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Slovenia’s sole coal-fired power plant Šoštanj to keep main unit offline until fall

As of this year, Slovenia’s only coal-fired power plant, Termoelektrarna Šoštanj (TEŠ), has shifted its primary focus to supplying heat, with electricity now sold as a byproduct. The ongoing overhaul of its unit 6 is expected to be completed in the coming days, but the 600 MW block will not be restarted until the end of September, when demand for heat is set to rise.

As part of the coal-phaseout process, targeted for completion in 2033, the Government of Slovenia decided last year to set aside EUR 403 million to save TEŠ and coal mine Velenje from bankruptcy and take over both from state-owned power utility Holding Slovenske Elektrarne (HSE).

TEŠ hopes the fall months will drive revenues

TEŠ hopes that the fall months will enable it to meet this year’s revenue target, as the operation of unit 6 is unprofitable in the summer due to low market prices for electricity and reduced demand for heat. This year, the power plant aims to earn EUR 400 million from the sale of heat and electricity.

Apart from unit 6, TEŠ operates only one other coal-fired generator, unit 5, with a capacity of 345 MW, while its first four blocks have been shut down.

The changed circumstances have been challenging for TEŠ, according to its CEO, Branko Debeljak. As HSE no longer sells TEŠ’s electricity, the plant had to set up its own sales department and seek customers on the market. Even so, the first four months of 2025 were quite successful when it comes to electricity sales, says Debeljak. The plant sold 1,045 GWh of electricity, generating revenues of EUR 138 million, or EUR 29 million more than initially planned, according to him.

The overhaul of unit 6 began in April

The overhaul of unit 6 began on April 22 and was expected to be completed by June 20. However, due to delays in the delivery of components, it had to be extended until early July. The completion of the overhaul will be followed by a short trial run, and a restart is planned at the end of September when the need for heat supply is set to rise again.

Slovenia aims at a 55% drop in emissions by 2033, and an early closure of its only coal-fired plant could help achieve that target. It seems likely that TEŠ will be shut down within a few years or operate at minimum capacity.

In June, Ireland’s Moneypoint power plant stopped burning coal, marking the end of coal use in the country. Slovakia and Spain officially intend to exit coal in 2025, followed by Greece (2026), France and Hungary (2027), and Denmark and Italy (2028). However, the dates could be pushed forward, and more countries could join the group in the meantime.

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Clean energy, grid upgrade projects in Western Balkans to be backed under EU’s Growth Plan

The European Commission has proposed the first support package, of EUR 87.7 million, under the European Union’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, to help implement EUR 487.3 million worth of hydropower, solar district heating, and grid modernization projects in Albania, Montenegro, and Serbia. The package was announced following a high-level meeting between European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and Western Balkan partners in North Macedonia’s capital, Skopje.

The package, funded from the EUR 6 billion Reform and Growth Facility (RGF), set up under the Growth Plan, will be rolled out through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF). The proposal was made to the WBIF Operational Board, according to a press release from the commission.

The eight proposed projects include building a new generation unit and upgrading existing ones at Serbia’s Potpeć hydropower plant, which would increase its annual production to 236 GWh while reducing CO2 emissions. The investment is valued at EUR 72.1 million, with the RGF support amounting to EUR 15.8 million. The project is targeted for completion in 2030, according to the commission’s fact sheet.

Serbia could get support for introducing solar energy in district heating

The other project in Serbia is the construction of a 31 MW solar-thermal plant and 17 MW heat pump in Novi Sad, which will introduce renewable energy sources to the district heating system. The project would cost a total of EUR 114.3 million, with the RGF support at EUR 25 million. The targeted completion date is 2028.

In Montenegro, the package would support three projects. The first is an EUR 18.3 million investment in building a 38-kilometer 110kV overhead transmission line between Vilusi and Herceg Novi, aimed at increasing transmission capacity and reducing energy losses. It would receive EUR 3.1 million from the RGF.

The EU plans to back Montenegro’s SCADA roll-out

The second project in Montenegro is the introduction of SCADA in the power distribution system, estimated at EUR 26.5 million, with the proposed RGF support of EUR 5 million. The third one is a planned upgrade of the Brezna substation on the Trans-Balkan Electricity Corridor. The EUR 35.6 million investment would be backed with EUR 6.3 million from the RGF.

