In 2006, the European Union estimated that Contracting Parties necessitate investments at USD 30 billion over the coming decade to bring the electricity infrastructure up to EU standards. The region is moreover marked by relatively underdeveloped gas networks, in comparison with the EU, and so major investment is also needed here. Situated on the route from the Caspian, North Africa and Middle East gas reserves to the EU, the Contracting Parties are, however, well placed to benefit from the development of new transit pipelines on this corridor.
In Jun 2007, the Ministerial Council requested the PHLG to draw up a list of priority infrastructure projects for the Contracting Parties using the criteria established in the European Union's Trans-European Networks – Energy Programme (TEN-E). The first indicative list was completed in Sep 2007 and included 154 project from the seven Contracting Parties and one Observer (Moldova). It was circulated for information to investors and International Financial Institutions, as well as to the participants of the Energy Community Investment Conference in Sep 2007 in Athens. As a result, a shorter list of priority projects was prepared for the endorsement of the Ministerial Council in Dec 2007.
The Energy Community priority project list consist of app. 40 projects. It includes only new infrastructure projects or new units in existing generation power plants, and not rehabilitation projects. The list is organised in two parts and contains:
• 20 projects (12 in electricity and 8 in gas) in Part A, that includes more advanced projects; and
• 23 projects (20 in electricity and 3 in gas) in Part B - this lists projects in preparation and looking for investors or financiers.
In Dec 2009, the Secretariat provided the Ministerial Council the latest update on the priority project list and presented a new short priority list of infrastructure investments’ both in electricity and gas sectors.
CONTENT
The following pages display the key data on each project listed in the Energy Community Priority Infrastructure Project list. Firstly the Part A Electricity and Gas projects will be firstly presented, followed by the Electricity and Gas projects listed in Part B. The presentation of the individual project details follows at Contracting Party level. The last page of the section provides details on Infrastructure Projects Facility – Technical assistance.
