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September 11-12, 2014       USAID/USEA Armenia Model Gride Code Project Working Group Meeting Yerevan, Armenia

Albania

Albania's household consumers not to be affected by energy price rise: minister – (Shanghai Daily) Albanian Trade and Energy Minister Damian Gjiknuri said Wednesday that the World Bank has approved a financial package for the reform in electricity system…

Albania will raise the price of electricity for families and businesses – (Balkans) Albania will raise the price of electricity for families and businesses in line with advice from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but it will protect the needy, Energy Minister Damian Gjiknuri said on Wednesday…

Albania's household consumers not to be affected by energy price rise: minister – (Global Post) Albanian Trade and Energy Minister Damian Gjiknuri said Wednesday that the World Bank has approved a financial package for the reform in electricity system…

Albanian Government to Continue Focusing on Energy Sector – (Energetika) “Albanian power network is in a difficult position,” stressed Gjiknuri. But, he added, this project will enable a better electricity supply, reduce technical losses, etc. “This means that it will have a direct...

Energy sector a top priority for the government – (Albeu) Minister of Energy and Industry, Damian Gjiknuri, inspected today the work in the 110 KW project in the South of Albania. He also announced other important investments that contribute directly to a better supply of electricity…

World Bank to Give Albania EUR 115 Million for Energy Sector Recovery – (Energetika) The money Albania receives from the World Bank would be used mainly for the network, measurement systems, and management improvement, mainly in the areas with large consumption, said Gjiknuri.  He stressed that…

TAP enters procurement stage – (Azernews) The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) has entered the procurement stage.  In April 2014, TAP decided to re-launch its procurement process and initiated new pre-qualifications for its goods and services.  The procurement of goods and services for the construction of the pipeline will be carried out in a staged approach, depending on the project's progress and in line with the schedule set by the Shah Deniz 2 upstream development, TAP said…

TAP reveals details of pipeline construction preparations – (Trend) Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the construction of which is planned to start in 2016, has entered the procurement phase. In April 2014, TAP decided to re-launch its procurement process and new pre-qualifications for goods and services were initiated…

Bulgaria

We should not allow electricity price hike in Bulgaria: NFSB leader – (Focus) “We should not allow electricity price in Bulgaria,” said Valeri Simenov, co-chairperson of the Coalition Patriotic Front – NFSB and VMRO, speaking at a press conference, FOCUS News Agency reporter said.  In his words, such a move could not come from the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC), since it did not have any experts…

Bulgaria to face planned electricity price increase: minister – (Focus) “Speaking of the commentaries on the electricity price in Bulgaria, I may say that this is within the authorities of the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC). I think that everyone has the right to make reports and publish them. I am acquainted with many reports but the final decision on the electricity price comes from the regulator and we have to wait until October 1 to learn it…

Bulgaria's Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant Celebrates 40th Anniversary – (Novinite) Bulgaria's Kozloduy nuclear power plant was launched 40 years ago today.  A large number of industry workers are to attend the celebrations at the Kozloduy NPP on Thursday, according to reports of the Bulgarian National Radio…

Bulgaria’s Kozloduy Nuclear Station Celebrates Its 40th Birthday – (Publics) While its first four Russian-made VVER 440 reactors were closed from 2004 to 2007 due to Bulgaria’s commitments for joining the European Union, the power station has been working for the life extension of the 1000-megawatt units 5 and 6…

Life Extension of Bulgaria's Kozloduy NPP Units 5, 6 Is Key Priority – Minister – (Novinite) Vasil Shtonov, Bulgaria's caretaker Minister of Economy and Energy, has cited the life extension of units 5, 6 of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant as one of the key priorities on his agenda. Speaking Thursday at a sitting of the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation, he claimed that the most important task for Bulgaria's energy sector was the life extension of these N-plant units…

ЕVN Bulgaria Stops Electricity Supply to Cherno More Mine – (Publics) Power distribution and supply utility EVN Bulgaria announced today it will cut electricity supply to “Mina Cherno More” EAD (Black Sea Mine) for periods of two hours every four hours. EVN resorted to the extreme measure after the coal mine failed to pay its electricity bills over an extended period of time…

