Vienna International Energy Industry News

Read the latest headlines about developments in the international energy industry in Vienna and Austria

„Nabucco Is Still an Option“

Elshad Nassirov, Vice-Chairman oft he Azerbaijani gas company Socar, argues that BP´s statement about Nabucco was premature.

May 29, 2012

BP: „Nabucco is Dead“

British Petroleum pronounces the initial Nabucco project dead. RWE supports the new version “Nabucco West”.

May 25, 2012

OMV Faces Extraordinary Tax in Romania

OMV´s Romanian subsidiary Petrom is threatened by an extraordinary tax for oil companies. The tax should be introduced in 2013.

May 19, 2012

“Nabucco West” Submits Proposal

The proposal for the downsized “Nabucco West” Scenario was submitted to Shah Deniz II Consortium.

May 18, 2012

Sorgenia Develops New Business Model

The Milan-based Sorgenia, in which Austrian Verbund has an interest, has developed a balanced portfolio of activities in Europe and South America with a substantial growth potential.

May 18, 2012

Another Setback for Nabucco

The German RWE considers leaving the natural gas pipeline consortium. Also the Hungarian MOL will exit.

May 16, 2012

BDI: Sharp Cut in Earnings

BDI - BioEnergy International AG, specialised plant manufacturer in the Waste to Energy field, recorded a massive decrease in revenues and profits.

May 12, 2012

Dividend Increase at OMV

OMV’s Ordinary Annual General Meeting has approved a dividend of € 1.10 per share for 2011 as well as all other agenda resolutions.

May 11, 2012

Petrom Posts Strong Rise in Earnings

The Romanian subsidiary of Austrian OMV could raise its EBIT by 38% compared to the first quarter of 2011.

May 9, 2012

OMV Announces Higher Profits

The Austrian oil and gas company published results for the first quarter of 2012. EBIT was up by 7%, net income rose by 17%.

May 9, 2012

Romania: OMV Threatened by Extraordinary Tax

Romania´s new Minister of Economics Daniel Chitoiu forces OMV´s subsidiary Petrom to pay higher taxes.

May 8, 2012

Austria Emphasizes Importance of Partnership with Russia

Austrian State Secretary Wolfgang Waldner meets Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Titov.

May 8, 2012

Global Demand for Solar Technology from Austria

Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, is currently home to the world's largest solar thermal plant. The technology behind this plant came from Austria.

May 8, 2012

OMV: Rise in Revenues and Earnings Awaited

Analysts expect the Austrian oil and gas company to record substantially improved results. Profits should rise by 57.5%.

May 7, 2012

Nabucco: Azerbaijan´s Nassirov Optimistic

Elshad Nassivor, Vice CEO of the Azerbaijani oil and gas group Socar is optimistic to create a connection with Austria´s gas hub in Baumgarten.

May 5, 2012

Verbund Wants to Leave France

After the sale of its stake in Poweo, the Austrian energy company intends to sell the remaining gas power plants in France.

May 5, 2012

Verbund Posts Substantial Improvement in Earnings

Operating result rose by 22.2% to € 263.6 m. Group profit increased by 10.16%. Nevertheless, the Austrian energy company remains below market expectations.

May 3, 2012

Common Energy Strategy for Germany, Austria and Switzerland

After the German nuclear exit, Switzerland and Austria should act as “green battery”.

May 2, 2012

OMV: „Nabucco is More Alive than Ever”

Despite the exit of Hungarian MOL, the Austrian oil company underlines the importance of Nabucco. CEO Roiss holds on Nabucco.

April 28, 2012

Vorarlberger Kraftwerke: Slight Increase in Results

Net income moved from € 40.2m to € 43m. Revenues reached 449.2m.

April 28, 2012

Sorgenia Will not be Sold

The Italian energy group will not be sold. The major owner CIR declines market rumors.

April 26, 2012

OMV Plans Downsizing of Nabucco

The Austrian oil and gas group works on a downsized version of the natural gas pipeline project. The original version would become too expensive, analysts say.

April 25, 2012

Hydro Power: Investments of € 16bn Planned

The Austrian energy Industry Calls for the construction of more hydro power plants. The renewable energy production should be enlarged considerably.

April 24, 2012

MOL May Leave Nabucco Project

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that MOL the country’s largest company by market capitalization, is leaving the € 7.9bn ($ 10.4bn) Nabucco natural gas pipeline project.

April 24, 2012

OMV Raises Production

Due to the economic recovery in Libya, the Austrian oil and gas group OMV increased Oil production.

April 24, 2012

Sorgenia Records Losses

The Italian subsidiary of the Austrian energy company Verbund registered net losses of € 14.7. Revenues were up by 9.5%.

April 21, 2012

Siemens Austria and Verbund to Establish Electric Mobility Provider

The technology and electricity company found a joint venture in order to serve and develop the Austrian electric mobility market.