Albania plans to digitalize its transmission network in EUR 64.2 million project

The support package also includes Albania’s EUR 95.3 million investment in upgrading the Fierza hydropower plant, aimed at increasing its capacity by 10% and extending its lifespan by at least 30 years. The support from the RGF would amount to EUR 10.5 million. The other project to be supported in Albania is the EUR 64.2 million digitalization of the transmission network, which would receive 13.6 million from the RGF.

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Croatia confirms major geothermal resource for district heating

The Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency’s exploratory activities at a preliminary exploration site in Velika Gorica have confirmed significant geothermal potential. The output from this single geothermal well could meet nearly 60% of the thermal energy needs of the city’s district heating system, the agency said.

The recorded reservoir temperature exceeds 100 degrees Celsius, and the well’s capacity meets the projected targets in full, the agency stated. The exploratory activities in Velika Gorica are part of a wider project to develop geothermal potential for district heating in Croatia, covering six cities.

To fully realize the geothermal system’s potential for district heating in Velika Gorica, a second well is planned. This would create a so-called production-injection pair, allowing for the continuous and safe use of this natural resource, the agency said.

A second well is planned in Velika Gorica to fully utilize the geothermal potential

In addition to its application in district heating, the geothermal potential in the Velika Gorica area also holds promise for agricultural production, it added.

“This is one of the first concrete steps in the use of geothermal energy for heating in continental Croatia. The project is financed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), and the works were carried out by CROSCO, a member of the INA Group,” the agency said.

The project to explore the geothermal potential in six cities – Vinkovci, Vukovar, Osijek, Sisak, Zaprešić, and Velika Gorica – was launched earlier this year, with a total budget of EUR 50 million. The agency plans to complete the project and determine the geothermal energy potential for all six cities by June next year.

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Serbia secures EUR 50 million loan for air quality projects

The Government of Serbia has secured a EUR 50 million loan to fund a series of air quality projects across several cities. The funds will primarily go towards replacing coal- and fuel oil-fired boiler rooms in six cities.

For years, air pollution has been one of the biggest environmental issues in Serbia.

Minister of Environmental Protection Sara Pavkov and First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Siniša Mali have signed two agreements with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which will soon lead to significant investments in air protection projects in multiple Serbian cities, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said.

Mali signed a EUR 50 million loan agreement, while Pavkov inked the project agreement. On behalf of the bank, both documents were signed by Matteo Colangeli, EBRD Regional Head of the Western Balkans.

EUR 50 million will be invested in cities with the highest levels of harmful emissions

Pavkov noted that based on these agreements, EUR 50 million would be invested in cities mapped as those with the largest excesses of harmful emissions. This is good news for residents of Belgrade, Niš, Valjevo, Zaječar, Novi Pazar, and Smederevo, where the projects will be implemented, she added.

In these cities, old, outdated boilers running on fuel oil, coal, and other fuels with an adverse impact on air quality will be replaced. Modern and sustainable heat energy sources, such as heat pumps, biomass, and industrial waste heat, will be installed, she stressed.

The projects will also include, where possible, connection to district heating systems or natural gas networks.

An air protection law is in the process of adoption

“These projects are the culmination of years of work. We have entered a phase where we can expect the launch of construction and intensification of the efforts for cleaner air, which remains one of our top priorities,” Pavkov stressed.

She recalled that an EBRD loan had helped replace 50-year-old coal boilers with state-of-the-art gas boilers at the Kragujevac district heating plant. The second phase, the remediation of the ash landfill, has also begun, she added.

From 2021 to 2024, the ministry has implemented projects to replace 169 boiler rooms in public institutions across 76 local authorities, according to Pavkov.

Under a public call, funds have been allocated for projects in 18 municipalities in 2025, with another call currently underway. An air protection bill is now before the National Assembly, intended to provide a new overarching framework and fresh momentum in the fight for better air quality, Pavkov noted.

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World’s largest sand battery commissioned in Finland

The world’s first industrial-scale sand battery has been commissioned in Pornainen, Finland. It will use surplus renewable energy to generate heat, which will then be supplied to the local district heating network.

The sand battery, which delivers one megawatt of thermal energy and has a storage capacity of 100 megawatt-hours, was installed for the district heating system in the municipality of Pornainen, operated by Loviisan Lämpö.

