Pollution of air and water, new fossil fuel subsidies together with incentives for renewables and energy market liberalization drew the readers’ biggest interest in the English language section at Balkan Green Energy News this year.
Dynamic changes in the regulatory frameworks of the countries comprising the Balkan region, mostly in the sector of renewables but also in the overall energy market, motivated our partners from the CMS law firm to produce refined op-eds and prompted interviews with investors. Like in 2018, pollution of air and water again made it on our Most Read to remind us of some of the biggest threats to the environment and people in the region.
The list also delivers an important message – the voice of environmental activists is listened very carefully, not only by the public but also by the international financial institutions or IFIs.
Our small yet hard-working and devoted team would like to thank you for your trust and loyalty and keeping up to date with our posts. In 2020, we will continue to strive to be your number one choice for information about topics of common interest. In the meantime, we wish you a happy, greener, and sustainable 2020!
For information about the most read articles in the Serbian language, follow the link.
1 – Faeces in the river Danube
The lack of wastewater treatment plants in Serbia, but also in Romania, and Bulgaria, caused the pollution of the river Danube with faeces. The summer drought only amplified the problem.
2 – EU countries keep supporting fossil fuels with taxpayers’ money
At a time when reassessments of national strategies are crucial, in order to push the energy transition forward, some governments avoid transparency in reporting on fossil fuel subsidies. There are even states which are rolling out new stimulus.
Greece, Slovenia among five EU countries to introduce new fossil fuel subsidies – report
3, 4, 5, 7 – Legal insights by CMS lawyers
Our partners from CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH enriched content on Balkan Green Energy News with their unique expert views in the form of op-eds on energy sector regulatory frameworks in the countries comprising the region.
Bulgaria: the drive for full liberalization of the energy market and the upcoming changes
Future of renewables in Croatia
Photovoltaic power plants in Slovenia
New Croatian Energy Strategy and Electric Energy Market
6 – And the winner (in our interview section) is…
The most read interview in 2019 is with Petar Đokić, Minister of Energy and Mining of the Republic of Srpska. He has spoken about the plans of the smaller of two entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to introduce auctions for renewables, but also on what he believes would happen with small and large hydropower facilities and lignite-fired power plants.
Republika Srpska to adopt new renewables incentive schemes by end-2019
8 – Interview with the winner of the 2019 Goldman Environmental Prize
Controversies with regard to hydropower plants are ranked high in our chart again. Ana Colovic Lesoska, executive director at the center for environmental research and information Eko-svest from Skopje, was one of the six winners of the Goldman Environmental Prize. The interview with her is one of the most popular articles, which may suggest nongovernmental organizations are strengthening their role in the energy sector and its development.
Speaking to IFIs may be only way for environmental activists to convey message to right address
9 – Investors’ side of the story
Zoran Obradović, managing director at wpd Adria, brought us the investors’ side of the story on the development of renewable energy projects and their impact on the environment and people. He sent an important message to his colleagues – acceptance by a local community is needed for smooth project development. If local citizens are openly opposed, it is better to look for a different location.
10 – Air pollution could be a wake-up call
The list starts and ends with pollution. That says it all. In a situation where environmental awareness in the region is not strong enough, air pollution could be a wake-up call – air pollution is harming us, let’s do something about it.
Sarajevo world’s most polluted city, poor air quality seen across Western Balkans
We also bring you the articles ranked 11th to 20th:
11. Tesla “hoping” to open in Croatia, Serbia in early 2020 – Elon Musk
12. Waste management in Serbia – problems, challenges, and possible solutions
13. TOGG presents Turkey’s first domestically made electric vehicle
14. E-scooters on the rise in Serbia: 35,000 sold within months in Belgrade alone
15. Greece to start shutting down coal power plants
16. 158 MW Čibuk 1, Serbia’s largest wind farm, officially starts operations
17. Czech energy company CEZ eyes pullout from Romania, Turkey
18. Leonardo DiCaprio, Manu Chao support struggle against construction of HPPs in Balkans
Leonardo DiCaprio, Manu Chao support struggle against construction of HPPs in Balkans
19. Decarbonization is next step in development of district heating, cooling systems
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