Energy Community News

The Ukraine Energy Support Fund, managed by the Energy Community Secretariat, raised additional €25,270,07 from Sweden during the month of August to aid in the restoration and maintenance of Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Sweden thereby makes a significant contribution to the Fund's mission to repair and strengthen Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which has been damaged in the wake of Russian attacks. Its donations are specifically directed towards initiatives that prioritize electricity grid restoration, resilient and sustainable renewable energy solutions, and uphold principles of gender equality.

Following a set of contracts concluded between the previous operator of the main gas transmission system network, Moldovavtransgaz, with Vestmoldtransgaz and the recent decision by ANRE to provisionally designate Vestmoldtransgaz as an independent system operator, the latter started the operation of the entire Moldovan gas transmission system on 19 September 2023. By ANRE’s decision of 18 September 2023, the transmission operation license of Moldovatransgaz was withdrawn. 

Moldova's gas transmission unbundling has made significant progress over the last weeks. Yesterday, the Moldovan national regulatory authority, ANRE, approved a Lease Agreement between Moldovatransgaz, the country’s largest TSO for and Vestmoldtransgaz. Unlike Vestmoldtransgaz, Moldovatransgaz was never unbundled nor certified.

In a step towards combating air pollution, the City of Pirot in the Republic of Serbia has officially joined the Clean Air Regions Initiative. The Initiative, launched by the Secretariat upon the call of ambitious municipalities in 2021, aims to address the urgent issue of air pollution by fostering cooperation among municipalities and regions.

The Ukraine Energy Support Fund, managed by the Energy Community Secretariat, has published its latest report, highlighting significant additional contributions and accomplishments during the first half of 2023.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent endorsement of Law 9311-1-d demonstrates Ukraine's dedication towards reasssuring the independence and unbundling of its gas transmission operator, GTSOU, and enhancing corporate governance practices.

Amendments to the Serbian Energy Law adopted in July 2023 establish an independent Republic Commission on Energy Network to exercise control over the electricity and gas transmission system operators (TSOs). The Commission, under the control of the Parliament, is competent to appoint and dismiss the representatives of the Republic of Serbia in the TSOs’ general assemblies.

The Energy Community Secretariat has successfully concluded an on-site verification process at OdesaGas, affirming the integrity and functionality of procured goods and services by the Ukraine Energy Support Fund. This verification encompassed a range of critical aspects, including the installation and operational status of gas generators within the main administrative building, assessment of functionality of donated radio stations, and validation of appropriate fuel consumption. 

Together with the international partners, USAID, European Commission and the Ukrainian stakeholders, the Secretariat was coordinating an independent technical review of the reliability of Ukrainian gas storage and transmission systems under certain stress scenarios for the next winter season. 

The Energy Community Secretariat and Ukraine’s main hydropower generating company Ukrhydroenergo signed a Memorandum of Understanding on coordination of legal actions against Russia for damages to the energy infrastructure.

The 2023 Energy Community Summer School kicked off on August 19th at the University of Belgrade's Faculty of Political Sciences in Serbia. This year's summer school is set to provide valuable insights into the energy sector, highlighting its challenges, opportunities, and latest advancements.

The Energy Community Secretariat remains committed to supporting the Republic of Moldova in its ongoing efforts to align its legislation on renewable energy with the European Union (EU) acquis. The alignment of Moldova's primary legislation on the use of energy from renewable sources is a crucial step in the country's ambitious decarbonization agenda.

The Energy Community Secretariat (ECS) conducted a visit to Umangaz as part of the verification process for equipment procured through the Ukraine Energy Support Fund. During the visit, the ECS representative carefully assessed the technical characteristics of the equipment and ensured that all necessary documentswere issued by the company. 

The Energy Community Secretariat is delighted to announce a substantial grant of EUR 27 million provided by Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The grant has been designated to support Ukraine's energy sector through the Ukraine Energy Support Fund (UESF).

With the adoption of Law 9311-1-d at the Parliament’s session of today, the Verkhovna Rada paved the way for the long-awaited corporate governance reform of the transmission system operator for gas, GTSOU. GTSOU was created as a subsidiary of a state-owned holding company in the course of unbundling. This two-layered structure failed to ensure independence and efficient operation of GTSOU and will now be abolished after the adoption of the new Law. The shares in GTSOU will be held by the Ministry of Energy, while its role in the company’s decision-making will be mitigated by a new charter and a new independent supervisory board.

Yesterday, in Vienna, the Energy Community Secretariat and the National Commission for State Regulation in the Spheres of Energy and Communal Services of Ukraine (NEURC) took a significant step towards strengthening their collaboration. Artur Lorkowski, the Director of the Energy Community Secretariat, and Konstantyn Uschapovskiy, the Chairman of NEURC, came together to formalize this partnership by signing a crucial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on the implementation of REMIT procedures.

