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Spain announced 2.7 billion euro cuts in subsidies
Spain's government intends to cut subsidies for renewable-energy suppliers and increase electricity bills as part of widespread reforms to its energy policy. The government had announced a series of actions intended at reducing the country’s tariff deficit, which amount to more than 26 billion euro, and has been accumulated as a result of a discrepancy between generating costs and electricity prices for consumers for a long period.
read more... 16/07/2013
Energy Policy Objectives in Belgium
- to phase-out the nuclear energy (between 2015 and 2025) - to reorganize the electricity and gas markets (in Flanders, electricity and gas markets are fully liberalized since July 2003) - to implement the Federal Plan for Sustainable Development, in the context of the "Law concerning the coordination of the federal policy on sustainable development" (May 5, 1997), a new version of the plan for 2004-2008 has been elaborated. - to implement the National Climate Plan 2002-2012, signed in 2002, by both the federal and regional governments responsible for environment, energy and transport, measures to be taken at either the federal or the regional levels. FLANDERS: - to encourage the efficient use of energy (to reduce the consumption of energy in the residential sector and to increase energy efficiency in industry and the service sector) - to provide the greatest energy services at adequate prices for all social groups, through regulation of electricity and gas markets - to augment energy production through the use of renewable energy WALLONIA: Walloon Plan for Sustainable Mastery of Energy (2003) - to reduce the final consumption by 6% by 2010 - to modify behavior through increased public consciousness of energy matters - to develop the renewable energy sector - to regulate electricity and gas markets, to discuss and evaluate policies - to encourage the efficient use of energy in buildings, industry and services - Decree of 1 March 2012 (Wallonia). The objective of the Walloon Government is to achieve 20% of renewable energy by 2020 and 100% by 2050. The Walloon government will require energy suppliers an higher annual percentage of green certificates. Currently it is 15.75% and gradually it will reach 30.4% in 2016 and 37.9% in 2020, an annual increase of 3.65%. BRUSSELS-CAPITAL: - to increase public awareness of the efficient use of energy - to establish a support system for renewable and other energy projects - to offer finance education and other support to the tertiary sector (as well as public authorities) - to develop administrative tools for building developers on the energy performance on buildings Source: Energy Market Price – Belgium Energy Statistics Report
read more... 13/06/2013
Gazprom to cut gas prices for its European customers in 2013
The gas giant Gazprom announced it will cut pipeline gas prices for European clients this year amid strong competition from other natural gas suppliers and cash-strapped energy companies in Europe incapable to pay the old high prices listed in the long-term supply contracts.
read more... 06/06/2013
Bulgaria will be able to import gas from Europe in 2014
According to Bulgaria’s deputy minister of economy and energy, Evghenia Haritonova, Bulgaria will be able to import natural gas from European suppliers in 2014.
read more... 04/01/2013
Europe's long-term gas contract disputes
European energy companies faced with falling profits are turning up the pressure on long-term suppliers such as Russia and Qatar to amend long-term, oil-indexed sales of gas. Recession and market liberalisation measures by the European Commission have caused oil and gas prices to diverge, costing utilities billions. Disputes, re-negotiations and arbitration have led producers to temporarily grant discounts on gas supplies. Some have lowered prices and others have linked supplies to prices at Europe's freely traded spot gas trading hubs. Some utilities also want greater flexibility by being able to reduce supplies beyond minimum contracted levels during times of low demand. Many negotiations are still under way.
read more... 31/10/2012