South Stream 'Important to Bulgaria as Gas Transit Route' – EconMin – (Novinite) The South Stream pipeline will be more important in terms of gas transportation than of supplies to Bulgaria, caretaker Economy Minister Vasil Shtonov made clear.  In an interview with public broadcaster BNT he explained that it would be gas transit taxes that would bring more profit to Bulgaria, "even though [through the project] we are, of course, undergoing diversification…

Trade Unions, Caretaker Govt Agree on Operational Scheme of Bulgarian Bobov Dol TPP – (Novinite) Chief executives of the Bobov Dol thermal power plant and trade union representatives have reached agreement with Bulgaria's caretaker government on normalizing the work at the plant and the coal mining companies in the region…

Protests in defence of Dobrudzha to continue if coal gas exploration not banned: demonstrator – (Focus) ”In order for the protests in defence of [the region of] Dobrudzha to cease the coal gas exploration will have to be banned,” said Atanas Georgiev, organiser of the protests in district centre Pazardzhik, speaking for Radio FOCUS – Pazardzhik…

Environment minister denies giving coal gasification green light – (Standart) Caretaker minister of the environment and waters Svetlana Zhekova denied allowing coal gasification technology to be used to obtain natural gas in Dobrudja, Southern Bulgaria. She has faced criticism from NGOs and the Green party, who find the state authorities incompetent and stand by their claims…

Bulgaria's Environment Minister Bans Unconventional Gas Technologies in Dobrudzha – (Novinite) Bulgaria's caretaker Environment Minister Svetlana Zhekova has issued a ban on the use of unconventional gas exploration and production technologies at license block Vranino-1 in Dobrudzha…

Bulgaria’s ministry of environment not to allow illegal methods of oil, gas extraction: minister – (Focus) “I would like to assure all citizens that the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Waters will not allow illegal methods of oil and natural gas extraction. This is provided in the Bulgarian legislation and the decision made on August 26, which in fact sets the framework and conditions for illegal implementation of the contract signed in April 2014 with Park Place Energy Corporation company…

EU prepares powers to deal with Russian winter gas cut – (Reuters) The European Union is preparing to take action to secure gas supplies this winter if its biggest supplier, Russia, cuts exports due to the crisis in Ukraine, a draft document seen by Reuters showed…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia’s H1 gross electricity output drops 14% y/y – (Publics) Bosnia’s gross electricity output fell 14.1% to 7,973 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in the first half of 2014, SEE News reported citing data of the country's statistics office…

Collapsed Bosnia mine rescue called off with five workers still buried – (The Guardian) Emergency workers have rescued 29 miners from a Bosnian coal mine after a small earthquake triggered a gas explosion on Thursday, but five others remain buried and are presumed dead…

UPDATE 1-Bosnia mourns five coal miners killed by earthquake – (Reuters) Thousands of Bosnians paid their last respects on Monday to five miners killed after an earthquake triggered a collapse at the Raspotocje mine and trapped 34 miners 500 metres below the surface…

Croatia  

Croatian Strategic Projects: TPP Plomin C, LNG Terminal, South Stream, IAP – (Energetika) This is evident from the report on the status and implementation of investments in the energy sector from September 2013 to March 2014, which the Croatian government adopted on Tuesday.  Four strategic development…

Croatia Published Licensing Round for Onshore Hydrocarbons Production – (Energetika) Hydrocarbons exploration and production activities in onshore areas under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Croatia require a national licence and a production sharing agreement entered into, following the li…

Croatia Eases Regulations for Renewable Energy Projects – (IENE) The Croatian government on Thursday amended the country's tariff regulations on the development of projects using renewable energy sources (RES) in a bid to ease the process and adapt it to the current economic environment.  The adopted decision repeals the obligation of RES project holders in the country to submit bank guarantees to the Croatian energy market operator, HROTE, documents from the government's website showed…

Kosovo

Retail Electricity Price to Increase by 5.18% in Kosovo – (Energetika) This increase of electricity price comes at the request of the Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK), which operates TPP Kosova A, and Kosovo Electricity Distribution and Supply Company (KEDS), related to damages caused…