A sand battery is a high-temperature thermal energy storage system, first developed by the start-up Polar Night Energy.

Finding ways to store energy from variable renewable sources is one of the biggest challenges of the energy transition. In the case of the battery developed by Polar Night Energy, the storage medium is sand or alternative sand-like materials.

The battery uses renewable electricity to power a heater, which then blows hot air into the sand. The sand is heated to between 500 and 600 degrees Celsius and retains that heat. The stored energy can be used for district heating, but also for industrial processes.

A prototype of the battery was installed in 2022 at the Valkeakoski power plant in the town of Kankaanpää, Finland. The new battery in Pornainen is ten times larger than the prototype and represents the first industrial-scale implementation of this technology.

It is 13 meters high and 15 meters wide, filled with 2,000 tons of crushed soapstone, a by-product from the production of fireplaces by Finnish company Tulikivi. During winter, the battery can cover heating needs for about a week.

Emissions in the district heating sector will be reduced by 70% thanks to the battery

“The Sand Battery means a lot to Loviisan Lämpö. It allows us to drastically reduce our emissions and improve the reliability of heat production,” says Mikko Paajanen, CEO of Loviisan Lämpö.

The company aims to become climate-neutral by 2035, and the battery will help it cut emissions by 160 tons of CO₂ equivalent – a reduction of nearly 70% in the district heating sector.

Thanks to the battery, the company will stop using oil for district heating completely, while the consumption of wood chips will be reduced by about 60%. A biomass boiler will be used as a backup during periods of peak demand, the company said.

“This project is a powerful example that effective solutions for mitigating climate change do exist. Loviisan Lämpö is a great example of a company bold enough to invest in new technologies,” says Liisa Naskali, Chief Operating Officer of Polar Night Energy.

Sand battery stabilizes the power grid and contributes to the circular economy

Advancing the circular economy and energy transition requires cross-sectoral cooperation, which the sand battery clearly demonstrates. It is not just a heat storage system – it’s a tool for grid balancing, emissions reduction, smart energy management, and better resource use.

A key factor in the sand battery’s cost-effectiveness lies in optimizing its operation according to electricity prices set by Finnish grid operator Fingrid. In this way, the battery also contributes to the stability of the power grid, which is essential for the further development of wind and solar power.

Thanks to its large storage capacity, the system enables optimization of electricity use over several days, or even weeks.

The thermal storage material in sand batteries can include by-products from industrial or mining processes, avoiding the exploitation of natural resources.

Polar Night Energy is currently in talks with partners in Finland and abroad about new projects. Earlier this year, it announced a pilot project in Valkeakoski to explore the possibility of converting stored heat back into electricity.

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Greece plans six waste-to-energy plants, set to meet EU landfilling limits

Large Greek companies, interested in the construction and operation of waste incinerators producing electricity and heat, are waiting for the government to complete the legal framework and launch tenders. Without the six planned facilities and accompanying infrastructure, the country would substantially lag behind the European Union’s targets for lowering the share of landfilled material.

Greece is transforming its waste management sector – dozens of units mechanically treating the material to feed six incinerators, covering all the regions. The Ministry of Environment and Energy is about to complete a strategic environmental assessment (SEA), after which its plan is to adopt a legal framework, before the end of the year.

Following a public consultation process, the general parameters would be determined including the details of a tender for the waste-to-energy plants. They are valued at EUR 1 billion in total. State-controlled Public Power Corp. (PPC or, in Greek, DEI) has expressed interest in entering the sector, alongside the conglomerates GEK Terna and Metlen, construction company Aktor, oil refinery operator Motor Oil and water, wastewater and waste processing operator Mesogeos.

The ministry intends to complete the competitive process in 2026, followed by a three-year construction period. The Greek media learned that public-private partnership is a favorable model for the investments.

At least two of six plants would provide district heating

In the central scenario, an incinerator in the Rhodope area would serve the wider region of East Macedonia and Thrace. One would be in Kozani, a coal region, for Central and Western Macedonia, Epirus, Thessaly and Corfu.

The government envisaged a unit in the Peloponnese to cover Western Greece, the Peloponnese peninsula itself and the Ionian Sea, excluding Corfu. One waste-to-energy plant is planned in Boeotia (Viotia), covering parts of Central Greece and the western part of Attica.

