Tight electricity supply pushed Southeast European power prices above €300/MWh last week, while Serbia dealt with a pending NIS sanctions waiver and a major copper expansion plan in Bor.
- Wholesale power prices in Southeast Europe rose above €300/MWh on October 29 due to evening scarcity.
- NIS sought a new US sanctions waiver ahead of an October 30 deadline; the outcome is not reported in the digest.
- HOPS transferred the Serbian section of the Croatia-Serbia power line to EMS on October 29.
- Zijin plans a large expansion of its Bor copper mine, citing an 18 million tonne output target.
- Romanian operators target a mid-November restart of one Cernavoda nuclear reactor, which could ease regional supply.
Southeast European energy markets were dominated last week by tight electricity supply, high regional prices and a series of project and policy announcements. A weekly digest by the Serbia Energy portal lists 64 articles published between October 26 and November 1, 2026. This summary covers the main themes, with a focus on Serbia.
Power prices rise as supply weakens
The regional electricity market was under pressure for most of the week. Headlines in the digest report that wholesale prices in Southeast Europe rose above €300/MWh on October 29, as evening scarcity tightened the market. Prices in the eastern part of the region stayed near the same level on October 30, with lower renewable output and higher imports cited as the reasons.
One report on October 26 said Serbia led the regional power market, as a rebound in demand on Monday pushed prices up. Another report, on October 29, said Serbia faces higher electricity import risks. It points to the shutdown of a Romanian nuclear reactor and coal plant failures in the region.
Not all signals pointed upward. An article from October 27 reported that regional prices fell as renewable output increased and imports eased. Gas prices in Europe rose above €100/MWh on October 30, amid concerns about supply.
Serbia: NIS waiver and cross-border power line
On October 26 the portal reported that Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), Serbia's oil company, was seeking a new US waiver as a sanctions deadline of October 30 approached. The digest does not say how the request was resolved, and readers should check later reports for the outcome.
On October 29 the Croatian transmission operator HOPS transferred the Serbian section of the Croatia-Serbia power line to EMS, Serbia's grid operator. Commentary pieces on Serbian wind and solar projects focused on grid balancing and on financing renewables before so-called cannibalisation becomes structural. Cannibalisation here means that large volumes of solar or wind output push down the prices those same plants receive.
Mining: Zijin and Bor
The most-read article of the week concerned plans by the Chinese company Zijin for a large expansion of its copper mine in Bor, eastern Serbia. The headline refers to an output target of 18 million tonnes and to the costs of investment, relocation and environmental impact. The digest gives no further detail, and the figures are as stated in the article title.
Regional developments
- Slovenia: the power exchange market opened to Nord Pool and CROPEX, and a Slovenian court backed a reform introducing time-based network charges.
- Romania: authorities plan to auction grid connection rights, and operators target a mid-November restart of one Cernavoda nuclear reactor. OMV Petrom and Renovatio commissioned 130 MW of solar capacity.
- Bulgaria: household electricity and heating tariffs are frozen until July 2027. Bulgargaz is seeking to soften a proposed 34% gas price increase for November. The UK extended a sanctions waiver for Lukoil Bulgaria to February 2027.
- Montenegro: the Pljevlja coal plant will halt for maintenance before winter. Authorities cleared the 97 MW Tupan solar project for construction, and Montenegro and Italy are preparing electricity market coupling.
- Croatia: Koncar won an €11.5 million contract from HOPS to strengthen the grid. The Trtar-Krtolin wind farm plans a 30 MW repowering with battery storage.
- Greece: the country added 2.7 GW of renewables and recorded a 6.1 TWh electricity export surplus. Faria Renewables bought a 23.1 MW wind farm from EDPR.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: the Ugljevik plant is preparing a restart after emergency coal deliveries. Republic of Srpska moved to tighten solar development rules on farmland.
- North Macedonia: the country launched its first guarantees of origin auction. These certificates prove that electricity came from renewable sources.
What to watch
Winter demand, the outcome of the NIS sanctions question and the Romanian reactor restart are the main items that may affect electricity and fuel supply in Serbia and the wider region. More detail is available in the original digest and in the latest news section of Serbia News.
Frequently asked questions
Why did electricity prices rise above €300/MWh in Southeast Europe?
Wholesale prices rose above €300/MWh on October 29 as evening scarcity tightened the market. Lower renewable output and higher imports also pushed prices up in the eastern part of the region.
What is the status of NIS's US sanctions waiver?
NIS, Serbia's oil company, sought a new US waiver as a sanctions deadline of October 30 approached. The digest does not say how the request was resolved, so readers should check later reports.
What changed on the Croatia-Serbia power line?
On October 29, the Croatian transmission operator HOPS transferred the Serbian section of the line to EMS, Serbia's grid operator.
What is Zijin's plan for the Bor copper mine?
Chinese company Zijin plans a large expansion of its copper mine in Bor, eastern Serbia, with an output target of 18 million tonnes. The article title also refers to investment, relocation and environmental costs, but the digest gives no further detail.
What does cannibalisation mean for renewable projects in Serbia?
Cannibalisation occurs when large volumes of solar or wind output push down the prices those same plants receive. Commentary on Serbian projects focuses on grid balancing and financing renewables before this becomes structural.