The Energy Community Secretariat, in collaboration with the Council of European Energy Regulators, is hosting a two-day Regional Training on Understanding Energy Markets, in Batumi, Georgia. This regional training is organized as part of the EU4Energy Programme - "Promoting the Clean Energy Transition in the Eastern Partnership Countries." It aims to bring together parliamentary employees from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine to enhance their knowledge of the structured electricity and gas markets within the European Union. The training will delve into their role in shaping policy and explore the key challenges and opportunities facing these markets. By providing comprehensive insights into the energy markets, the training aims to equip participants with the necessary expertise to shape effective policies, paving the way for a future fueled by reliable, affordable, and clean energy sources.

The Energy Community Secretariat commends SEEPEX, the Nominated Electricity Market Operator (NEMO) in Serbia, for the successful launch of the Serbian intraday market on July 26^th, 2023. The new market segment operates based on a continuous trading mechanism, enabling market participants to adjust their positions closer to real-time. This flexibility is crucial for integrating renewable energy sources, which often rely on weather-dependent production.

The Ukraine Energy Support Fund, managed by the Energy Community Secretariat, has approved vital financial aid for three key energy facilities severely damaged by Russian missile attacks.

On 11 July 2023, the Moldovan energy regulator ANRE issued a final decision certifying the electricity transmission system operator (TSO) Moldelectrica as an Independent System Operator. Almost five years after the first certification request by Moldelectrica, the TSO is now compliant with the European standards for unbundling.

The Secretariat invites the international legal community to participate in a platform for pro bono legal support aimed at assisting Ukrainian public energy companies. This initiative aims to aid in the recovery of damages suffered by Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure. The platform will allow law firms and qualified independent lawyers to contribute pro bono hours to various projects and match them with the demand of Ukrainian energy companies.

Following negotiations between the Ukrainian and Slovakian transmission system operators (TSOs), Ukrenergo and SEPS ,facilitated by the Secretariat, an agreement has been reached on the sharing of congestion revenues between the two companies. The TSOs perform unilateral capacity auctions on the interconnector connecting their system.

The Secretariat’s Ukraine Energy Market Observatory assessed the Resolution No 1126 of 27 June 2023 (Resolution 1126) of the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission (NEURC) on setting price caps for the electricity spot market in Ukraine.

Yesterday, the Secretariat referred a number of infringement cases under the Treaty’s dispute settlement procedures to the Ministerial Council for decision-making at its next meeting in December 2023. Four of these cases address non-compliance with the Large Combustion Plants Directive (2001/80/EC)...

Today, the Secretariat published its report on Protection of vulnerable households in the Western Balkans Contracting Parties in the context of rising energy prices and the EU Energy Support Package. The report analyses how the Western Balkans Contracting Parties support the vulnerable and energy poor households during the energy crisis, particularly differentiating between the overall support for all households and the assistance to those in extreme need.

Today, the Secretariat published its CBAM Readiness Tracker. It provides comprehensive insights into significant developments in the energy sector’s  contribution to achieving the Energy Community 2030 climate and energy targets and the Contracting Parties’ progress in decarbonisation.

The joint effort by the Energy Community Secretariat, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Montenegro marks a significant milestone in fostering effective communication and cooperation between the two countries with the establishment of a cross-border dialogue working group.

The Informal Ministerial Council Meeting, hosted by Albania as the current holder of the Energy Community Presidency for 2023, commenced today in Tepelenë. The Council gathered ministers from the Energy Community Contracting Parties, representatives from the European Commission, and Energy Community Secretariat representatives to discuss critical topics related to the energy landscape of the region.

The Energy Community Secretariat regrets the recent postponement of electricity market opening in Georgia. With the adoption of the resolution by the Government of Georgia on 29 June 2023, the launch of the day-ahead, intraday, balancing, and ancillary services electricity markets, set to take place on 1 July 2023, was delayed until 1 July 2024.

The Director of the Energy Community Secretariat, Artur Lorkowski, and the Minister of Energy of Ukraine, German Galushchenko discussed regulatory changes aimed at de-risking the gas storage business in Ukraine.

Building on the commitment to develop a Clean Energy Partnership to support the sustainable recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine endorsed at the Ukraine Recovery Conference held in London on 21- 22 June 2023, the Government of Ukraine, the Energy Community Secretariat, G7+ members and international partners present today...

During the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2023, the G7+ and the Government of Ukraine have acknowledged and recognized the Energy Community's pivotal role in unleashing the potential of energy reforms in Ukraine.

The Ukraine Energy Support Fund, managed by the Energy Community Secretariat, has financed delivery of advanced equipment worth EUR 7.580.900 to Gas TSO of Ukraine (GTSOU) for the restoration of damaged and de-occupied facilities. This delivery of equipment represents a crucial step in strengthening GTSOU's operational capabilities and ensuring the security of Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

The regional conference “Creating Energy Market in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood”, organised by the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER) in the framework of the EU4Energy Phase II Programme was held on 19 June with the aim to facilitate experience-sharing among ministries and energy regulators both from the EU and from Eastern Partnership countries.