The waste incinerator in Kozani is likely to be built in the vicinity of Ptolemaida 5, Greece’s last coal power plant

In the same peninsula, where Athens is situated, a unit would also get shipments of waste from the north Aegean islands, one section of the Cyclades archipelago and the Dodecanese. An incineration plant in Heraklion (Iraklio) would be for Crete, Santorini, Karpathos and Rhodes.

The combined annual capacity of the six units is projected at 1.19 million tons. The largest ones are the Attica project (356,000 tons) and the Kozani plant (288,000 tons). The latter, which would probably be located near PPC’s Ptolemaida 5 coal power plant, is also seen providing up to 40% of the district heating needs in the area. The investment is valued at EUR 300 million.

Ptolemaida 5 is scheduled to be closed at the end of next year, marking the completion of Greece’s coal phaseout. The waste incinerator in Boeotia would provide district heating as well, the plan reads.

System for energy recovery clings on construction of mechanical treatment units, waste separation

On the logistics side, there are 13 waste treatment units in operation in Greece and 25 are under construction. The ministry expects all units to be complete by 2029, to feed the incinerators.

The capacity amounts to 1.45 million tons per year altogether, of which 651,000 tons of waste would be processed into solid recovered fuel (SRF), which is of higher quality. The energy-intensive industry would absorb 150,000 tons. The development of the treatment system requires substantial infrastructure including the selection of municipal waste selection at the source.

Up to 651,000 tons of SRF is expected to be produced per year in the waste treatment facilities

The estimated electricity production from 1.19 million tons of waste is 1.03 TWh, equivalent to 2% of the country’s total consumption. Notably, 57.5% of the projected output is considered renewable energy, in line with the portion of biodegradable waste.

In the study, the options to deploy pyrolysis or gasification technologies were rejected. The authors argued they are not viable in Europe. It left incineration as the only option to recover energy from waste.

If the incinerators aren’t built, but the energy-intensive industry receives the same amount of SRF, 22.7% of waste would be landfilled in 2030, projections showed. The European Union’s target is 10%. The share of landfilled waste rises to 29.2% in the same scenario.

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Serbia shelves plan for strategic partnership for 1 GW in wind farms

Serbia has revised its Baselines of the Energy Infrastructure Development Plan and Energy Efficiency Measures for the period up to 2028, with projections up to 2030. It defines priority projects in the energy sector.

The Baselines of the Energy Infrastructure Development Plan and Energy Efficiency Measures were adopted in mid-2023 at the proposal of the Ministry of Mining and Energy. In the new document, the construction of 1 GW wind farms is no longer among the priority projects. The plan was to involve with a strategic partner, similar to the project for 1 GW of solar power plants, which is currently being developed by state-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) with a strategic partner.

The development plan serves as a basis for the implementation of Serbia’s Energy Development Strategy and the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP).

The ministry outlined projects across six sectors

The investment cycle planned for the upcoming strategic period represents the backbone of the Energy Development Strategy. It provides the foundation for further assessments and projections of the targeted energy mix through 2030 and 2050. It aligns with the international commitments undertaken in the process of European Union accession as well as with the obligations within the Energy Community, the document reads.

The plan includes projects in six sectors: electricity generation, transmission network, distribution network, natural gas, oil and petroleum products, and energy efficiency. It ranks the projects within each sector.

The most significant change in renewable energy is that the construction of wind farms with a combined capacity of 1 GW is no longer on the list of priority projects.

Solar power plants Kolubara and Morava on the priority list

The 1 GW of solar power and the Kostolac wind farm remained among the four most important endeavors, while the new items are the Morava and Kolubara photovoltaic projects. The Klenovnik solar power plant has been removed from the list. According to the document, the projects on the list are the most advanced.

In total, EPS has 41 projects for power generation or 20 less than in the original document.

Fewer projects, but more realistic

The authors explained that the number of renewable energy projects is lower, but more realistic and better optimized. The entire EPS investment portfolio across all areas requires significant funds and loans, so it would not be realistic to pursue a larger number of high-value projects that cannot be financially or physically implemented within a reasonable timeframe, the document underlined.