Parliamentarians call for establishment of an Energy Community Parliamentary Assembly – (Energy Community) Meeting at a conference in Budva on 6-7 September, Parliamentarians called for the establishment of an Energy Community Parliamentary Assembly, which would bring together Members of Parliament of the Energy Community Contracting Parties and Members of the European Parliament. The conference also concluded that Parliaments play a limited oversight of energy policies and there is a need for greater engagement of parliaments in the Western Balkans on this issue…

Macedonia  

Dnevnik, Macedonia: Govt not to give up on energy independence – (Focus) Macedonia will not give up on the idea to secure energy sources that will render the country independent, Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said, as cited by the online edition of the Macedonian Dnevnik daily.  According to Gruevski, the government was examining several options at the moment, including the South Stream gas pipeline project…

Macedonia wants to receive Azerbaijani gas – (ABC.AZ) Macedonia wants to become a partner in the Trans Adriatic Energy Project.  Zoran Stavreski, Deputy Prime Minister of Macedonia, stated today in Baku that his country was interested in development of economical cooperation with Azerbaijan in different sectors of economy and especially in energy sector…

Macedonia ready to become TAP’s partner – (Trend) Macedonia is interested in taking part in the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) as a partner, Macedonian Vice-Prime Minister and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski told reporters.  "Once the project is ready, we will express our intention to participate in it as a partner and will hold discussions," he said…

Secretariat proceeds with dispute settlement case against Macedonia for its failure to comply with electricity market congestion management guidelines – (Energy Community) Today the Energy Community Secretariat submitted a Reasoned Opinion in Case ECS-4/11 against Macedonia, for its failure to comply with obligations under the Energy Community Treaty to adopt electricity market congestion management guidelines. While all Energy Community Contracting Parties in the “8th Region” have taken steps forward…

Montenegro  

Electricity Consumption of Montenegrin Households Rises 9% in August – (Energetika) On average, the households paid EUR 37 for electricity, which is 8% more than in July.  About 3.1% of households consumed more than 1000 kWh in August and had to pay more than EUR 100.Read Also: Electricity Cons…

Launch of South East European Coordinated Auction Office is within reach, says Energy Community Secretariat Director – (Energy Community) The Energy Community Regulatory Board (ECRB) recently issued a common position on the revised auction rules for the South East European Coordinated Auction Office (SEE CAO). The recommendation was submitted to the national regulators whose network operators are cooperating in the SEE CAO…

Romania

Romania shuts down nuclear reactor to fix glitch – (Reuters) Romania shut down its second nuclear reactor at Cernavoda on the river Danube on Sept. 8 due to a technical glitch, state-owned nuclear power producer Nuclearelectrica said on Tuesday…

Romania energy market to couple with region this year or in 2015 – (Business Recorder) Romania's energy bourse Opcom will be coupled with Czech, Slovakian and Hungarian markets at the end of this year or in 2015, helping boost exports, Energy Minister Razvan Nicolescu said on Tuesday…

Nicolescu: Romanian energy sector needs annual investments of EUR 4-5 bln in next 10 years – (Business Review) Razvan Nicolescu, delegate minister for Energy, said on Tuesday that the energy sector in Romania will need annual investment of EUR 4-5 billion every year for the next 10 years. That is an extra 5-15 billion than what he estimated , according to Mediafax…

Romanian nuclear power producer to increase its share capital by EUR 54 million – (Romania-Insider) Romanian nuclear power producer Nuclearelectrica plans to increase its share capital by EUR 54 million, pending approval by the company’s shareholders in a general shareholders meeting in October his year…

President, optimistic Romania will cover gas needs for itself, Republic of Moldova by 2020 – (Romania-Insider) Romanian president Traian Basescu, who visited on Wednesday, September 3, Exxon Mobil and Petrom’s Ocean Endeavour drilling platform, said during a short press conference after the visit that he is optimistic Romania will be able to cover Romania and the Republic of Moldova’s gas needs by 2020…

Romgaz has the largest gas storage capacity in Romania – (ACT Media) Romgaz Medias invested EUR 27 million in increasing gas storage capacity of its depot in Urziceni, Ialomita county, according to an announcement made on Tuesday by the company.“After an investment of EUR 27 milion the storage capacity of the Urziceni depot will grow from 250 million cbm to 350 million cbm and Romgaz’s total storage capacity will increase from 2.7 billion cbm to 2.8 billion cbm…

