a report on Wednesday.  Muganbank is the intermediary party, working with local entrepreneurs and households to provide energy-saving equipment and appliances…

Georgian delegation discusses foreign affairs, energy, finances and agriculture issues in Baku – (ABC.AZ) The delegation led by Irakly Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia is discussing a number of questions with the Azerbaijan’s government.  According to the Georgian Embassy in Baku, the delegation led by the Georgian Prime Minister includes Maya Panjikidze, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kakha Kaladze, Minister of Energy, Nodar Khaduri, Minister of Finance, and Otar Danelia, Minister of Agriculture…

Georgia

Underground gas storage facility to be built in eastern Georgia – (Trend) The Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation has chosen a land plot for the construction of an underground gas storage facility. An oil field of the Samgori southern arch (eastern Georgia) is situated there.  As a result of the negotiations with one of the oil production companies in the country, the corporation was entitled to build an underground gas storage facility in the specified field, the corporation said…

Georgia to build underground gas holder – (Vestnik Kavkaza) An underground gas holder will be built in Eastern Georgia, where the Samgori Field is located. The Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation has been given permission for the construction, Trend reports.  The gas holder will have a capacity of 230-250 million cubic meters of natural gas, about 15% of annual consumption volume…

Tbilisi to host 2nd International Caspian Energy Forum – 2014 – (Azer Tac) The 2nd International Caspian Energy Forum – 2014 will be held in Tbilisi, Georgia on November 14.  The Forum will be arranged within the framework of the15th anniversary of the Caspian Energy International Media Group…

EBRD provides Georgian bank with loan to finance energy efficient projects – (Trend) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) provided the 'Republic' bank with a loan worth $10 million to finance…

Paravani Hydro Power Plant in Georgia opens – (Financial) In the presence of the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, the Minister of Energy, Kakha Kaladze, and Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Taner Yildiz, the Paravani Hydroelectrical Power Plant will be opened in Georgia on 11 October 2014. The EBRD, the principal financier of the largest renewables project in the country to date, will be represented by Bruno Balvanera, its Director for the Caucasus, Moldova & Belarus…

Moldova

Romgaz and Petrom offer to Moldova 20 per cent lower than the price for Russian gas – (ACT Media) Romgaz and Petrom have each submitted a bid to Moldova for the supply of natural gas through the Iasi-Ungheni pipeline, but for the time being they are not exporting gas, energy sources told Agerpres…

EU to grant an 11 million Euro financial support for the Moldavian Energy sector – (The Diplomat) In early September, the European Union (EU) announced that this year it will provide a financial support of 11.6 million Euro to reform the Moldavian energy sector, and next year another ten million Euro for the Ungheni- Chisinau pipeline, according to the Ministry of Economy quoted by Adevarul…

Chisinau, Bucharest may ink reverse gas supply deal – (New Europe) Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister, Economics Minister Andrian Candu said on October 1 that his country plans to sign an agreement on reverse gas supply with Romania this week. Candu added that Romania has promised to deliver to Moldova gas by 20% cheaper than that purchased from Russian gas giant Gazprom…

Turkey

Turkey to speed up nuclear power plant construction – (Caspian Energy) The process to start the construction of Turkey's first nuclear power plant has accelerated, said the Turkish energy minister Taner Yildiz, Caspian Energy News (www.caspianenergy.net) reports with reference to the press-service of Akparti…

Turkey's electricity capacity up over year – (Turkish Weekly) Turkey has increased its electricity capacity by 7,000 megawatts over the past year, the energy minister has announced.  Taner Yildiz told an energy summit in the southern city of Gaziantep on Thursday that Turkey increased installed capacity by 7,000 megawatts between August last year and last month, an increase of 11.5 percent…

Turkey supports Energy Charter – (Caspian News) Energy Minister of Turkey Taner Yildiz says Turkey will "work to create a common language with the Energy Charter", Caspian Energy News reports with reference to the press-service of Akparti…

Turkey, Russia energy deal intact – (Caspian Energy) Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said Turkey and Russia energy cooperation is intact, despite political differences, Caspian Energy News reports with reference to the press-service of Akparti…

TURKEY'S ENERGY IMPORT COSTS $50 BILLION PER YEAR, ON AVERAGE – (Daily Sabah) Turkey paid $239 billion for energy in the past five years between 2009 and 2013, while $37 billion was spent in the first 8 months of 2014, according to Turkish Statistical Institute, TÜİK…

Turkey: A Snapshot Of The Turkish Solar Energy Sector – (Mondaq) Turkey's potential for a large increase in energy demand and production, along with its strategic position as an energy transport hub between Europe and the Middle East make it an attractive option for energy investments. Turkey also has a significant potential for electricity generation from solar energy, due to its advantageous geographical position…

