Kadri Simson

– Hello there! What a lovely weekend we just had—bright but chilly with the sun showing its teeth, and thankfully no rain (let’s see how long this lasts in November).

With Russian attacks on energy infrastructure causing power cuts, Ukraine is depending on its central and eastern European neighbours to keep the lights on.

Ukraine in recent weeks has resorted to consumption restrictions and rolling blackouts after Russian forces stepped up attacks on the country's power stations and transmission lines.

EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson stated that by the conclusion of the previous month, gas reserves across the EU had reached a historical peak for this time of year, standing at 58% capacity.

In a bid to navigate the ongoing energy crisis exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the European Commission has recommended that member states persist in their efforts to conserve gas supplies.

The official opening of the second cross-border power line between Greece and Bulgaria marked a significant event during the ministerial meeting of the Central and South-East European Energy Connectivity Group (CESEC) on Friday (January 19th).

During the European Sustainable Development Week in Brussels, Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson called on Bulgaria to draft a plan aiming to end its reliance on Russian energy imports by 2027. Simson, addressing Politico's event, criticized Hungary for its continued energy purchases from Russia, highlighting the vulnerability it poses to malign influence from Moscow.

European Union officials discussed diversifying oil stocks and creating a buffer for diesel and gasoil during an emergency meeting of the bloc's oil coordination group, one told Reuters.

Friday's meeting was called by the EU commissioner for energy Kadri Simson to assess potential supply risks in case the Israel-Hamas conflict triggers a broader regional one.

Reserves of natural gas in the EU are filled to 90 percent of capacity well ahead of a November 1 target date, making it "well-prepared for winter," its energy commissioner has said.

SolarPower Europe's aim to achieve a new record in the installation of photovoltaic electricity production units in 2023, after the 2022 highs, Aristotelis Chantavas, the president of the organization said in a message for the new year.

The EU Council has agreed on a binding target of 40 percent of energy from renewable sources in the overall energy mix by 2030.

This happened at a meeting of energy ministers from member states in Luxembourg.