Planned Russian-backed pipeline raises concerns in EU

deutsche welle
ENERGY

16.09.2011
A new gas pipeline between Russia and southern Europe that bypasses Ukraine has raised concerns in the EU, although Germany's Wintershall is part of the project and former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder is a chief lobbyist.

State-controlled energy giant Gazprom is planning, along with western partners, two huge gas pipeline projects whose stated goals are to secure Europe's energy supplies but which critics say will increase the EU's dependence on Russia....more...
read more: deutsche welle
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15390370,00.html

German, Greek, Chinese firms bid for Bosnia plants

reuters

Thu Aug 11, 2011 10:45am EDT

* RWE, PPC and a Chinese firm bid for four hydro-plants

* Parliament to approve the best bidder before end of year

* Best bidder will hold 51 pct stake in joint company

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia, Aug 11 (Reuters) - RWE Innogy, Greek state energy utility PPC (DEHr.AT) and a Chinese firm have submitted bids to build four hydro-power plants in Bosnia, an official said on Thursday....more...
read more: reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/11/bosnia-hydro-bids-idUSLDE77A0IW20110811

Bulgarian, Turkish presidents discuss gas pipelines

news.xinhua net
English.news.cn 2011-07-11 22:42:46

SOFIA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov and his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul on Monday discussed the future of gas supply between the two states, in particular the Nabucco pipeline.

Both Bulgaria and Turkey would have a key role to play in providing gas to Nabucco, seen by Brussels as key to reduce Europe's dependence on Russia for gas, Parvanov said at a joint press conference held after their meeting....more....
read more: news.xinhua\
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-07/11/c_13978649.htm

Next week on GLOBAL IDEAS: Eco loans in Serbia

deutsche welle
ENVIRONMENT

28.06.2011
Serbia’s energy infrastructure is in desperate need of an overhaul. Though demand for energy is soaring, much of it is inefficiently delivered to the country’s residents....more....
read more: deutsche welle
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6558538,00.html

Tuzla Pioneers Energy Use Analyzer in Bosnia

balkan insight
24 JUN 2011 / 09:14

Bosnia's third city becomes country's first to try out new device that monitors energy consumption.

Eldin Hadzovic Sarajevo
Jasmin Imamovic, Mayor of Tuzla, on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Igor Palandzic, the UNDP Energy and Environment Programme Analyst, to define future cooperation between the institutions and further ways of assisting Tuzla in increasing energy efficiency using the Energy Management Information System....more....
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bosnia-s-first-energy-consumption-analyzer-to-be-set-in-tuzla

Kosovo Wind Turbines Shut in Power Dispute

balkan insight
20 JUN 2011 / 12:33

Kosovo's energy provider, KEK, has told the Wind Power Company to shut down five wind generators after a failure to resolve a dispute over prices.

Petrit Collaku Pristina
Kosovo's attempts to harness "green" energy from wind have suffered a setback after Kosovo's Energy Corporation, KEK ordered the closure of five wind generators run by Wind Power, a private company....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-wind-turbines-shut-in-power-dispute

Bulgaria, Turkey Agree to Speed Up Gas Grid Connection

balkan insight
10 JUN 2011 / 10:39

Bulgaria and Turkey have agreed to speed up the construction of a gas grid interconnection between the two countries, their energy ministers said on Thursday.
Novinite (Sofia Press Agency)



Bulgarian Energy Minister Traicho Traikov met on Thursday with his Turkish counterpart Taner Yildiz in Kayseri, Turkey, where they took part in the signing of the Project Support Agreements (PSAs) between Nabucco Gas Pipeline International GmbH and the responsible ministries of the pipeline's five transit countries.


read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bulgaria-turkey-agree-to-speed-up-gas-grid-connection

Nabucco meeting: more than an election ploy?

se times

06/06/2011

The government says the pipeline will help Turkey realise its goal of becoming a key regional player.

