Al Jazeera Business Energy market of the region
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Is the region moving toward common energy market? What are the resources
and what are the potentials. We looked for answers on Ohrid conference
dedicated to energy. I'm Dusan Hadzinikolic, take a look whether legislative
concerning renewable energy sources is harmonized with EU
Welcome to Aljazeera Business, I'm Jakov Avram. The road of regional countries
toward EU membership, depends on their energy sectors
They have signed Convention of energy community and are obliged to
execute its directives, which have become a hurdle,
in relations of certain governments and Brussels. BiH was issued
sanctions, something which is likely for Serbia too, if Belgrade
in timely manner doesn't make necessary steps.
By the end of the last month GIZ in area of energy efficiency,
has organized summer school of energy in Macedonian city of Ohrid
To students from the region and beyond, european trends were presented.
in this sector, and there was talk about energy potential and perspective of western Balkans.
This region, regarding electric energy, was always part of Europe.
Even during old Yugoslavia, it was connected, it cooperated with rest of Europe.
and it represented a bridge to Greece, Bulgaria, Romania.
So it's naturally a part of Europe.
On territory of old Yugoslavia, infrastructure and system electro potential
is very good. What's it about? electro energy system was built in order
to be complementary. One country, one system. Therefor, today we have
a situation with separate countries and electro energy systems
but connectivity between different energy systems is excelent
due to fact of previous connections. There is this hydrologic potential
but it's more less max utilized, and any further utilization would
require construction of huge power stations, which is not realistic
so i don't see any large potential in that, eventhough the projects are
always very ambitious. Since, i'm head of the Gas department, i root for
production of electricity from natural gas. Since gas will become cheaper
and that could be a transitional solution. Our region will have potential
in renewable energy sources, but not in first generation, but in some better sources.
where energy could really be way more cheaper, and then our region
produce whether from sun or wind.. But I think that old model of energy production
we should start forgeting, the large hydro plants, something which
Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro are basing their energy production.
All countries in the region are part of the common electro and gas market
Not all are on same level of competition, and rules of that market.
BiH doesnt have gas law, no competition in gas offers. No rules at all
Consumers are pray of monopolists. The situation is same in Serbia.
Eventhough Serbia has imported advanced EU legislative, it's not
implementing it. We can reccomend sanctions, as in case of BiH
for now we haven't reccomended them in any other case
although Serbia is close to sanctions, for not observing gas regulations
Situation in Macedonia is a lil bit better, regarding competition
other regional countries don't have gas. Regarding electric energy
i must say that competition is most developed in Serbia
it is well developed in Macedonia, partly in BiH
It's awakening in Kosovo and Albania, i didn't mention Montenegro
which is most advanced in importing EU rules, they don't have a single offence
but since it's very small, the market is not so developed.
Situation will change in 2019/2020, when undersea cable will reach Montenegro from Italy
which will change the the whole energy market in entire region.
It is always to difersify your energy sources, if you want to stabilize away
from Russia, and to have a better negotiating position.
I don't think that relations with Russia should be strained
There's a preassure in Russia to open up the gas market and make it available to other producers
I'm certain that will happen, President Putin will allow it one day
You will have diversification of supply sources even from Russia
that will be one country but different gas producers.
It's always good to have plan A and plan B
I think that energy sector in our region has a bright future
All our countries strive to become EU members soon
so it's expected of us to observe the goals set by the EU
what we can use is the fact that energy sector will create jobs
not just relating to new technologies, energy efficiency
it won't be jobs only for engineers, but for other fields, e.g. economy and law
what's also good is that energy sector will be major player
in changes relating to environment protection and climate change
apart from social part, and jobs, there's the environment aspect