TURKEY, RUSSIA DISCUSS BROADER ENERGY COOPERATION – (Daily Sabah) Trade in natural gas and the planned construction of the nuclear reactor in Mersin province were discussed during Energy Minister Taner Yıldız's visit to Moscow yesterday. Yıldız met his Russian counterpart Alexander Novak, Gazprom's CEO Alexey Miller, Sergey Kiriyenko, CEO of the state-owned Russian nuclear company Rosatom and Elena Burmistrova, the head of Gazpromexport, during his visit to the Russian capital…

Renewables part of Turkish energy solution – (UPI) A project started nearly 40 years ago could help ensure energy security in Turkey through renewable reserves, a director said Monday.  Sadrettin Karahocagil, director of the Southeastern Anatolia Project, said renewable energy could stave off a future energy crisis in Turkey…

Turkey ‘to speed up’ nuclear plant plans – (Hurriyet) The process to begin the construction of Turkey’s first nuclear power plant has accelerated, said Taner Yıldız, the Turkish energy minister.  Turkey has entered a new era that will clear the way for nuclear power plant construction, he added.  “Our target is to speed up the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant,” Yıldız said, after meeting in Moscow with the head of Russian nuclear company Rosatom, Sergey Kiriyenko…

Solar to beat wind to wholesale grid parity in Europe – report – (PV Tech) Solar PV will narrowly beat onshore wind to wholesale grid parity in Europe, according to a new report.  Although some areas could hit wholesale grid parity by as soon as 2018, most large-scale wind and solar deployment in Europe will still require subsidies over the next 20 years, according to the study from consultancy Pöyry…

Ukraine

Ukraine’s southern region to switch to firewood due to fuel shortage– (ITAR-TASS) . The head of Ukraine’ Kherson region has urged district heads to switch social facilities to firewood as alternative fuel, Ukrinform news agency said on Tuesday, citing the regional administration press service.  “Every district must be supplied in full with firewood. We must have our wood not to be exported, but left in the region for own needs,” the region’s administration head Andrei Putilov said…

Russia offers Ukraine electricity to compensate for imports to Crimea– (Kyiv Post) Russia is offering to supply Ukraine with electricity, but Ukraine must lift restrictions on electricity shipments to Crimea, Crimean Minister of Fuel and Energy Sergei Yegorov said…

Secretariat questions compliance of local content requirements in Ukraine with Energy Community rules – (EUEA) The Energy Community Secretariat sent an Opening Letter in Case ECS-7/13 against Ukraine concerning the so-called local content clause in the Electricity Law of Ukraine. Under this clause, eligibility for feed-in tariffs for investments in renewable energy depends on the fulfilment of minimum shares of goods and works of Ukrainian origin…

Ukrainian private companies intend to import 4 million tonnes of coal from Russia by late 2014 – (Kyiv Post) Ukrainian private companies intend to import about 4 million tonnes of coal from Russia by late 2014, Ukraine's Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Yuriy Prodan has told journalists in Kyiv…

Ukraine's Naftogaz ready to pay USD 1.9bn to Gazprom for new gas supplies – report – (SeeNews) Naftogaz is ready to pay Gazprom (MCX:GAZP) USD 1.9 billion (EUR 1.5bn) for new gas supplies, of which five billion cu m (176.6 billion cu ft) are fixed, and the other five billion will be an option, Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolyev said in an interview for German Handelsblatt…

Moscow expects date for Russia-Ukraine-EU gas talks to be specified within two days – (ITAR-TASS) Russia’s Energy Ministry expects the date for gas talks between Russia and Ukraine with the EU’s mediation to be specified within two days, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Tuesday…

Full-Scale Gas Deliveries to Ukraine Impossible Until Decade's End: US Energy Secretary – (Ria Novosti) Significant deliveries of US gas to Ukraine are impossible until the end of the current decade, US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz has said. "First of all, our natural gas exports will not really start until 2015, or probably maybe early 2016, and certainly to reach significant proportions … that's clearly the end of the decade," the official said…

Ukraine energy minister, Oettinger to meet over Russia gas talks – (Reuters) Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuri Prodan is scheduled to meet European Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger on Thursday in an attempt to work out a date and venue for the next round of talks with Russia aimed at resolving a gas crisis…

Ukrainian Energy Ministry: Russian, Ukrainian gas proposals to be discussed next week – (Interfax-Ukraine) Russian and Ukrainian proposals concerning the prospective gas agreements will be discussed and integrated next week, Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Prodan said…

 

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