Romania Needs Investments of Up to 5.0 Bln euro/yr to Become Energy Independent – (IENE) Romania could become energy independent in 2020 but it needs annual investments of some 4.0-5.0 billion euro ($5.1-$6.4 billion) in the energy sector in order to achieve this goal, local media quoted minister delegate for energy Razvan Nicolescu as sayingon Tuesday…

Germany to finance 10 MW wind farm in Romania – (SeeNews) Germany's environment ministry said on Thursday it is financing the construction of a 10 megawatt (MW) wind farm in Romania with up to 3.9 million euro ($5.0 million) as part of its efforts to support climate-protection projects…

EC names new energy chiefs – (EUEA) The European Commission has made two new appointments to help deliver its vision for the continent’s energy future.  Former Slovenian premier Alenka Bratusek is now vice president and commissioner-designate for energy union while Spanish minister Miguel Arias Canete is European commissioner-designate for energy and climate action.

Serbia

Mihajlovic: Serbia should be exporter of electricity – (InSerbia) Serbia should again become an exporter of electricity, for which it needs to build new energy capacities, Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister Zorana Mihajlovic said on Saturday at a ceremony in Kladovo marking 50 years since the start of the construction of hydropower plant (HE) Djerdap on the Danube River…

Serbia should again become an exporter of electricity-DPM – (Balkans) Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection Zorana Mihajlovic said that Serbia should again become an exporter of electricity, for which it needs to build new energy capacities. At a ceremony in Kladovo marking 50 years since the start of the construction of hydropower plant Djerdap 1 on the Danube River…

Serbian Thermopower Plant Kostolac B Building New Chimney – (Energetika) To date, 203 poles have been completed. Over the next three to four days we will finish another 43 poles,” said Dragan Živić, CEO of Kostolac B. Otherwise, the new, so-called wet chimney is designed so that ea…

Serbia and Germany establish partnership in bioenergy – (in Serbia) Serbia and Germany established formally on Tuesday a partnership in bioenergy, which provides full support for a series of projects in that field.  The projects include the one that seeks to develop a sustainable bioenergy market in Serbia, which will be completed in three years and is worth EUR 8 million…

EBRD to Loan EUR 7 Million for District Heating System Upgrade in Serbia – (Energetika) According to EBRD, the upgrade will focus on the introduction of local biomass, as partial replacement for natural gas, for heat generation.  Šabac District Heating Company owns two district heating plants…

Serbia's EPS Eyes $30 Mln World Bank Loan to Help Drain Flooded Coal Field – (IENE) Serbian state-owned energy utility EPS said on Friday it is eyeing a $30 million (23.1 million euro) loan from the World Bank to help finance the pumping out of the flooded Tamnava-West open-cast field run by coal miner Kolubara.  Tamnava-West was inundated during the record floods the hit the Balkan state in May…

Armenia

Asian Development Bank to allocate $30 million loan to energy sphere of Armenia – (ArmenPress) The repairing of “Agarak-2” and “Shinuhayr” energy substations will be funded by the Asian Development Bank.  The Republic of Armenia Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed…

ADB to provide Armenia with $37 million loan – (ARKA) On September 5, in the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources was signed the loan Agreement on «Power Transmission rehabilitation Project», between the Republic of Armenia and the Asian Development Bank…

Modernizing Metsamor Will Need ‘Serious Funding’ – (Asbarez) Modernization of Armenia’s only nuclear power plant in Metsamor will require serious funding, Miroslav Lipar, a representative of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said Wednesday in Yerevan while speaking at the sixth international technical conference on the safe operation of the facility…

Armenia’s action plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to be ready for government in 2015 – (ARKA) The national action plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions will be submitted to the government for approval in 2015, Armenia’s Minister of Ecology Aramayis Grigoryan said…

Eurasian Countries Will Invest $18.3bn Over Next Decade to Modernize Electric Grids – (Transmission and Distribution) Eurasian countries will invest $18.3 billion in electric grid modernization – or 'smart grid' - over the next decade. The region has strong drivers for smart grid investment, a number of experienced vendors and significant funding available from multilateral lending organizations…

