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Understanding Hungary’s Guarantee of Origin: A new era for renewable gas
Stay competitive in Hungary’s evolving energy market by understanding the Guarantee of Origin, a crucial certification now available for renewable gas. This change could open doors for businesses focused on sustainability and compliance. Earlier this year, the amendment to the Act XL of 2008 - Natural Gas (the “Natural Gas Act”) brought a significant shift: the introduction of a Guarantee of Origin for renewable gas, similar to what we have seen in the electricity market. The guarantee of origin is an electronic document designed solely to certify, using objective, transparent, and non-discriminatory criteria, that a given share or quantity of gas produced by a specific generation unit qualifies as renewable
Kinstellar strengthens its energy team in Budapest with senior expert, Emőke Kovács
Kinstellar is delighted to announce that Emőke Kovács, an accomplished legal practitioner in energy law, has joined the firm’s Budapest office as Of Counsel. With an extensive and well-established career in the energy sector, Emőke’s expertise further enhances the strength and reputation of our energy law team. With over 20 years of experience working at energy companies and law firms, Emőke is a highly respected and trusted legal expert in the field. She focuses on advising clients from the electricity and gas industries on regulatory matters, as well as a wide range of issues within the energy sector. Emőke has significant experience in electricity and gas trading, energy and heat distribution, and compliance
Romania to hold first CfD renewables auction in coming weeks
Romania is set to hold its first contracts for difference (“CfD”) auction in the next few weeks. The Ministry of Energy has taken further steps and issued the order for initiating the CfD auction under the CfD scheme. On 6 September 2024, Order No. 1290/2024, approving the launch of the first auction for the State aid scheme in the form of contracts for difference for the production of electricity from renewable sources of onshore wind and solar photovoltaic energy, as well as the rules of the procedure for the first auction (“Order 1290/2024”), was published in the Official Gazette of Romania and entered into force on the same date. The total capacity targeted is 1,500 MW of renewables; specifically
Kinstellar advises China Southern Power Grid International on the acquisition of a non-controlling stake in ACWA Power’s two wind farm projects in Uzbekistan
Kinstellar is delighted to announce that we have successfully advised China Southern Power Grid International on its acquisition of a 35% stake in ACWA Power Bash Wind Project Holding Company Limited and ACWA Power Uzbekistan Wind Project Holding Company holding 100% in Bash and Dzhankeldy Uzbek project companies, respectively. The projects represent a combined 1 GW capacity and over USD 1.3 billion of investments. This transaction marks the first acquisition of large-scale renewable energy projects in Uzbekistan. Each of Bash and Dzhankeldy wind farm plants is developed based on a ‘Build, Own, Operate, Transfer’ model and consists of 79 wind turbines (158 turbines in total) that will generate 3,235 gigawatt-hours
Kinstellar advises Strickland Metals in major gold mining acquisition in Serbia
SOG in cooperation with Kinstellar is proud to announce its role as legal counsel to Strickland Metals Limited, an ASX-listed mineral exploration company from Australia, on its acquisition of Zlatna Reka Resources d.o.o. Beograd-Vracar. This acquisition marks a significant development in Serbia’s burgeoning mining industry, as the project holds an impressive 5.4 million ounce gold resource. Kinstellar’s team, led by Senior Associates Sara Ostojić and Mario Kijanović, as well as Associate Vuk Vučković, provided comprehensive legal services for this acquisition. Our involvement included a thorough legal due diligence of the mining titles, permits, and accompanying documentation of the target company. Zlatna
Kinstellar advises Canadian Nuclear Partners on the framework agreement with Nuclearelectrica for the refurbishment of Unit 1 at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant
Kinstellar has advised Canadian Nuclear Partners (a subsidiary of Ontario Power Generation, one of the world’s largest power generators, and a corporation wholly owned by the Government of Ontario) on the framework agreement for the refurbishment of Unit 1 at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant, operated by the state-owned nuclear energy producer, Nuclearelectrica. The framework agreement has an approximate value of EUR 240 million and represents a critical milestone in completing the refurbishment of Unit 1. Canadian Nuclear Partners will support Nuclearelectrica with the delivery of project management services, technical assistance, consultancy services and professional training specific for the refurbishment of
