Končar KET to refurbish HPP Vacha in Bulgaria
A consortium comprising Croatia’s Končar KET and Czech ČKD Blansko Holding has signed a contract to refurbish the 14 MW hydropower plant (HPP) Vacha-1, the accompanying 110 kV switchyard, and other auxiliary systems at the HPP, in cooperation with the Bulgarian state power utility Natsionalna Elektricheska Kompania (NEK EAD), Končar KET has said in a […]
EBRD requires proper environmental impact assessment for projects it finances
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) applies tight environmental and social standards to projects it finances and encourages partners to do the same. However, its leverage is limited to the projects it finances. Dariusz Prasek, Director of Operations, Environment and Sustainability Department, EBRD discusses these and other issues pertaining to the EBRD’s new […]
Protests against hydropower planned across Balkans from July 6-16
Environmental activists and civil society organizations (CSOs) from across the Balkans are organizing protests under the slogan “Our rivers – No DAMage!” in July over hydropower projects threatening to leave local populations without homes, arable lands, drinking water, and irrigation supply, or the landscape they have enjoyed for generations. The protests against hydropower plants (HPPs) […]
Most Read in June: Siemens Gamesa’s ETES, Montenegro goes coal-free for 10 days, EC Albania report
Even though it was published in late June, the news about Siemens Gamesa’s breakthrough electrothermal energy storage system made it to the number one spot on our English-language Top 3 Most Read list for June. The Top 3 Most Read list for June is also available for our portal’s Serbian/local language version. 1 – Siemens […]
Elsewedy agrees to buy 4 wind farms, 1 SHPP in Greece
Egypt’s Elsewedy Electric, an integrated energy and infrastructure solution provider, has announced entering into a share purchase agreement with R.F. Energy S.A. (a subsidiary of F.G Europe S.A.) to acquire 100% of the share capital of 3 wind energy and 1 hydropower companies in operation in Greece. The total consideration agreed is EUR 55 million, […]
European Commission: Albania should urgently diversify away from hydropower, properly conduct environmental assessments
Albania is moderately prepared in the area of energy, according to the European Commission’s latest report on the country’s alignment with the EU acquis. Albania’s national energy strategy 2018-2030 has been adopted, the Chapter 15 section of the report notes. However, the country has delayed electricity market reforms and should accelerate implementation of the connectivity […]
Czech energy company CEZ eyes pullout from Romania, Turkey
Czech energy company CEZ is working on divesting assets in Bulgaria but it may also pull out of other markets, including Romania, Turkey, and Poland, CEO Daniel Benes was quoted as saying in an interview with Hospodarske Noviny. In April, majority state-owned CEZ entered exclusive talks with Bulgaria’s Eurohold to sell its assets in the […]
EU Commission: Serbia makes limited progress on energy, climate change yet to receive adequate attention
Serbia made limited progress in the area of energy, while the policy areas of environment and climate change have yet to receive adequate attention, according to the European Commission’s latest annual assessment of the implementation of reforms in the country, adopted today. The European Commission’s annual assessment deals with Serbia’s progress across 35 chapters of […]