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German foreign minister tells Tillerson US Russia sanctions rattle EU
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel met for the third time with his counterpart Rex Tillerson on August 29, reportedly reiterating to the US Secretary...
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Snubbing Turkey, Italy’s ENI will drill off Cyprus
Italian energy major ENI’s bold announcement that it will start a drilling programme in November offshore Cyprus, which not only involves blocks 3 and...
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US’ Russia sanctions undercut Gazprom’s Ukraine tariffs
The new US sanctions against Russia reportedly create the risk of weakening Russian gas monopoly Gazprom’s position in talks with Ukraine on tariffs for...
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All eyes on Turkey as Total-ENI vessel readied to drill offshore Cyprus
ATHENS – As the West Capella drilling vessel, contracted by France’s Total in association with Italy’s ENI, is about to start drilling at Block...
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Turkish Stream eyes Balkan gas market, East Med hinges on prices
VOULIAGMENI, Athens – Gazprom is looking to supply the Balkans with Russian gas via Turkish Stream after 2019 when the contract with Ukraine expires,...
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Russia takes pass on Qatar conflict with Arab neighbours
MOSCOW – Russia, which has called for dialogue to tackle the political rift in the Arab world over Qatar, will not take sides in...
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Turkey’s energy hub hopes hinge on market liberalisation
BELGRADE – Turkey is very well positioned to be a regional energy hub because of its geographical location and strong market but the government...
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ISIL’s cross-border oil smuggling days are over
BRATISLAVA – ISIL’s ability to smuggle oil across the Iraqi border and finance its jihadist activities from oil revenue has almost stopped, a German...
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OPEC, non-OPEC extend oil cut as cooperation with Russia improves
VIENNA - In an effort to reduce a global crude oil glut and boost prices, Members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and...
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US calls for relaxing Gazprom’s stranglehold on EU market
ATHENS – Several key energy projects currently underway in Greece will bring significant quantities of non-Russian gas to Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, and other regional...
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Iran election not to jeopardise nuclear deal, affect oil prices
When Iranians vote to elect a new president on May 19, traders and Mideast observers will be watching, but it is unlikely that Tehran,...
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Oversupply fears push oil prices to five-month lows
Fears of oversupply pushed oil prices to five-month lows on May 5 despite signals that Russia is ready to join the Organization of Petroleum...
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Trump signs order on oil drilling but market is skeptical
As he approaches his first 100 days in office, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on April 28 that could lead to...
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EU-Turkey energy partnership to continue after referendum
Even though a tightly contested referendum granting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wide new powers after a major overhaul of the country’s political system...
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Cyprus inks major deals with foreign energy giants
France’s Total, Italy’s ENI, US ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum signed agreements in Nicosia this week to explore and produce hydrocarbons offshore Cyprus. Total signed...
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Russia, Finland, Iceland warm up to Arctic cooperation
Arctic countries gathered in Arkhangelsk, Russia, to discuss current issues relating to the region. Russian President Vladimir Putin with his Finnish and Icelandic counterparts...
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US, NATO could play a role in East Med energy security
DELPHI, Greece - The United States and NATO will need to have a military presence in the East Mediterranean to protect the energy resources...
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Gazprom and the European Commission: What’s next?
After lengthy negotiations, the European Commission and Russian gas monopoly Gazprom have agreed on a list of commitments, which the Commission expects will most...
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US backs Greece’s efforts to build EU energy connections
DELPHI, Greece - The United States strongly supports Greece’s efforts to build its energy connections with Europe, US Ambassador to Athens Geoffrey Pyatt told...
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Romania’s Cluj capitalises on Smart City energy
The largest city of Transylvania, Cluj-Napoca, is trying to attract investors with the help of EU funds to become smarter, Emil Boc, the city’s...
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EU hesitation puts Arctic plans on ice
BRUSSELS – The European Union needs to play an active role in the Arctic instead of simply observing the developments in the region, European...
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Russian gas line through Ukraine EU peace pipe?
BRUSSELS - The Russian gas transit across Ukraine to Europe and business ties between Moscow and Kiev could ultimately help restore peace between Ukraine...
Albania
Ambassador Pyatt says US wants EU energy deal to block Russia
ATHENS – The United States will continue to work with the European Union to promote diversification of energy supplies and lessen dependence on Russia,...
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Total eyes EU hydrocarbon exports from Cyprus, Greece
Total is reportedly preparing to make an exploratory marine drilling off Cyprus. The French energy major is also in talks with the Greek government...
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Russia’s Federation Council to rubberstamp Turkish Stream
A project spearheaded by Russian gas monopoly Gazprom to supply with gas the lucrative Turkish market and possibly Europe could be rubberstamped by Russia’s...