It was also taken into account that many private projects, mainly wind farms, are being developed through the auction system, so the focus of EPS’s projects is primarily on solar power plants, to create a balanced ratio between wind and solar power plants in the system. The company’s project for the wind farms with a strategic partner remained a backup option, in case an additional capacity is needed, according to the document.

There are new items on the list for the electricity distribution network

There were no changes in the transmission network segment. The priority projects are the third and fourth sections of the Trans-Balkan Corridor, the Pannonian Corridor, and Beogrid 2025. The list contains 66 investments, five fewer than in the original plan.

Changes have been made regarding investments in the power distribution network. The most important projects now are the 110/10 kV substations National Stadium and Surčin. Automation of the medium-voltage network was kept, together with the ongoing replacement of wooden poles with concrete ones and the replacement of electricity meters with smart ones.

The integrated system for remote monitoring, diagnostics, and control of the low-voltage distribution network has been removed from the list. Instead of replacing transformers at 10 kV, 20 kV, 35 kV, and 110 kV voltage levels, the new focus is on the reconstruction of 25 substations of 110/35 kV.

Planning the first district cooling systems

The energy efficiency part of the baselines was changed the most.

The previous document was primarily focused on reviewing and securing financial support for ongoing projects, while the current one is envisaging expanding the scope and considering new financial mechanisms and sectors that require additional support.

Among other initiatives, the Strategic Plan for the Decarbonization Policy of the District Heating and Cooling Sector in the Republic of Serbia is being prepared. It is a joint endeavour of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Association of Serbian Heating Plants, and the Ministry of Mining and Energy.

The project aims to define steps to improve the district heating system, including heat storage, the use of heat pumps, utilization of heat generated from waste treatment, and the development of the first district cooling systems, according to the document.

Special attention will be devoted to developing guidelines for expanding the district heating system by connecting new users while simultaneously shutting down fossil fuel boilers. It will directly contribute to reducing CO2 emissions and pollution, the authors noted.

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Slovenia keeps phasing out coal as key heating plant boosts natural gas share to 60%

TE-TOL, the main district heating provider in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, has taken over a newly built gas-steam unit, reducing the share of coal in heat generation to 20% and marking another step toward a complete coal phaseout in the country.

Slovenia’s official deadline for abandoning coal is 2033, although there are indications it might happen much sooner. In a step seen as the beginning of the country’s coal phaseout, the Government of Slovenia decided in December to provide EUR 403 million to save the Šoštanj coal power plant and coal mine Velenje from bankruptcy, announcing it would take over both entities from state-owned power utility Holding Slovenske Elektrarne (HSE).

Over the weekend, Srečko Trunkelj, deputy CEO of Energetika Ljubljana, a state-controlled energy company that operates TE-TOL, explained that heat production at the plant was previously based on 65% coal, 19% natural gas, and 16% wood biomass. “This structure has changed significantly, as we now use 20% coal, 60% natural gas, and 20% wood biomass,” Trunkelj said at a conference on Sunday, the Naš stik magazine reported.

The share of coal in heat production at TE-TOL has now dropped from 65% to 20%

Last week, the Greek contractor handed over the management of the new gas-steam unit to TE-TOL. “The […] plant is now under our management, with a three-year warranty period,” Energetika Ljubljana explained.

The new unit, called PPE-TOL, comprises two gas turbines, each with a nominal electrical power of 57 MW, and one steam turbine with 42 MW of nominal power. Officially, the facilities are still in a trial operation period until the company obtains a use permit. The new gas-steam unit is expected to begin regular operation in the coming heating season.

The new unit will also boost TE-TOL’s electricity output

The new unit will also enable TE-TOL to boost its electricity generation, making it the third-largest power producer in the country. It will provide around 8% of the country’s total electricity supply, Energetika CEO Samo Lozej said earlier. Its output should be enough to supply 600,000 households.

Energetika Ljubljana operates the largest district heating network in Slovenia, supplying heat to about 60,000 homes, and is also a major player in the natural gas retail market, according to Slovenian media.

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Serbia to invest EUR 60 million in renewables in district heating

Serbia plans to sign an agreement by the end of the year on introducing renewable sources in district heating plants, according to the Ministry of Mining and Energy.

Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović met with Ambassador of Germany Anke Konrad and Director of Germany’s KfW Development Bank for Southeast Europe and Turkey Klaus Müller.

They discussed cooperation on ongoing projects in the energy sector and a plan for further investments in renewables and energy efficiency.

The minister highlighted the successful cooperation with KfW in the construction of biomass heating plants and the introduction of renewable energy in district heating systems. She recalled that four biomass heating plants have been installed.

In the coming years, new boilers will be installed in several heating plants

She noted that in the second phase of the project, in the coming years, heating plants in Prijepolje, Novi Pazar, Niš, Rača, Vranje and Majdanpek are envisaged to get new boilers.

By the end of the year, Serbia plans to sign an agreement on the introduction of renewables in district heating plants, namely solar technology and heat pumps, Đedović Hanadanović announced.

The investment is estimated at EUR 60 million, of which EUR 20 million would be a donation, thanks to the support of KfW, she added.

Serbia and Germany plan to strengthen cooperation

Đedović Handanović stressed the importance of the climate partnership with Germany and thanked for the support that the other country provides to Serbia in the modernization of the energy sector.

“We are grateful to the German government and the KfW Development Bank for their continuous support in different subsectors in energy, from district heating and energy efficiency to the development of new capacities from renewable energy sources,” she stated.

In line with its ambitions and reform goals in energy, Serbia intends to deepen cooperation with Germany through new projects.

Of note, the four heating plants were installed in Priboj, Mali Zvornik, Novi Pazar and Majdanpek. The agreement for the second phase of the project was signed in May last year.

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North Macedonia adopts Law on Energy

With a majority of votes, 62 out of 120, the Assembly of North Macedonia adopted the Law on Energy. The government’s representatives say it is systemic, comprehensive, and reform-oriented legislation laying the foundation for the country’s new energy policy. The act aligns the country’s legal framework with the European Union.

The new Law on Energy will bring numerous benefits to the country and its energy future, according to the Government of North Macedonia. They include a liberalized, transparent and competitive electricity market ensuring fairer prices and more choice for consumers, the introduction of smart meters for more accurate consumption measurement, and daily insight for consumers into their electricity usage.

The law is compatible with the reform agenda for the Western Balkans and with EU directives. Its pillars are:

  • A significant increase in the share of renewable energy sources in final consumption;
  • Greater energy efficiency and reduction of losses;
  • An open energy market in which citizens become active participants – producers, sellers, and members of energy communities.

The law supports new concepts such as citizen energy communities and demand-side management models, increased market liquidity, and broader access to energy sources for the economy, along with equal investment opportunities.

It addresses infrastructure stability through investments in storage systems and their digitalization, as well as providing a stable, transparent, and predictable framework for domestic and foreign investors. The law strengthens the capacities of regulators and operators, creates conditions for greater integration with regional and European energy networks, and enables new investments in solar, wind and other renewable sources, district heating, gasification, storage and digitalized grid infrastructure.

Božinovska: New law paving way for energy sovereignty for Macedonia

Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources Sanja Božinovska said in parliament ahead of the vote that the Law on Energy is the foundation of the national transformation toward a clean, sustainable and fair energy future.

„This is a law that creates opportunities but also demands responsibility. Energy is not just the engine of the economy; it is the basis for a quality life. With this law, we are opening the door to an energy sovereign, green and European Macedonia. This law is more than a normative act – it is a signpost for the future. A chance we must not miss,” she said.

Transparent, predictable investment framework

The law includes provisions for protecting vulnerable groups, supporting the fight against energy poverty and ensuring fair access to energy for all.

According to the ministry, the law provides a stable, transparent and predictable framework for domestic and foreign investors.

All EU energy directives have been implemented, said President of the Energy, Water Services and Municipal Waste Management Services Regulatory Commission (ERC or RKE) Marko Bislimoski. Of note, yesterday he spoke at the Belgrade Energy Forum – BEF 2025, organized by Balkan Green Energy News.

The drafting process involved institutions, experts, the business community, operators and the national regulator. A total of 61 amendments were adopted.

Unlike the ruling majority, the Left (Levica), an opposition party, claimed the Law on Energy does not protect consumers or national interests. Out of 11 amendments that it submitted, only four were adopted. They include provisions aimed at protecting consumers from unrealistically high electricity bills.