Azerbaijan  

Azerbaijan’s main energy producer increases electricity generation – (Trend) Azerenergy Joint-Stock Company, which produces and distributes electricity in Azerbaijan, generated 15.1 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in January-August…

Developments in Eurasia change world’s energy map, Azerbaijani minister says – (The Messenger Online) The developments taking place in Eurasia cause changes in the world's energy map, Azerbaijan's Energy Minister Natig Aliyev said during the 4th informal dialogue meeting of Eastern Partnership countries energy ministers' session in Baku on Sept.8…

Power generation growing for the second straight month in Azerbaijan – (ABC.AZ) In August 2014 Azerbaijani national energy producer Azerenerji OJSC continued to increase power generation for the second straight month. Last year power generation index exceeded by 0.9% the figure for 2012 when rise was 6.5%...

Azerbaijan's SOCAR issues tender for two Caspian Sea gas deposits – (Reuters) Azerbaijan state energy company SOCAR has issued a tender for the joint exploration of two major gas deposits in the Caspian Sea with total preliminary reserves of about 600 billion cubic metres (bcm), SOCAR's first vice-president said…

Baku, Kiev discuss supplies of Azerbaijani oil to Ukrainian refineries – (ITAR TASS) Ukraine is interested in supplies of oil from Azerbaijan to its refineries, Ukraine’s Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Yuriy Prodan told a news conference following the 4th informal meeting of the Eastern Partnership countries’ energy ministers on Monday…

Natig Aliyev: “Azerbaijan is an independent country for energy supply” – (APA) “Today, Azerbaijan is an independent country for energy supply and does not depend on any country of the world”, said the Azerbaijani Minister of Energy Natig Aliyev at the 4th informal meeting of the energy ministers of the Eastern Partnership member countries in Baku…

Energy security issues to be discussed in Azerbaijan – (Trend) The 13th Energy Investment and Regulation Conference of the Energy Regulators Regional Association (ERRA) will be held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan on Oct.27-28, 2014, a message posted on the website of the country's Tariff Council said…

Baku meeting of Eastern Partnership countries focus on Europe’s energy security (UPDATE) – (Azernews) The 4th informal dialogue meeting of Eastern Partnership countries' energy ministers kicked off in Baku on September 8.  Europe's energy security is the key topic of the two-day event.  Addressing the event, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule said the energy security is a key strategic objective for the Eastern Partnership…

European Commissioner: energy dialogue between the Eastern Partnership countries is timely amid crises in Iraq and Ukraine – (ABC.AZ) The European Commission considers the dialogue on energy security between the Eastern Partnership countries to be very timely due to crises in some regions of the world.  Günther Oettinger, the European Commissioner for Energy, stated today in Baku at the informal meeting of the Energy Ministers of the EU Eastern Partnership countries, that crises in Iraq and Ukraine take immediate effect on the countries of the EU and its Eastern Partnership…

Caspian gas is real source for diversification of gas supplies to EU – (Trend) Caspian gas is one of the real sources for diversification of routes of gas supplies to Europe, Senior Adviser at Georgian National Oil and Gas Corporation, Liana Jervalidze said Sept. 10.  She made the remarks at an international conference titled the "Caspian Shelf"…

Azerbaijan and Russia to discuss agreements on power sale and purchase – (News.AZ) Azerbaijan and Russia will discuss agreements on purchase and sale of power at the end of this week.  According to the Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Energy, Minister Natig Aliyev will participate in the 14th meeting of the Azerbaijani-Russian Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation on September 12-13, Fineko/abc.az reports…

Presidents of five Caspian states support initiative of Caspian European Club and Caspian Energy – (Caspian Energy) The Caspian European Club (CEIBC) and Caspian Energy International Media Group are extending their gratitude to the presidents of the 5 Caspian States - President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev,  President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev…

Georgia  

WB to assist in Georgia’s uninterrupted power supply – (Trend) The Georgian government and the World Bank (WB) signed an agreement in connection with the allocation of the preferential funds in the amount of $60 million to implement a project to improve the transmission network in Georgia…

Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey to sign energy transportation agreement by year-end – (APA) Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey will sign energy transportation agreement by the end of this year, said the Azerbaijani Energy Minister Natig Aliyev at the 4th informal meeting of member countries of the Eastern Partnership…

President of Azerbaijan received Prime Minister of Georgia – (ABC.AZ) At the one-on-one meeting the parties expressed their satisfaction with the successful development of bilateral relations between the two countries in different areas including political, economic, energy and other sectors…

Eurasia ripe for smart grid investment – (FSG) According to new research from Northeast Group, LLC, Eurasian countries will invest $18.3 billion in modernizing their electric grid over the next decade.  The region has strong business case for smart grid investment, a number of experienced vendors and significant funding available from multilateral lending organizations. Northeast Group predicts that near-term growth will be focused in Central Asian countries currently battling high electricity losses while larger countries such as Russia will develop in the medium term…

Moldova

Moldova, Romania to Expand Iasi-Ungheni Pipeline to Chisinau With Aid From EU – (Ria Novosti) The European Union will allocate 10 million euros ($12.9 million) to expand the Iasi-Ungheni pipeline to Chisinau, the official website of the Moldovan Economy Ministry reported…

School children have got a new textbook to learn about renewable energy sources – (AEE) School children can learn about renewable energy sources from a new textbook. The teaching support is part of the Educational Initiative launched by the Energy and Biomass Project in partnership with the Energy Efficiency Agency with the aim to promote renewables…

Schools and kindergartens connected to biomass heating plants will report about the purchase of biofuel to the Energy Efficiency Agency – (AEE) 4 September 2014, Chisinau – Public institutions connected to biomass heating systems shall ensure the procurement of high quality biomass fuel for the cold season and report the information on their readiness status for the new heating season to the Energy Efficiency Agency…

Turkey

TURKEY INVESTS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY – (Daily Sabah) Turkey's investments in renewable energy will account for 15 percent of the 141,000 megawatt capacity increase in Europe expected by 2020, according to a report by the International Energy Agency…

Turkey at forefront of Europe's increase in renewables – (World Bulletin) Turkey's investments in renewable energy will account for 15 percent of the 141,000 megawatt capacity increase in Europe expected by 2020, according to a report by the International Energy Agency.  Renewable energy in Europe is expected to grow 0.8 percent annually until 2020, and nearly half of the growth in demand for power will come from Turkey, the report says…

Turkey At Forefront Of Europe's Increase In Renewables – (Views Times) Turkey's investments in renewable energy will account for 15 percent of the 141,000 megawatt capacity increase in Europe expected by 2020, according to a report by the International Energy Agency…

USTDA to Sponsor U.S.-Turkey Geothermal Workshop in Ankara October 21 & 22, 2014 – (Virtual Strategy)  The U.S. Trade and Development Agency will host an interactive two-day technical workshop in Ankara, Turkey to be attended by public and private sector representatives from the U.S. and Turkish geothermal sectors. The workshop, which will take place October 21-22, 2014, will feature both plenary and breakout sessions on a variety of topics, and will provide many networking opportunities…

Minister: Turkey forced to up energy imports amid drought – (Today’s Zaman) Due to a long period of drought that has exhausted Turkey's reservoirs and prevented the desired amount of domestic electricity production, Turkey will have to increase its energy imports, said Energy Minister Taner Yıldız while speaking at a press conference in Ankara on Thursday…

EU WANTS TURKEY TO BECOME ENERGY HIGHWAY – (Daily Sabah) Following a conference titled "Mapping the Future of Energy," which was held in Istanbul, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey Bela Szombati commented on the energy cooperation between the EU and Turkey…

Turkey continues to present huge opportunities in its energy sector – (Balkans) Sabah – With an ever increasing energy demand, Turkey continues to present huge opportunities in its energy sector. Switzerland-based Partners Group, the global private markets investment manager, has acquired 30 percent stake in Turkish STFA Group’s energy subsidiary, Enerya. The remainder of the Enerya shares will be owned by the Turkish side…