The Secretariat assessed the draft Laws amending the Electricity Market Law and the Tax Code of Ukraine, both related to enabling the coupling of the Ukrainian and the European markets and the allocation of interconnection capacities.

The Ukraine Energy Market Observatory established by the Secretariat earlier this year closely follows and reviews all developments related to the energy markets and corporate governance in Ukraine.

The Energy Community Secretariat commends Serbia for its recent achievement in adopting the necessary legislation and publishing its first renewable energy auction, in alignment with the requirements outlined in the Renewable Energy Directive (REDII). This significant step signifies Serbia's commitment to the development of a competitive and efficient renewable energy market.

The Energy Community Secretariat successfully hosted a high-profile event that highlighted the robust and dependable gas infrastructure and storage capabilities of Ukraine. The event, held in collaboration with GTSOU specialists, Ukrtransgaz, the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, and the National Energy Regulator, shed light on the opportunities available for European traders in the upcoming 2023/2024 gas season... 

The Energy Community Secretariat warmly welcomes the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine's recent adoption of the "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine as to Prevention of Abuse in the Wholesale Energy Markets" (REMIT Law) on May 10th, 2023.

The Energy Community Secretariat, in collaboration with the Ukrainian authorities, is urgently seeking assistance from companies worldwide to support the restoration of electrical networks and infrastructure following the destructive incident at the Kakhovska Hydroelectric Power Plant.

The Energy Community Regulatory Board has conducted a thorough analysis of the tariff consultation document submitted by the National Regulatory Authority for Energy (ANRE) of Moldova. The assessment was carried out in accordance with the Network Code on Harmonised Transmission Tariff Structures for Gas. 

The 28th Athens Electricity Forum concluded successfully with a remarkable turnout of over 200 participants both in person and online. The two-day event featured dynamic discussions and insightful debates on key topics shaping the energy sector. Industry leaders, experts, regulators and policymakers gathered to explore pathways towards a sustainable and integrated electricity market.

The Energy Community Secretariat is pleased to announce a remarkable milestone achieved last week in our ongoing efforts to support Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The Ukraine Support Task Force, established by the Energy Community Secretariat, has successfully assisted in the delivery of 70 shipments of specialized energy equipment to Ukraine. 

The Energy Community Secretariat and the public electricity producer Energoatom signed a Memorandum of Understanding on coordination of legal actions against Russia for damages to the energy infrastructure. The Secretariat’s Dispute Resolution and Negotiation Center will support Energoatom with strategic and legal advice in obtaining compensation for damages caused by Russia’s military invasion.

The Energy Community Secretariat expresses deep sorrow and concern upon receiving news of the major destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam and hydro-electric power plant in Ukraine. The incident occurred in the early hours of this morning, causing significant consequences. In October 2022, the Secretariat conducted a report highlighting the potential devastating effects of the dam's destruction.

The Energy Community Secretariat has praised the issuing bodies in Republika Srpska and Albania for the successful inauguration of an electronic registry for guarantees of origin for electricity. 

The Secretariat assessed the draft Law on Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding the Restoration and Green Transformation of the Energy System of Ukraine (No. 9011-d) submitted to Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

After careful consideration, the Secretariat, in collaboration with a network of academic and research institutions from the participating countries, has finalized the selection of participants for the upcoming 2023 Energy Community Summer School. Out of the 166 applications received, 133 applicants met the selection criteria, and from those, the 48 most qualified individuals were chosen.

The Energy Community Secretariat praises the Ukrainian Government for its recent measures to bring electricity prices for the population closer to cost-reflective levels. These actions mark a significant milestone towards ensuring a more sustainable and equitable electricity market in Ukraine.

The Energy Community Secretariat has released its annual report on the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2022/1032, commonly known as the Storage Regulation. This regulation, adopted within the Energy Community, requires the Secretariat to provide regular updates on the progress made by Contracting Parties in fulfilling storage obligations and certifying storage system operators.

Yesterday evening, ambassadors from various countries, discussed possibilities to further support Ukraine’s energy sector attacked by the Russian aggressors through financial donations to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund.

Yesterday, the Secretariat sent a Reasoned Opinion addressing non-compliance with the Energy Community unbundling and certification requirements in the gas sector to Moldova. In 2021, the Secretariat opened infringement procedures addressing the failure of Moldova to implement the requirements of unbundling and certification of the transmission system operator Moldovatransgaz.

The Energy Community Parliamentary Plenum meeting, held on May 23rd, marked a significant gathering of members from the European Parliament and national parliaments representing the Energy Community Contracting Parties. Esteemed participants included delegates from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, and Ukraine.

The Energy Community Secretariat reaffirmed its dedication to assisting Moldova in its ongoing efforts to reform the energy sector. This commitment was emphasized during a meeting between Director Artur Lorkowski and the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Moldova, Mr. Victor Parlicov, held on the sidelines of the 4th MD-EU High-Level Energy Dialogue.

