Energy

Electricity bills are truly unique phenomena for the market (heavily state-controlled) – grid access surcharge, electricity distribution surcharge, green energy surcharge, etc. Unique because I have not noticed in my receipt at the hairdresser that there is access to a beauty salon, a hairdryer surcharge, or “unreimbursed shampoo costs” (yes, and …

With its decision on April 4 to adopt amendments to the Energy Law in the first reading in parliament, Bulgaria has proven in practice that it is trying to be Russia's "Trojan horse" in the European Union. The changes to the energy legislation effectively remove Bulgaria's obligations to comply with Directive 2009/73/EC...

As the world watches with rapture the unconventional oil and gas revolution in the United States, the largest crude oil producer, Russia, is looking for ways to increase its energy production capacity and maintain its leading position in the market. After more than 6 years of refusing to accept that unconventional …

For the past ten days, all eyes have been on Ukraine. And while the media has been discussing various political issues at length – the claims to power of the president who fled the country, the various moves of the opposition that took power, and the very real possibility that Crimea could secede from Kiev and (possibly) return to …

Very soon we can expect green energy producers to join the wave of protests against the government. Earlier this week, the parliament's budget committee proposed that revenues from the sale of energy from renewable energy sources (RES) be taxed at a 20% fee. The idea of the fee is included in the draft …

Electricity and gas prices in the UK are expected to rise by 8-9% over the winter season. From the apocalyptic picture that the British media is trying to paint, one might be left with the impression that we are talking about some developing country whose energy supplies are monopolized by Russia. Let's see...

During my meeting with Ibrahim Al Muhanna, the chief advisor to the Saudi Arabian oil minister, I noticed that the book on his desk was “The Quest” by one of the great energy analysts, Daniel Yergin. His spacey discussion of hot topics in global energy is often …

A song sang that “the revolution will not be broadcast on television” (la revolucion no se televisara), but last week we saw Bulgaria losing its sovereignty on television. In a festive atmosphere and high spirits, Alexey Miller, the CEO of Gazprom, and the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Plamen Oresharski, …

The media loves to overexpose events attended by the leaders of major oil and gas producers. Geopolitics, spheres of influence and interests are immediately discussed. The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) summit in early July was no exception. Once again, the thesis that gas producers are aiming …

Why are things not working out in the energy sector? Politicians have all the leverage to control the industry, but in practice they systematically make the wrong decisions. The usual excuse is a lack of sufficient control over the sector. The political decision-making process has inherent defects that stand out when compared to the free market, which by its very nature …