Turkish Regulator Gets 114 Applications for Energy Bourse Shares – (IENE) Turkey’s Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) has received applications from 114 companies for class C shares of the operator of the country's planned energy bourse, the regulator said on Wednesday.  As many as 100 electricity companies and 14 natural gas sector players have submitted applications to acquire shares worth a total of 63.89 million Turkish lira…

Ukraine

Amid Ukraine crisis, Europe weighs fracking – (The Christian Science Monitor) As a Ukraine crisis continues, Europe is reconsidering its stance on a controversial drilling technique that has unlocked vast amounts of oil and natural gas in the United States. Europe is concerned about the security of its gas supply from Russia as the Ukraine crisis shows little sign of easing…

Ukraine in eight months exports electricity worth $371 mln – (Interfax-Ukraine) Ukraine in January-August 2014 exported electricity worth $371.157 million.  According to the State Fiscal Service, Hungary over the eight months took delivery of electricity worth $164.995 million, Belarus - $127.973 million, Moldova - $38.769 million, and other countries (Poland, Slovakia and Romania) - $39.42 million.

Russia may cut supplies of electric power to Ukraine – (Pravda) The Russian authorities may limit supplies of electricity to regions of Ukraine, should ongoing disruptions in supplies of electricity in the Crimea continue, said Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev…

Power cuts highlight Crimea’s reliance on Ukraine – (Gulfnews) Recent electricity outages which plunged Crimea into darkness have spotlighted the peninsula’s enduring heavy dependence on Ukraine more than five months after it was annexed by Moscow…

Ukraine crisis dominates energy market concerns – (RTE News) The energy index stood at 128 in August.  Bord Gáis said that the crisis in Ukraine and the threat of an all out war between Ukraine and Russia dominated the energy market last month.  This led to a lot of price volatility in UK wholesale gas prices, which led to higher wholesale electricity and European coal prices…

Poland halts reverse gas supplies to Ukraine due to restrictions imposed by Russia – (Interfax-Ukraine) Poland halted reverse gas supplies to Ukraine at 1400 on Wednesday due to the reduction of supplies from Russia to Poland, Ukrtransgaz CEO Ihor Prokopiv has said.  "Poland stopped reverse gas supplies to Ukraine at 1400. It supplied about four million cubic meters [per day]," he said on Wednesday…

Exports to Ukraine ‘good for SA coal’ – (Business Report) THE DEAL in which South African companies will export 1 million tons of coal to Ukraine to help that country maintain power output amid an armed conflict with separatist rebels is a much-needed boost for local producers and poses no threat to supplies for Eskom…

Ukraine to buy 1-million tonnes of coal from SA – (BDLive) Ukraine will buy 1-million-metric-tonnes of coal from South Africa because the military conflict in its Donbass region has disrupted domestic coal production, Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Wednesday…

Russia, Ukraine and EU Set for Three-Way Gas Talks – (International Business Times) Three-way gas talks aimed at finding a solution to Ukraine's gas crisis are due to be held on September 16, according to Interfax news agency.  The negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and the European Union could take place in the Austrian capital of Vienna, said Yuriy Vitrenko, chief advisor to Ukraine's state-run gas company Naftogaz, Interfax reported…

Cabinet decides to liquidate Energy Company of Ukraine – (Interfax-Ukraine) The Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers has decided to liquidate national joint-stock company Energy Company of Ukraine.  The corresponding decision is fixed in cabinet resolution No. 398 of September 3, 2014, the text of which is available on the government's portal…

Ukraine Says Gas Output Growth Limited After Crimea Loss – (Bloomberg) Ukraine will fail to increase domestic natural gas production this year to cut its dependence on Russia after its eastern neighbor annexed Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that has boosted gas output…

A worrying factor in Ukraine's chaos: 15 nuclear reactors – (Helsinki Times) As Ukraine looks like a country teetering on the edge of war, there's an important factor to keep an eye on: The country's 15 nuclear reactors.  "There haven't been many conflicts in states with nuclear power facilities in the past, so we're really entering unknown territory here," said Jeffrey Mankoff, Deputy Director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Russia and Eurasia Program. Nato has already shown its concern, sending a small team of civilian experts to Ukraine in April to advise the government on the safety of its infrastructure…

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