The Energy Community Secretariat welcomes Kosovo*'s announcement of its first solar auction on May 12, 2023, representing a significant stride towards the country's renewable energy objectives. The Ministry of Economy has initiated the "Competitive Process for the Guaranteed Purchase Price of Energy Produced by a 100 MW Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Plant, to be Constructed on Public Land."

Today, the Energy Community Secretariat published its Opinion 2/23 of 12 May 2023 on the unbundling of the Moldovan electricity TSO Moldelectrica. In its Opinion the Secretariat raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest between persons and institutions engaged in transmission activities, on the one hand, and persons and institutions engaged in supply and generation activities, on the other.

In a significant stride towards revitalizing Ukraine's energy sector, the Ukraine Energy Support Fund has recently delivered crucial materials for the reconstruction of heating networks in a war-affected Ukrainian city. These efforts are poised to make a remarkable difference in the lives of local citizens, emphasizing the Fund's commitment to restoring energy infrastructure and improving energy efficiency in the country.

The Energy Community Secretariat is proud to report that in the first quarter of 2023, approximately EUR 3.6 million of the funds transferred to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund have already been spent on critical energy infrastructure repairs.

Today, Moldova has taken a significant step towards improving energy efficiency within its national economy by adopting an amendment to the Law on Energy Efficiency. The Energy Community Secretariat congratulates Moldova on its commitment to boosting energy efficiency practices.

The Energy Community Secretariat is proud to report that in the first quarter of 2023, approximately EUR 3.6 million of the funds transferred to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund have already been spent on critical energy infrastructure repairs.

The Energy Community Secretariat welcomes the successful launch of MEPX, Montenegro's day-ahead electricity market. MEPX held its first day-ahead auction for electricity delivery on April 27, marking a significant milestone in advancing the country's electricity markets and promoting transparent price signals for renewable energy investments.

The Vienna Forum on European Energy Law brought together more than 100 participants on 20 April 2023 to review the state of affairs in European energy policy and law. This year's conference focused on a variety of topics, including energy solidarity, industrial policy and state aid rules, market design reforms, and the reconstruction of Ukraine.

The Energy Community Secretariat welcomes the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)’s pledge of a donation of up to $25 million for the Ukraine Energy Support Fund. During a meeting with the Energy Community Secretariat in Vienna, Ambassador Erin E. McKee, Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia, announced USAID's intent to contribute to the Fund.

In a meeting with First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, the Secretariat reaffirmed its commitment to helping Ukraine to prepare a National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) - an EU template for energy and climate governance. The process should contribute to the G7+ dialogue over Ukraine’s green recovery.

The Energy Community Secretariat's Director Artur Lorkowski and Deputy Director Dirk Buschle met with NEURC's Chairman Ushchapovskyi to discuss the recent halt in electricity exports from Ukraine to Slovakia. The meeting was held in response to NEURC's request to find a solution to resume electricity exports from Ukraine, which had been halted as of April 21st.

On 19 April 2023, representatives of the Albanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ERE) visited the premises of the Secretariat for an exchange. Both institutions have a long-standing history of working together successfully on energy market reforms in Albania.

Regulation (EU) 2015/1222 establishing a guideline on capacity calculation and congestion management (‘CACM Regulation’, as adapted and adopted for the Energy Community by Ministerial Council Decision of December 2022, requires the Contracting Parties to ensure that one or more ‘nominated electricity market operator’ (NEMOs) are designated...

The Energy Community Secretariat and the European Comission recently held a meeting to discuss the Contracting Parties’ gas undertakings and the last-minute details of joining AggregateEU, the leading platform for joint procurement.

The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, the Secretariat and the European Union's Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) have entered into acooperation to support Ukraine by covering costs of transporting goods procured under the Ukraine Energy Support Fund.

Today the Secretariat closed Case ECS-4/17 against Albania for lack of unbundling of the electricity distribution system operator (DSO), OSSH. This decision follows the complete transposition of the Electricity Directive’s provisions related to DSO unbundling in national law, the completion of legal unbundling and substantial progress in functional unbundling.

Following the binding opinion issued by the Secretariat on 31 March 2023, the energy regulatory authority of Ukraine, NEURC, has now adopted a final decision to certify Ukrtransgaz as a storage system operator.

On April 6, in Chisinau, Deputy Director Dirk BUSCHLE and State Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Constantin BOROSAN, hosted an event dedicated to the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources in the Republic of Moldova.

Energy Community Secretariat Deputy Director Dirk Buschle visited Chisinau on April 5 and 6 to meet with Prime Minister Dorin Recean and discuss the formidable implementation progress the country showcased in 2022, ongoing reforms in the electricity and gas sectors, the importance of sustainable development, and the country’s short to mid-term priorities.

The Energy Community Secretariat welcomes the launch of the Albanian Power Exchange (ALPEX) and the successful inauguration of the day-ahead market in Albania. On 11 April 2023, ALPEX held its first day-ahead auction for the delivery of electricity as of 12 April.

