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Western Balkans plus Ukraine subsidised coal with over €900mn in 2018-2019
Energy Community report warns coal subsidies significantly distort energy markets including in Western Balkan EU accession countries.
Mongolian coal exports to China paralysed as Beijing demands virus testing of truck drivers
State budget exposed to significant pressure if situation not remedied quickly. Mongolia in lockdown following recording of first Covid community transmissions.
Persuade, invade, blockade: what is Beijing's best strategy to reunify Taiwan?
Beijing's options for reclaiming control of Taiwan discussed.
Israel out to provoke war in dying days of Trump says Khamenei’s adviser after assassination of Iran’s nuclear mastermind
Tehran sees killing as effort to derail Biden’s move for diplomacy.
Tehran says foreign companies ‘in touch to explore Iran return in Biden era’
Tony Blinken, nominated by US president-elect to serve as his secretary of state, is an outspoken proponent of the nuclear deal. If Washington rejoins the accord, heavy sanctions on the Iranians would be lifted.
Romania gets approval from EC for $8bn nuclear plant expansion
Project to include construction of Units 3 and 4 at the Cernavoda power plant and refurbishment of Unit 1.
Rosatom's €12.5bn nuclear plant expansion in Hungary moves forward
Hungary's energy regulator MEKH issued an electricity implementation licence for the construction of two new blocks at the Paks nuclear power plant in a fast-track procedure.
Turkey under renewed pressure from EU over Cyprus and gas exploration
Erdogan’s visit to breakaway north of Cyprus, described by Nicosia as “provocative and illegal”, has widened rift between bloc and Ankara.
Iran admits centrifuge move that raises fears of Trump strike
Iranian foreign minister, meanwhile, suggests Biden could swiftly return US to nuclear deal by simply signing “three executive orders”.
Russian petrochemical major Sibur spearheads digital transformation
Russian petrochemical major Sibur told East-West Digital News it has developed a technology which allows high-precision modelling of physicochemical processes in petrochemical production.
Kazatomprom resumes activities at all Kazakhstan mining operations
Pandemic restrictions thought to have cut 2020 uranium production by around 17.5%.
Novak steps down as Russian Energy Minister after eight-year stint
Russia’s long-serving Energy Minister Alexander Novak is stepping down after eight years in the position, as part of the country's second Cabinet reshuffle this year. He will become a Deputy Prime Minister
Will Turkey and Greece fight a war over East Mediterranean gas?
Turkey and Greece appear to be headed towards conflict over gas rights in the Eastern Mediterranean. This article reviews how four disputes between the countries interconnect and influence each other, and suggests likely outcomes.
French Orano to join $8bn nuclear power plant expansion project in Romania
France will be involved, together with the US and Canada, in the construction of two new reactors at Cernavoda under an $8bn project.
Engineering company ‘now paying back wages’ after thousands of Uzbek workers storm and ransack admin building
Anger and frustration reportedly spilled over when jammed door meant no access to work site cafeteria.
CEZ approves sale of Romanian assets to Macquarie
The transfer of assets from Romania is part of the Czech utility's strategy of divesting selected assets from certain countries.
Poland signs nuclear power development agreement with US
Warsaw plans to build as many as six reactors by the early 2040s in a decisive step towards decarbonisation of the emissions-heavy energy sector.
Turkey raises estimate of its ‘giant gas discovery’ but sceptics aren’t buying story on evidence so far
Analyst points out that as Turkish national oil co has gone it alone in exploration, there's “no witness” to back up claims reserves are a “game-changer”. Notes gas find is “a feel-good domestic story to sell in troubled times”.
Poland, Russia heading for long-running legal dispute over Nord Stream 2
Poland and Russia look set for a lengthy and arduous legal dispute, after Polish antimonopoly watchdog UOKiK last week slapped Kremlin-run gas supplier Gazprom with a $7.6bn fine for going ahead with the Nord Stream 2 pipeline without its consent
Independent director at Naftogaz resigns over opposition to reforms
US businessman and former diplomat Amos Hochstein has resigned as an independent director on the supervisory board of Ukrainian national gas company Naftogaz, complaining of opposition to reforms and of political interference
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