On November 26th, 2018, the Ministry of Energy of Poland presented the Polish Energy Policy until 2040 which identifies nuclear energy as one of the development priorities in connection with the requirement to abandon the use of coal and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions imposed by the EU within the framework of the EU-wide policy to combat climate change.

The document foresees decline in the share of coal-fired power generation in Poland by 50% in 2030 and by 22% in 2040 (coal-fired power generation currently stands at 80-84%). 

On December 20th, 2018 the summit of the Mediterranean countries of Israel, Greece and Cyprus was held in Beersheba (Israel). The main theme of the deliberations among the heads of the three states was the development of energy cooperation between the countries and the demonstration of support to Cyprus in its right to develop hydrocarbon production in its Exclusive Economic Zone.

In November 2018, after the completion of the construction of Russia’s maritime part of the first branch of the “Turkish Stream” pipeline, the Bulgarian government announced the start of construction works on the “Balkan gas hub”. On November 30th, the Bulgarian Parliament voted to include the “Balkan gas hub” project in a new version of “Bulgaria’s Energy Strategy 2020”.

On November 14th, 2018, the US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry’s official visit to Hungary was held in the framework of a series of visits to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (Poland, Ukraine, Czech Republic)

We are pleased to share our knowledge not only within professional community, but also on the pages of the corporate magazine “Energy Partner”, the first issue of which examined the real level of US financial participation in the global “green economy”, analyzed the issues of concerns of the gas distribution industry in Ukraine, reviewed markets promising for investment in renewable energy, considered the role of natural gas in relations between Russia and the European Union, etc. The magazine is available to our clients and partners in printed publications and online.

The announcement by Saudi Arabia of the creation of a new oil cartel Russia – OPEC+ confirms the intentions of both parties to control the world oil price over the long-term period of time. At the same time, referring to the political weight and military power of the Russian Federation in the world, Riyadh demonstrates readiness to concede a leading position in the new organization to Russia.

Avoiding the impending crisis in the gas distribution industry is possible by establishing on behalf of Ukrainian regulator an objective tariff for gas distribution or a gradual planned reduction of gas distribution networks.

On September 24th, 2018, in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, EU Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini announced the European Commission’s decision to create a “special financial instrument” to support trade operations with Iran. Introduction of the “special financial instrument” for Iran by the European Union could lead to an aggravation of the geopolitical confrontation between Washington and Brussels.

Poland is striving to strengthen its role within the framework of the European energy project «Northern Gas Corridor» (which foresees strengthening cooperation in the energy industry between the states of the Carpathian and Baltic regions). This is evidenced by the results of the conferences of the «Baltic Gas Pipeline» project.