Yesterday, the Energy Community Secretariat released Opinion 1/23 regarding the certification of Ukrtransgaz, the Ukrainian gas storage system operator.

The SEEGAS initiative, which aims to enhance the security of gas supplies to central and southeast European nations, has made significant progress in diversifying away from Russian gas.

The Ukraine Energy Support Fund, managed by the Energy Community Secretariat, is proud to announce the successful delivery of 12 transformers to a Ukrainian electricity distribution system operator, thanks to the donor, the Danish Energy Agency.

The Energy Community Secretariat held its first Energy and Climate Technical Working Group meeting on April 3 and 4 to discuss the development of a carbon pricing system in the region.

The Energy Community Secretariat held its next Energy Efficiency Coordination Group (EECG) on March 29, with representatives from ministries of the Energy Community Contracting Parties, the European Commission, and donors such as the EBRD and KfW in attendance.

The Energy Community Secretariat regrets the delay in the opening of Georgia's day-ahead, balancing, and ancillary services markets, which was originally scheduled for March 31, 2023, but has been postponed until July 1, 2023, according to a resolution adopted by the Government of Georgia.

The Energy Community Secretariat and NAK Naftogaz, the national gas company of Ukraine, held a meeting to discuss the current status of the Ukrainian gas market. The Director of the Secretariat, Mr. Lorkowski, and the CEO of Naftogaz, Mr. Chernyshov, focused on the security of supplies for the upcoming winter and the need to re-establish a competitive Ukrainian gas market.

Aggregate EU, the demand aggregation and joint purchasing mechanism, is excited to announce the launch of the subscription process for joint gas. Gas companies and industrial actors operating in all EU Member States and the Energy Community Contracting Parties can now subscribe.  

Following up on a meeting with the participants of the 2020 mediation in the Ukrainian renewables sector on 16 March 2023 in Kyiv, the Secretariat yesterday launched a process meant to settle the current problems faced by the sector. 

Director Artur Lorkowski met with Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Staša Košarac, entity ministers for energy, Petar Đokić and Nermin Džindić to discuss the state of energy and climate reforms during his country mission on 27 March 2023.

Under the patronage of Secretary of State Blinken and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hayashi, the Energy Community Secretariat hosted an online conference ‘Assistance for the energy sector of Ukraine - Mobilizing the private sector’ on 23 March 2023. The aim of the information session was to demonstrate how effortlessly businesses around the world can provide support for Ukraine’s energy infrastructure via existing structures.  

As part of a country mission to Serbia, Director Lorkowski discussed today the state of energy market reforms and plans for decarbonization with the Minister of Mining and Energy, Ms. Dubravka Djedović, and other key stakeholders on 24. March. The discussions focused on the transposition of the new electricity package, developments in the process of preparation of National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) and progress in facilitating security of gas supply.

The Serbian Government terminated the ban on natural gas which was introduced last autumn. Earlier, the Secretariat had communicated to the Serbian authorities that such ban constituted a violation of the Energy Community Treaty’s provisions and required termination.

The Ukraine Energy Support Fund, created at the Energy Community Secretariat in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, will provide support to the Ukrainian Gas TSO (GTSOU) in completing the renovation of  a piece of critical gas infrastructure. The project is financed by a dedicated grant of EUR 2 million by the Foreign Office of Germany. 

At a visit to Ukraine on 14-16 March, Director Lorkowski and Deputy Director Buschle together with key stakeholders took stock of the state of energy sector reforms amidst the full-scale war by Russia. Director Lorkowski discussed with Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal steps to further integrate the energy markets of Ukraine and the EU under the Energy Community Treaty as well as the state of play of unbundling of the transmission system operators. The Prime Minister,  the Director and Energy Minister German Galushchenko also discussed the international support for the repairment of the damages affecting to the energy sector of Ukraine, coordinated by the Secretariat under the Ukraine Energy Support Fund and the Ukraine Support Task Force. 

On 16 March the Energy Community Secretariat held a Policy Dialogue Event in Kyiv, cohosted with Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, with participation of a number of collaborating international partners.
Following a keynote address, delivered by Director Lorkowski and Mr.Yaroslav Demchenkov, Deputy Minister of Energy, Government of Ukraine, speakers considered how to frame Ukraine’s decarbonisation strategy in the context of green rebuilding, in line with climate neutrality commitments, the EU accession process and the role of the key instruments for strategic policy planning, such as integrated National energy and climate plans (NECPs). 

During a mission to Skopje on 9 and 10 March, Deputy Director Dirk Buschle discussed the state of reforms in the sphere of energy and climate with the Minister for Economy, Mr. Kreshnik Bekteshi and the Minister for Environment, Ms. Kaja Shukova. The discussions focused on the launch of the organized electricity market in May and North Macedonia’s regional integration, unbundling of the gas transmission system operator Nomagas, the state of the revision of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) and compliance with the Energy Community’s environmental norms.