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Exxon keeps Russian Arctic assets frozen with an eye on Tillerson
Only a week to go until Donald Trump officially becomes US President, pundits are still trying to predict the policies of his administration, including...
Energy
Eight years later, Obama bars Arctic oil, gas leasing
In a move to build and possibly preserve his environmental legacy, US President Barack Obama has put an "indefinite" ban on oil and gas...
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EU Clean Energy aims to reduce fossil fuels
STRASBOURG – The clean energy package that was discussed at the European Parliament in Strasbourg today will focus on renewables and modern technologies, European...
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Russia to construct first gas pipe to Turkey, mulls second line to EU
Russian gas monopoly Gazprom moved ahead with plans to build the Turkish Stream gas pipeline with the first line to Turkey to be constructed...
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Greece, Cyprus, Israel examine East Med gas exports to EU
ATHENS - On December 8, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will participate in a trilateral summit between Greece, Cyprus and Israel in Jerusalem to...
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EU needs small and medium-sized renewable energy projects
ATHENS - Despite pledges of US President-elect Donald Trump to ease regulations for oil and coal and abandon climate change obligations, Europe is forging...
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Arrest of Russia’s top economic official highlights power struggle
Russia’s Economic Development Minister Alexey Ulyukayev was detained earlier this week on suspicion of taking a $2 million bribe that allowed Russian oil giant...
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Anti-OPEC Trump wild card for oil prices
Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election means his administration is likely to focus on domestic oil projects, leading to a prolonged period...
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Low gas prices clog pipeline projects, EastMed’s Leviathan
ATHENS – Low gas prices have a limited effect on the planning of major pipeline projects, including plans to export gas from the East...
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Israel-Turkish pipeline hinges on Cyprus issue solution
ATHENS – The rapprochement between Tel Aviv and Ankara will give fresh impetus to a pipeline from Israel to Turkey, experts told New Europe...
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Russian NPP strives to connect Central-East Europe’s energy markets
Russia said a nuclear power plant that is being prepared for the resumption of the active phase of construction in Kaliningrad could connect Central...
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EU discusses nuclear security issues, stress tests at Ostrovets NPP
A European Commission delegation visited the Belarusian nuclear power plant in Ostrovets where they discussed security questions and stress tests of NPPs. The plant...
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Russia, Saudi Arabia agree oil production freeze as Iran says will boost output
Iran plans to increase its own oil output to pre-sanctions levels in the next few months. National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Director for International...
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Cyprus-Egypt pipe deal opens door for East Med gas
Cyprus has signed a deal to build a pipeline to supply Egypt with natural gas once production starts from the Aphrodite field located offshore...
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Saudi Arabia in a proxy war with Iran, Russia
Given the level of mistrust among Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, it is unlikely that OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, including Russia, will reach...
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Ukraine Court rebuffs Gazprom fine appeal
The Supreme Economic Court of Ukraine on July 13 reportedly dismissed Gazprom’s appeal against a $3.4 billion fine. In January, Ukraine’s Antimonopoly Committee (AMCU)...
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Slovak Presidency to promote Energy Union, low carbon emissions
ATHENS – Slovakia, which kicked off its six-month presidency of the European Union on July 1, will push for the implementation of the EU...
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Energy hopes, US drive renewed Turkey, Israel relations
THESSALONIKI - The restoration of diplomatic ties between Turkey and Israel after a six-year break creates fresh impetus for regional alliances in the exploration,...
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Russia dreams no EU gas war, pipelines to Germany, Italy
LAGONISSI, Greece – Moscow hopes to overcome European Commission’s objections to Gazprom’s plans to construct Nord Stream 2 from Russia to Germany and to...
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Trump to OPEC, Russia: Drop Dead or The Big Chillary
The outcome of the US general election this November could affect Washington’s energy policy and relations with Russia. Presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump’s slogan...
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US company boosts East Med’s Israel-Cyprus-Greece-EU pipeline
ATHENS - Plans to build the East-Med pipeline, which could transport up to 16 billion cubic metres from the offshore gas reserves in the...
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Finland nuke plant plans forge ahead with Russian reactor
MOSCOW - Three weeks after visiting the site of the future Hanhikivi 1 nuclear power plant near the remote small municipality of Pyhäjoki in...
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In Athens, Putin puts the full court press on EU
ATHENS – Russian President Vladimir Putin landed with a one-and-a-half hour delay in Greece on Friday, May 27, for a two-day visit aimed to boost...
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Walking the line, Greece backs dueling EU pipelines
ATHENS – Greece continues to view positively plans by DEPA, Edison and Gazprom to revive the IGI Poseidon pipeline to transport Russian gas across...
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Finland chills to Russian gas, will connect to EU
HELSINKI – Russia gas supplies to Finland have never been interrupted and the two countries share close relations but the Scandinavian country is planning to...
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