IENE’s «8th SE Europe Energy Dialogue» to Focus on the New Energy Mix

As the date for IENE’s "8^th SE Europe Energy Dialogue” (June 11 - 12, 2014) approaches, speakers from all over SE Europe have confirmed their participation thus ensuring once again the Energy Dialogue’s truly regional dimension. IENE’s Energy Dialogue will bring together in Thessaloniki (Makedonia Palace Hotel) some of the most prominent professionals, analysts, academics etc. of the energy sector of SE Europe and beyond. This year’s Energy Dialogue meeting, will focus on "The New Energy Mix”, which gradually emerges in SE Europe and beyond.

Mr. Slav Slavov, Regional Manager of World Energy Council (WEC), London, United Kingdom, will start the "8^th SEEED” with opening remarks, while it should be noted that IENE has been organizing its annual regional conference in association with WEC for the last few years. Moreover, this year’s "SE Europe Energy Dialogue” is being held under the auspices of the Greek Presidency of the EU.

Senior executives of regional and international energy organizations and institutions are, also, some of the confirmed speakers of the conference. More specifically, Mr. Timur Topalgoekceli, Energy Analyst of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Mr. Janez Kopac, Director of the Energy Community Secretariat, Dr. Yurdakul Yigitguden, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environment Activities, Mr. Aleksandar Mijuskovic, Executive Director of the Montenegro- based Coordinated Auction Office for South East Europe (SEE CAO), Mr. Roland Wolk, Head of Marketing & Sales, Central European Gas Hub AG (CEGH) (Vienna, Austria) will address "8^th SEEED”.

Important energy companies from SE Europe will also have their representatives among the conference’s speakers, including Mr. Milan Zdravkovic (Development Sector Director, JP SRBIJAGAS, Serbia), Mr. Gokhan Yardim (General Manager of Angoragaz, Turkey), Mr. Spiros Paleoyannis (CEO, Public Gas Corporation –DEPA & Member of IENE’s BoD, Greece), Mr. Yannis Grigoriou (D. General Manager, Exploration & Production of Hydrocarbons, Hellenic Petroleum S.A., Greece), Mr. Vladimir Durovic (Manager, Development Division Dept., PLINACRO Ltd, Croatia) and Dr. Dinos Nikolaou (Petroleum Geologist,PhD – General Director Kanergy & Member of IENE’s BoD, Greece)

Energy regulatory bodies, as well as government officials from countries of the region will, too, be among the event’s speakers, including Mr. Nikolay Iliev (Head of the ATEE Department, Electricity Market Department, National Dispatching Center, Sofia, Bulgaria), Dr. Anastasios Garis (Chairman and CEO, Greek Electricity Market Operator S.A. - LAGIE, Greece), Mr. Serhat Metin (Assistant Manager, Turkish Electricity Transmission Corporation - TEIAS, National Load Dispatch – Control Center, Ankara, Turkey), Mr. Ilia Gjermani (Regulatory & Management, Petroleum Sector, Ministry of Economy, Trade & Energy, Albania) etc.

Other confirmed speakers at IENE’s "8th SE Europe Energy Dialogue” so far include Mr. David Lippeat (Counselor for Economic Affairs, U.S. Embassy in Greece), Mr. Alexey Belogoryev (Deputy General Director, Institute of Energy Strategy -IES, Moscow, Russia), Prof. Osman Sevaioğlu (Electrical Energy Sector Expert-Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey), Mr. Pat Breen (CEO, Gas Strategies, UK), Dr. Narsi Ghorban (Secretary to the Environment and Energy Commission of the International Chamber of Commercee, Iran Committee, Tehran, Iran), Dr. Vesna Borozan (Professor, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies, University "Sts. Cyril and Methodius”, Skopje, FYROM), Mr. Theodore Zafeiropoulos (Of Counsel, Norton Rose Fulbright, Greece) etc.

It must also be stressed that the "8^th SE Europe Energy Dialogue” is being organized with the active sponsorship and support of a group of leading energy companies. More specifically, Greece’s Public Gas Corporation (DEPA) is the event’s lead sponsor, while the Public Power Corporation (PPC) and the KG Law Firm are sponsors of the conference. Moreover, IENE’s "8th SEEED” is supported by Terna Energy SA, EDF Energy Nouvelles, Energean Oil and Gas Co., and the Norton Rose Fulbright Law Firm.

In addition to the official representation from each one of the SE European countries and the participation of top management executives from most major energy companies of the region, senior executives from banks and financial institutions, donor representatives as well as high ranking officials from major international organizations are expected to take part in this two day high powered regional meeting.

This year, the SE Europe Energy Dialogue meeting is highly topical in view of the ongoing debate between the EU and major suppliers with regard to the security of energy supplies, their high dependence on hydrocarbon imports and the global concern for the development of viable alternatives. The implications on market operation from the introduction and application of EU’s 3^rd Energy Package will also provide the opportunity for a wide ranging of discussion. Furthermore, the Dialogue will focus on the latest developments of the region’s evolving natural gas and electricity markets and S.E. Europe’s ever deepening energy partnerships with Russia, the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, the East Mediterranean and North Africa.

The subjects to be covered during this year’s Energy Dialogue are the following:

·Global and Regional Perspectives of Energy
·Electricity Market Priorities and Infrastructure Requirements in SE Europe
·SE Europe’s Expanding Natural Gas Market
·Gas Market Challenges in SE Europe
·Regional Investment and Business Opportunities in Oil & Gas Exploration
·RES/Grid Transformation and Storage Revolution – Energy Efficiency and Cogeneration in SE Europe
·The Changing Energy Landscape of SE Europe and Key Policy Issues

Media partners of IENE’s "8^th SEEED” include the New Europe newspaper, See News and Energia.gr