At the 30^th edition of the Kopaonik Business Forum in Serbia, a high-level panel discussed the country’s options and challenges on the path towards the transition of its energy sectors. Alongside participants including Minister Dubravka Dedovic, the CEO of Srbijagas and the World Bank’s country manager, Deputy Director Dirk Buschle advocated for the usage of an open and integrated electricity market in pursuing Serbia’s ambitious policy towards investments in renewable energy.

In course of February 2023, Energy Community Secretariat’s Ukraine Support Task Force assisted GasNet, the largest gas distributor in Czech Republic, and the Czech authorities to deliver seven vehicles and special gas equipment from GasNet’s inventory to Ukraine. The shipment was the first donation from an EU gas distributor to its counterpart in Ukraine.

During a mission to Kosovo* Director Lorkowski and Deputy Director Buschle discussed energy market reform needs with the Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, the Assembly Committee on Economy, Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, the Energy Regulatory Office ERO and the electricity TSO KOSTT.

Today, the Secretariat sent a Reasoned Opinion addressing non-compliance with the Energy Community electricity rules to Serbia. In 2022, the Secretariat had opened a dispute settlement procedure addressing the failure by Serbia’s TSO (EMS) to agree with Kosovo*’s TSO (KOSTT) on coordinated cross-border capacity allocation at the interconnection lines between Niš and Kosova B and between Kruševac and Podujeva.

On 24 February 2023 Director Lorkowski held meetings with key energy stakeholders and government representatives during his visit to Tbilisi. Addressing the state of energy and climate reforms in Georgia, the Director met Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Levan Davitashvili. He also took part to a high-level roundtable with First Deputy Minister Romeo Mikautadze, and six director generals representing GNERC, GSE, GGTC, GOGC, ESCO and GENEX.

Yesterday, the Secretariat sent an Opening Letter to Georgia to address its failure to unbundle and certify its electricity transmission system operator Georgian State Electrosystem (GSE) and its gas transmission system operator Georgian Gas Transportation Company (GGTC). The initiation of infringement procedures comes after two failed attempts to certify each of the two transmission system operator under the Ownership Unbundling model and the Independent System Operator model.

Marking one year of Russian invasion in Ukraine, director Lorkowski issued a special statement. 'Particularly today our thoughts are with Ukraine', he declared, and 'when reflecting the first days, the Secretariat was quick to put the disbelief aside and convened an emergency meeting on 1 March 2022. Three days later, a formal assistance agreement between the Secretariat and the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine on the coordination of emergency supplies to Ukraine was signed. This decision gained unprecedented dynamics, shaping the Secretariat's operations in the months to come'.

The Energy Community Secretariat, in its role as the fiduciary of the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, is pleased to announce the signing of a grant agreement with LeasePlan Corporation N.V.  Headquartered in the Netherlands, LeasePlan is the first private company to provide support for Ukrainian energy companies and its citizens via the Ukraine Energy Support Fund. 

On February 15, 2023 Energy Community Secretariat held an online event introducing the Ukraine Energy Market Observatory (UEMO). The meeting was co-chaired by Director Lorkowski, Mechthild Wörsdörfer, the Deputy Director General for the European Commission Directoral General for Energy (DG ENER) and Konstantyn Uschapovskiy, the Chairman of the National Commission for State Regulation in the Spheres of Energy and Communal Services of Ukraine (NEURC).

On 9 February 2023, the Secretariat sent a Reasoned Opinion to Montenegro related to the  non-compliance with the Large Combustion Plants Directive. The domestic thermal power plant Pljevlja continues to operate despite the expiry of its limited lifetime derogation under that Directive (also known as opt-out).

On 14 February, Director Lorkowski met with Ervin Ibrahimović, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Capital Investments of Montenegro and Branislav Prelević, President of the Board at the Energy and Water Regulatory Agency of Montenegro. He also addressed the Montenegrin Parliament’s Committee responsible for energy issues.

The Ukraine Energy Support Fund’s procurement activity is operating at full steam. The Fund recently reported full utilisation of the grant by Denmark, through the Danish Energy Agency, and two donations by private donors. With these grants 21 different kinds of items requested by eight different Ukrainian companies (mostly active in electricity and gas distribution) were financed. The Secretariat is the fiduciary for the Fund.

On February 9, 2023, the Energy Community Secretariat launched the EU4Energy Governance Activity on supporting NEURC in finalizing the derogation criteria in line with the Connection Network Codes applicable in Ukraine.

On February 8, 2023, the representatives of the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission (NEURC) and experts from Energy Community Secretariat met under umbrella of EU4Energy Governance Project to discuss joint activities in course of improving the preparation of NEURC’s Annual Report in line with the best EU practices.

The Energy Community Secretariat, in its roles as the fiduciary of the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, is pleased to announce the signing of a fiduciary agreement between the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Iceland and the Energy Community Secretariat. With its signature, Iceland grants EUR 1.5 million to the benefit of Ukrainian energy companies and its citizens exposed to the impact of the Russian war.