April 20, 2012

€ 8.0bn for Upgrade of Austrian Power Grid

According to the Austrian E-Control authority, the Austrian economy needs massive investments in the power grid. The upgrade to “smart grids” would be essential.

April 18, 2012

Roiss Claims European „Fracking“ Strategy

OMV´s CEO Gerhard Roiss calls for a common strategy to exploit shale gas. The European industrial sector should become more competitive.

April 18, 2012

OMV´s Petrol Stations: Potential Buyers in Sight

The Austrian oil and gas company OMV plans to sell its petrol stations in Croatia and Bosnia. Local investors show interest.

April 17, 2012

Verbund Focuses Investments on Austria

The Austrian energy company plans investments of € 2.4bn in the next five years. About 66% of these investments will be made in Austria.

April 12, 2012

AVE Needs Fresh Funds

The waste management company, which is held by the Upper Austrian energy company Energie AG, intends to pursue its growth strategy in CEE. New capital is needed therefore.

April 10, 2012

Romanian Government Considers Privatizations

The remaining publicly held stakes in Petrom, a subsidiary of Austrian OMV may be privatized. OMV does not participate in the transaction.

April 10, 2012

„Natural Gas to Become Most Important Energy Source“

Gerhard Roiss, CEO of the Austrian oil and gas group OMV pushes the EU to recognize the importance of natural gas.

April 7, 2012

BDI Receives Major Order from Hong Kong

The Austrian renewable energy company records an increase of € 9 million in the order volume for a multi-feedstock biodiesel plant in Hong Kong.

April 3, 2012

BDI: Higher Earnings, Lower Sales

BioEnergy International´s EBIT was up by 13.4% at € 3.6m. Sales declined by 13.1%.

April 2, 2012

EStAG Reports Moderate Rise in Earnings

The Styrian energy supplier Energie Steiermark AG could raise revenues by 9.0% to 1.37bn. Operating profits were down, though.

March 30, 2012

Bulgaria: Massive Penalty at OMV Subsidiary Threatens

Bulgaria´s Minister of Transport claims the maximum penalty for OMV´s subsidiary, which would reach up to € 1.0bn.

March 24, 2012

Losses at Verbund´s French Subsidiary Poweo

With consolidated revenue totalling € 503.4m, down 27.7%, the Group ended the year with a net loss of € 63.4m, due mainly to losses at the generation business and various write-downs

March 23, 2012

Nabucco Sees Decision on Combination With Tanap Next Year

Nabucco Gas Pipeline International GmbH, the € 7.9bn ($ 10.5bn) project to ship Caspian fuel to Europe, expects to make a decision on whether to link up with the competing Trans-Anatolia Pipeline next year.

March 22, 2012

Windtec: Espionage Scandal Does Not End

A former employee of the AMSC-owned Windtec alleges to be pursued by a secret service. The U.S. should have intervened at the Austrian justice.

March 21, 2012

EVN Raises Investments in Croatia

The Austrian energy company expects the beginning of a market consolidation in Croatia. Investments are rising.

March 21, 2012

Petrom Analyzes Romania Shale Gas Exploration Potential

The OMV-owned Petrom SA, Romania’s biggest oil company, is analyzing the potential for shale-gas exploration in the eastern European country.

March 20, 2012

Romanian President Again Critisized OMV´s Petrom

Romanian president Traian Basescu in television again emphasized that he cut ties with largest Romanian company OMV Petrom on ‘incorrect’, high profit-making policy.

March 20, 2012

Verbund Faces Competition from Russia

The Russian energy group Inter Rao is interested in the Milan-based Sorgenia. Austrian Verbund holds 45% in Sorgenia.

March 20, 2012

Bulgaria Suspects OMV, Lukoil, Rompetrol of Price Fixing

Bulgaria’s antitrust regulator said four fuel retailers including the Bulgarian units of OMV AG of Austria, OAO Lukoil , Russian oil producer, Rompetrol Rafinare SA and Petrol AD are suspected of being involved in price fixing.

March 17, 2012

Downsizing of Nabucco Plans

The companies behind the proposed 3,900km Nabucco pipeline that would carry natural gas from the Caspian region to Europe have pitched a slimmed-down version of the project.

March 16, 2012

Increasing Importance of Environmental Sector

In 2010, the Austrian environmental goods and services sector continued its growth, 7.9% more employees.

March 15, 2012

Raiffeisen Energy & Environment Sells Bulgarian Assets

The subsidiary of the Austrian Raiffeisen Leasing sells Bulgarian wind parks to Lukerg Renew.

March 14, 2012

Basescu Criticizes OMV Sharply

The Romanian President Traian Basescu is deeply disappointed of the Austrian oil and gas company OMV. The Romanian subsidiary “made too much profits”, Basescu says.

March 13, 2012