Kinstellar advises MOL in connection with their landmark Polyol Project in Hungary – MOL’s largest organic investment to date
Kinstellar is proud to have advised the MOL Group, a leading international integrated oil and gas company, in connection with legal aspects of the MOL Group’s flagship EUR 1.3 billion new polyol complex in Tiszaújváros, Hungary. The new polyol complex, which has just been inaugurated, has the capacity of producing around 200,000 tonnes of polyol per year, and providing long-term employment for nearly 300 people. This landmark project had started in 2017 and Kinstellar has been assisting MOL in connection with the project from 2020. As a result of this project MOL has become the first company in the CEE region to have a fully-integrated value chain from crude oil to polyol production. The Kinstellar team
Kinstellar advises BIG Mega Renewable Energy on a EUR 92 million financing with EBRD and OTP Bank for the construction and operation of the Urleasca wind farm in Romania
Kinstellar has successfully advised leading developer BIG Mega Renewable Energy on a EUR 92 million financing agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and OTP Bank to build and operate the 102 MW Urleasca wind farm in Brăila county, Romania. The milestone project marks BIG Mega Renewable Energy’s first renewable investment in Romania, with the signing of the financing agreement highlighted as a crucial milestone for the company’s expansion strategy in Romania and the Balkans. The Urleasca wind farm is expected to make a significant contribution to Romania’s renewable energy goals, with generation capacity of 292 GWh per year. The financial closing is expected mid-2024. Kinstellar’s
Kinstellar advises MAVIR and HUPX on joining Central and Southeast Europe’s largest electricity trading hub
Kinstellar has successfully advised the Hungarian Power Exchange (HUPX), together with the Hungarian Transmission System Operator, MAVIR, on the landmark Project Bluesky transaction: the Hungarian Power Exchange, HUPX’s joining Adex, a leading regional power exchange serving Central and South-Eastern Europe (CSEE). This transaction marks a significant milestone in strengthening and expanding the reach of the regional power exchange group within the region. Adex Group Ltd., which includes operators of power exchanges in Slovenia and Serbia, is recognized as the first regional energy exchange. With this transaction, HUPX becomes the third fully-owned subsidiary of Adex Group Ltd. Subject to regulatory approvals from
CfD Scheme soon to be launched in Romania
On 14 March 2024, the Romanian Ministry of Energy launched for public consultations the draft Government decision on the approval of the general legal framework for the implementation and functioning of the Contracts for Difference support scheme for low carbon technologies ("CfD Scheme"). There is a short deadline for public consultations: 25 March 2024. In early March, Romania received the green light from the European Commission to launch a EUR 3 billion state aid programme to promote the deployment of wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity to meet its energy transition goals. The support scheme foresees two auction rounds, in 2024, the first auction of 2 GW, consisting of 1 GW solar and 1 GW wind; and in 2025
Kinstellar announces new promotions to Counsel
February 2024 – Kinstellar is delighted to announce the promotions to Counsel of: Yerlan Akhmetov, Kuanysh Shekerbekov (Almaty, Kazakhstan), Cătălin Dinu, Cătălin Graure (Bucharest, Romania), Barnabás Sági (Budapest, Hungary), Yulia Eismont, Maksym Tesliar (Kyiv, Ukraine), Michal Forýtek (Prague, Czech Republic), Andrijana Kaštelan, Vedran Kopilović, Marija Vuchetich (Zagreb, Croatia). ALMATY Yerlan Akhmetov focuses on banking and finance, M&A and capital markets matters. Having been with the Firm for nine years, Yerlan has earned a reputation for cultivating strong client relationships, demonstrating leadership qualities and making significant contributions to our firm's success. He has played a key role
Significant changes envisaged to grid connection for new power-generation capacities in Romania
The Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (“ANRE”) has announced important amendments to the rules for connecting new power-generation capacities to the public network. On 1 February 2024, ANRE released for public consultation a draft order (“Draft Order”) regarding the approval of the Methodology for capacity allocation of new power-generation capacities (the “Methodology”) as well as other amendments to ANRE Order no. 59/2013 approving the public grid connection regulation (the “Connection Regulation”). Comments to the Draft Order may be submitted to ANRE by 1 March 2024. The main changes introduced under the Draft Order concern (i) a change of the grid connection process applicable to power-generation