Massive hike in electricity prices prompts state measures in Bulgaria
Three subsidiaries of state-owned power utility Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD (BEH) will provide an additional amount of electricity on the day-ahead market (DAM) of the Independent Bulgarian Energy Exchange (IBEX) in order to stabilize the market. According to local media, the DAM prices increased 50% in December 2018 compared to December 2017, skyrocketing 200% year-on-year in […]
How is Balkan region progressing on energy and climate plans?
Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Greece are among 7 EU member states that failed to submit drafts of their National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) to the European Commission by the December 31, 2018 deadline. In the region, Romania, Slovenia, and Croatia have officially published their draft plans, while Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo*, Serbia, and Bosnia and […]
Conservatism still dominates Serbian energy sector, potential of energy transition underestimated
To help accelerate Serbia’s energy transition and reduce emissions, it would perhaps be best for state power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) to build a major, 300 MW solar power plant as a first step. In the long run, the solar power plant’s output would be cheaper than that of any coal-fired power plant, Nikola Rajaković, […]
EFET urges Romania to scrap tax hike for electricity sector
The European Federation of Energy Traders (EFET) has called on the Romanian government to urgently suspend the enforcement of the turnover tax for the electricity sector because it would lead to an unprecedented increase in turnover fees by 2,000%. According to Romanian media, the government decision which came into effect on December 29, 2018 introduces […]
Italian official to lead IRENA over the next four years
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Assembly has selected Francesco La Camera to be the next Director-General of IRENA. La Camera will take office on April 4, 2019, succeeding Adnan Z. Amin, who has been IRENA Director-General since 2011, IRENA said in a press release. The new Director-General was appointed during the 9th Assembly of […]
Fines for sale of low-quality solid fuels for households come into effect
Bulgaria has introduced fines for the sale of low-quality solid fuels for household heating. The fines have been introduced under changes to the Law on Clean Atmospheric Air, which came into effect a few days ago, with fine amounts ranging from BGN 100 to BGN 50,000, the Bulgarian media reported. Fines for selling low-quality firewood […]
Voith to supply equipment for small hydropower plant Gradište
Technology group Voith has won an order for the manufacture, supply and commissioning of two StreamDivers for the Gradište small hydropower plant (SHPP) in Macedonia. According to the company’s press release, the plant is one of 12 facilities currently planned for the river Vardar, with the aim of increasing the hydropower share within Macedonia’s total […]
Electricity prices for industry to increase 14% – ERS general manager
Luka Petrović, general manager of public power utility Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS), has announced that prices for the industry will increase by 14% on average, but that they will still be the lowest in the Balkans. The announcement instantly riled up the Republika Srpska Chamber of Commerce and trade unions, which called for the electricity […]