On 1st February 2023, EU4Energy Governance Project, co-financed by the EU, brought together key stakeholders of the electricity market in Georgia (the national regulatory authority GNERC and the Georgian transmission system operator GSE) and Energy Community Secretariat experts for an online meeting to kick off technical assistance to Georgia in the adjustment of the imbalance settlement process in the balancing market.

Marking the beginning of Albania’s 2023 Energy Community Presidency, Director Artur Lorkowski travelled to Tirana to meet with the country’s political leadership. During his visit on 31 January and 1 February, the Director met with Belinda Balluku, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy. He also addressed the Committee on Productive Activity, Trade and Environment at the Parliament of Albania.

In an effort to streamline and consolidate its monitoring functions under the Energy Community Treaty with regard to Ukraine, the Energy Community’s largest member currently suffering from a war of aggression by the Russian Federation, the Secretariat created the Ukraine Energy Market Observatory. The Observatory will closely follow and review all developments related to the energy market and corporate governance in Ukraine.

The procurement of the equipment necessary to conduct emergency repairs of the Ukrainian energy system has now started. Earlier in January, the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine approved support requests by 30 energy companies under the Ukraine Energy Support Fund for the procurement of essential energy equipment at an estimated value of over EUR 107 million.

On 25 January, the Energy Community Secretariat held a coordination meeting on joint gas purchasing, gathering high-level representatives of the European Commission, the Contracting Parties, gas companies, and industrial consumers. Co-Chaired by Director Lorkowski and Vice-President of European the Commission, Mr. Šefčovič, the meeting participants were engaged in discussing aspects of the Energy Community’s involvement in the EU-based initiative.

Under a memorandum of understanding signed today, the Energy Community Secretariat and the Ukrainian energy regulator, NEURC, agreed on a procedure defining the roles and responsibilities in cooperating on so-called public service obligations. Public service obligations are state interventions in the energy market and individual companies’ conduct on such markets. In order to be compliant with the Energy Community framework, they need to satisfy certain standards. Energy Community and Ukrainian legislation require that NEURC and the Secretariat cooperate in designing public service obligations.

On 25 January, the Energy Community Secretariat will convene a coordination meeting on joint gas purchasing, gathering high level representatives of the European Commission, the Contracting Parties, gas companies and industrial consumers. The meeting will serve to identify potential gas demand for joint procurement via the EU Energy Platform.

The Energy Community Secretariat is organizing an information session on the upcoming procurement of the equipment necessary to conduct emergency repairs of the Ukrainian energy system under the Energy Community Ukraine Energy Support Fund.

Applications are now open to join our 2023 Energy Community Summer School. The Summer School offers a unique opportunity for up to 48 postgraduate students and young professionals to gain an in-depth knowledge of the energy transition in its full complexity and provide them with a platform for exchange and shaping the sector’s future. The Summer School will take place from 19 to 26 August 2023 at the Faculty of Political Science of the University of Belgrade, Serbia.

The Ukraine Energy Support Fund will receive a financial donation of EUR five million from the European Commission to help Ukrenergo, the Ukrainian electricity transmission system operator, to deal with the terrible impact of the Russian war against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. With this support, Ukrenergo will receive the needed equipment to make emergency repairs to the electricity infrastructure damaged by Russian bombing and ensure stable functioning of the power system. The grant agreement between the European Commission and the Energy Community Secretariat was signed on 4 January.

Last week, the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine approved support requests by 30 energy companies under the Ukraine Energy Support Fund for the procurement of essential energy equipment at an estimated value of over EUR 107 million. The Ministry’s decision triggered the procurement procedure for the requested items, including power transformers, generators, valves, pumps, pipes, oil transformers, surge arresters, batteries, disconnectors, wires, insulators and circuit breakers, to be conducted by an independent procurement agent.

The Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge made a contribution of EUR 4.5 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund to be disbursed by the Energy Community Secretariat to the benefit of Ukrainian energy companies through the Ukraine Energy Support Fund. It thereby contributes to the support provided by other European governments to the energy sector of Ukraine and its citizens exposed to the impact of the Russian war during this winter.

On 29 December, the President of Ukraine signed the Gas Storage Certification Law. Certification of gas storage system operators is a key element of the Gas Storage Regulation adopted by the Ministerial Council in October 2022.  The mechanism strengthens security of gas supply in the Energy Community Contracting Parties and EU Member States. 

On 30 December 2022, a three-phase 110 kV transformer donated by Latvenergo was successfully received in Ukraine and will be used to restore the Ukrainian power system after the Russian military attacks. Latvenergo AS successfully cooperated with the State Fire and Rescue Service and international institutions – the Energy Community Secretariat and the European Union Emergency Response Coordination Centre – to ensure the delivery of the transformer to Ukraine.