By Alakbar Raufoglu for Southeast European Times -- 06/06/11

Energy ministers of six European countries and the EU's Energy Commissioner are expected to gather in Turkey on Wednesday (June 8th) to sign a support agreement for the Nabucco pipeline project, intended to bring gas from Asia to Europe and reduce energy dependence on Russia.
Energy Minister Taner Yildiz, who is also a key candidate for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the upcoming elections, will host the ceremony in his central Anatolian hometown, Kayseri....more...    


read more: se times
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/06/06/feature-02

Serbia’s Vojvodina to Meet EU Energy Goals Alone

balkan analysis

June 3, 2011

Editor’s note: In this special report for Balkanalysis.com by guest author Kostis Geropoulos, readers are treated to insights on a unique case of Balkan local government taking the initiative on renewable sources of energy. The article is complemented by exclusive comments from national and local officials from Serbia.

By Kostis Geropoulos in Athens*
Serbia may not be part of the European Union – at least not yet – but its northern region of Vojvodina is striving to meet the bloc’s 20-20-20 goals to battle climate change and drive energy sustainability in the Balkans- on its own, if need be.
Vojvodina is at the forefront of renewables and energy saving, trying to meet EU climate change goals. “Yes, of course, [meeting] European goals and targets is a part of our policy because an EU future is at the center, it’s at the heart of what we are doing as a government so energy policy is devised in this context as well,” Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic told me on 19 May at a seaside resort in Lagonissi, south of Athens.....more....

read more: balkan analysis
http://www.balkanalysis.com/serbia/2011/06/03/serbia%E2%80%99s-vojvodina-to-meet-eu-energy-goals-alone/

Business: Serbia, Germany team up on hydro plants

se times

27/05/2011

Serbia will build five hydroelectric plants on the Velika Morava River. Also in business news: Albania needs to focus on privatisation, and the Greek economy will return to growth by 2012, the OECD predicts.

Serbian state power utility EPS and German energy company RWE signed a 352m-euro agreement to build five hydroelectric power plants on the Velika Morava River, media reported on Tuesday (May 24th). The total capacity of the plants will reach 150MW. The EPS and RWE will also create a joint venture, which will be responsible for management of the plants....more....    


read more: se times
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/roundup/2011/05/27/roundup-bs-04

Slovenia backs Russian "European security strategy"

b92.net
Region

Monday 16.05.2011
14:53
Source: Ria novosti

MOSCOW -- Slovenian leader Danilo Turk gave his backing to a much-vaunted draft European security treaty unveiled by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev two years ago....more...
read more: b92.net
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/region-article.php?yyyy=2011&mm=05&dd=16&nav_id=74367

Bulgaria Opens Dry Spent Nuclear Fuel Depot

balkan insight
13 May 2011 / 09:59
Bulgaria has officially opened a new dry spent nuclear fuel storage facility at the country's Kozloduy nuclear power plant.
Novinite (Sofia News Agency)read more: balkan insight

The facility, which was opened by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and Economy and Energy Minister Traicho Traikov, will have the capacity to store over 5,200 spent fuel assemblies in 72 steel and heavy concrete casks safely for 50 years....more...

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bulgaria-opens-dry-spent-nuclear-fuel-depot

Nuclear Plant Krsko 'Obstacle' on Croatia's EU Path

balkan insight
12 May 2011 / 14:54

Austrian MPs said on Wednesday that the jointly owned Croatian-Slovenian nuclear power plant Krsko could become a stumbling block on Croatia's road to the EU.
Daily.tportal.hr, Radio.net

The Croatian side shares the concern about the reactor, MP Gerald Grosz said in a statement on talks he held in Zagreb earlier this week, according to the Austrian news agency APA....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/nuclear-plant-krsko-obstacle-on-croatia-s-eu-path

Austrian MPs: Krsko plant 'obstacle' on Croatia's road to EU

tportal.hr
ANOTHER STUMBLING BLOCK?
11.05.2011 19:28

Author: Radio.net

Austrian parliamentary deputy Gerald Grosz said in a statement on Wednesday after visiting Croatia earlier this week that the jointly owned Croatian-Slovenian nuclear power plant Krsko could become a stumbling block on Croatia's road to the European Union, according to the Austrian APA news agency....more...

