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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

Belarus says it has postponed the full launch of the first reactor at its Ostrovets nuclear power plant by two years

Belarus has postponed the full launch of the first reactor at its Ostrovets (aka Astravets) nuclear power plant by two years until 2022.

Azerbaijan accuses Armenia of attempted cluster rocket attack on oil and gas pipelines

Yerevan calls Baku’s claim “outright lies”. Markets nervous successful strike could wreck plan to export Azerbaijani oil to European Union from November.

Turkey’s bid to join EU now further away from success than ever says Commission

In hard-hitting report, bloc’s executive slams Ankara’s treatment of economy, democracy and judiciary. Lira slips, partly also on reports that Turks are readying to test Russian missiles.

Lithuanian energy firm Ignitis announces guidance on IPO pricing at €22.5 per share

Are the Caucasus energy assets in danger from a war in Nagorno-Karabakh?

Fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh is escalating. Are the numerous pipelines and oil and gas fields in danger of getting caught up in the fighting?

Poland to close coal mines by 2049, miners and government agree

Poland’s last two coal mines will cease operations in 2049, according to an agreement reached by the country’s powerful mining unions and the right-wing populist government.

Iran’s oil minister openly admits forging export documents to dodge US sanctions

Tanker tracking companies, meanwhile, see September surge in Iranian crude shipments with one describing “levels we haven’t seen in a year and a half”.

“Hiding its failures” has become “crucial” for Turkey’s Erdogan “autocracy” says Carnegie analyst

Polish miners escalate protests as restructuring talks with government stall

Warsaw has proposed that coal’s share in electricity generation will fall to 37-56% in 2030 and then to just 11-28% in 2040. Miners flatly reject the plan.

Iran says it flew drone over US carrier, releases 'surveillance photos’

Europe gains ground in new generation of battery innovation

Innovation in electric batteries is central to electromobility and the transition to the green economy, but European firms have so far lagged behind their peers from East Asia.

Lithuania's bullish Ignitis Grupe sets IPO price range valuing company at up to €2.1bn

State-run energy group has set a price range of €22.5-€28 for its shares and global depository receipts for the upcoming IPO in Vilnius and London.

Sberbank starts taking climate risk seriously

Russia’s Sberbank has set out its climate agenda, which aims to reduce the bank’s carbon footprint and put climate risk at the top of its investment strategy.

Turkey takes assertive role in Caucasus conflict

The shift is motivated in part by energy considerations and in part by nationalist politics.

Warmer climate to have positive impact on Czech economy says Deloitte study

Agriculture to suffer but other sectors would benefit, as temperatures in Czechia are set to continue rising faster than the global average.

EU’s relationship with Turkey has reached “watershed moment” says foreign policy chief Borrell

Remarks to European Parliament come as bloc moves towards possible imposition of sanctions on Ankara over east Mediterranean drilling rights dispute.

Poland’s mining unions threaten strikes over decarbonisation plans

Polish mines will go on strike unless a deal is reached over Poland’s path to reduce the use of coal in its power sector, the country’s powerful mining unions said on September 14.

Macron draws wrath of Erdogan after ‘attempt at driving wedge’ between Turkey’s people and leader

Turkish president tells French counterpart “not to mess” with his country, adding “you’re going to have more problems with me”.