Yesterday, the Ukrainian President signed the Law on amending the Customs Code and the Law on amending the Tax Code of Ukraine in order to encourage donation efforts and help rebuild the energy infrastructure of Ukraine. Following the Laws’ entry into force, donations of emergency energy equipment, materials and other items arriving in Ukraine under the umbrella of the Energy Community will be exempt from VAT and other taxes. The legal changes were initiated particularly to cover the equipment procured under the Ukraine Energy Support Fund.

The Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER) and the Energy Community Regulatory Board (ECRB) publish today the 7th Benchmarking Report on the Quality of Electricity and Gas Supply, a key document identifying good regulatory practices on the quality of supply in electricity and gas grids that help to safeguard European consumers from energy cuts.

The Secretariat was alerted about a huge explosion at the Urengoy – Pomary – Uzhgorod pipeline in Russia’s Vurnar district of Chuvashia. This is the main pipeline supplying Europe with Russian gas. The Secretariat was informed by the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (GTSOUA) that transit via Ukraine remains unaffected for the time being and will continue to stay in close contact with transmission system operator.

Upon requests of the parties, the Secretariat will mediate a dispute which has arisen between the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure of Kosovo* and the Austrian hydropower investor KelKos. The dispute concerns the three hydropower projects on the Deçan river, Lumbardhi II, Belaja and Deçani, which were in operation until 2021 when the operational permits were suspended by a Supreme Court ruling based on environmental grounds. While the Constitutional Court recently declared that ruling unconstitutional, the final decision on the validity of the permits is still pending. 

The Georgian State Electrosystem became the first issuing body to sign an agreement with the service provider on the go-live of the national electronic registry for guarantees of origin for energy from renewable sources. Guarantees of origin allow consumers to choose the origin of their energy and in that way empower them to contribute to the energy transition. They are also key for enabling corporate Power Purchase Agreements.

On 15-16 December 2022, two workshops on assessing the progress in transposition and implementation of the EU acquis in Georgia, as provided by the Energy Community Treaty and bilateral agreements/partnerships with the EU, were held under the EU Energy Governance Project.

A well-attended trilateral workshop on sustainable empowerment, security of energy supply and interoperability of the systems in Vienna attracted participants from three regulatory organisations. The event kicked off a larger initiative within the framework of a long-term cooperation between the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER), the Energy Community Regulatory Board (ECRB) and the Association of Mediterranean Energy Regulators (MEDREG).

Yesterday, the Kosovo* National Assembly adopted the Law on Environmental Impact Assessment. The Law will strengthen environmental protection in Kosovo* by ensuring that projects that have significant impacts on the environment are granted building permits only after their assessment has been carried out and suitable mitigation measures put in place. 

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany has announced a EUR 99,5  million contribution to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund. The grant agreement was signed today between the Energy Community Secretariat and the German Development Bank KfW. The bank was commissioned by the Ministry to implement the agreement on behalf of the German Government.

The Energy Community Ministerial Council adopted 2030 targets to reduce primary and final energy consumption, accelerate the uptake of renewables and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at its meeting in Vienna today under the presidency-in-office of Ukraine. The Ministers also adopted a new electricity package that will enable full market integration of Energy Community Contracting Parties into the European market, based on the principle of reciprocity, that will support the large-scale integration of renewables and coal-phase out. They also discussed coordinating measures to secure energy supplies and address the impacts of the price surge.

The EBRD and Energy Community Secretariat are strengthening their joint emergency support for Ukraine’s energy sector. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was agreed on the margins of the international donors’ conference “Standing With The Ukrainian People” in Paris. 

The German Federal Foreign Office has announced a contribution of EUR 30 million for emergency energy equipment and support to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund.

The Ukraine Energy Support Fund provides for the procurement of vital emergency energy equipment needed for the stable operation of the energy system of Ukraine on the basis of requests by Ukrainian energy companies. The Secretariat invites potential suppliers of items and/or services to present their portfolio and submit unsolicited offers.

As of 10 October 2022, Russia has been deliberately shelling Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in a series of missile and drone attacks whose consequences are still unfolding. Ukrenergo, the Ukrainian electricity transmission system operator, has incurred probably the most severe damages, as its transmission lines, power stations and dispatch centres have been particularly targetted. As of November 2022, the damage inflicted on Ukrenergo alone was estimated at more than EUR 2 billion. The estimations do not include the damage caused by the latest attacks on energy infrastructure.

On 9 December, in Tbilisi, the Energy Community Secretariat, with the support of the EU, under the umbrella of the EU4Energy project (phase II), brought together Georgian stakeholders for the Workshop to discuss establishing a conducive renewables legal framework.

On 7 December, representatives of USAID regional offices based in the Contracting Parties visited the premises of the Energy Community Secretariat. The USAID delegation was led by Lisa Magno, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator, Europe and Eurasia Bureau. The meeting focused on further integration of the power markets in the Energy Community and the emergency support provided to Ukraine, as well as support to other Contracting Parties in modernizing their energy sectors in line with the acquis communautaire and the European Green Deal.