read more: tportal.hr
http://daily.tportal.hr/127311/Austrian-MPs-Krsko-nuclear-plant-obstacle-on-Croatia-s-road-to-EU.html

Power Plant Delay Blamed on Meddling Consultants

balkan insight
09 May 2011 / 14:14
Kosovo’s former energy minister Justina Shiroka-Pula claims that delays to a massive new power plant were due to meddling from international advisors, a suggestion ridiculed by others involved with the scheme
Lavdim Hamidiread more: balkan insight

Pristina
Minister of Energy in the last administration Justina Shiroka-Pula has broken a two-year silence to blame delays on deciding the design and construction of a new power plant on the project’s international transaction advisors....more...

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/power-plant-delay-blamed-on-meddling-consultants

Sources of Energy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Implications for Energy Security

balkananalysis.com
May 9, 2011

By Lana Pasic*
The importance of energy security, highlighted by the continued utilization of old energy sources and exploration for new ones, is a topic of great significance for the Balkans, in the light of the scarcity of resources such as oil and uncertain consequences of nuclear energy. Although Bosnia & Herzegovina has an abundance of energy resources, its policies and strategies have not been sufficient for the long-term planning of energy use.
In fact, despite its energy potential, BiH is far behind its neighbors when it comes to the development of the institutions and strategies in this area, as has been noted by the International Energy Agency....more...
read more: balkan analysis.com
http://www.balkanalysis.com/bosnia/2011/05/09/sources-of-energy-in-bosnia-and-herzegovina-and-implications-for-energy-security/

Water forum reflects Turkey's central role in region

se times
06/05/2011

In water politics, regional co-operation, development and environmental concerns require balancing.
By Anna Wood for Southeast European Times in Istanbul – 06/05/11
The 2nd Istanbul International Water Forum was held from Tuesday (May 3rd) to Thursday, drawing participants from around the world to discuss pressing water problems. The emphasis was on regional co-operation, with a particular focus on the Middle East. ...more...
read more: se times
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/05/06/feature-02

Bulgaria Demands Guarantees After Russia Halts Oil Exports

balkan insight
02 May 2011 / 10:23

Bulgaria's economy and energy minister has asked Russia for guarantees about fuel supplies for the country amidst reports that Moscow is clamping down on oil exports.
Novinite (Sofia News Agency)...more...


http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bulgaria-demands-guarantees-after-russia-halts-oil-exports

read more: balkan insight

Romania, Moldova to Launch Gas Pipeline

balkan insight
02 May 2011 / 09:21

Bucharest is to start construction of a new gas pipeline that will connect the country with neighbouring Moldova.
Marian Chiriac

Bucharest
The construction of the new pipeline, which is to connect the city of Iasi, in eastern Romania, with Ungheni in Moldova, is set to start by the end of the year. The 50-kilometre-long pipeline will help Moldova to reduce its reliance on gas imports from Russia....more...

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/romania-wants-better-economic-relations-with-moldova

read more: balkan insight

Gas security in Central and Eastern Europe: Connected, coordinated and consolidated

euractiv.com
Published: 26 April 2011
Central and Eastern European gas markets have long suffered from isolation and fragmentation, leaving them vulnerable to both supply disruptions and to monopoly pricing power. However, new research suggests that countries collectively negotiating with gas exporters could remedy this problem, argues economist and energy researcher Edward Hunter Christie.

This commentary was authored exclusively for EurActiv by Edward Hunter Christie, an economist and Research Partner with the Pan-Europe Institute at the Turku School of Economics (Finland).

"In a recent research report financed by the Austrian Ministry of Economy, 'Vulnerability and Bargaining Power in EU-Russia Gas Relations', I explore three topics that are of interest with respect to security of natural gas supply for Central and Eastern European states....more...
read more: euractiv.com
http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy/gas-security-central-eastern-europe-connected-coordinated-consolidated-analysis-504316