The 10th Cyprus Energy Symposium was successfully held at the Royal Hall, on November 17, 2022, in Nicosia, under the title “Cyprus: An Energy Hub in the Eastern Mediterranean”, bringing together senior government officials, energy professionals, executives of energy companies, officials, decision makers and academics from Cyprus, Greece, SE Europe but also the Middle East.
The 10th Cyprus Energy Symposium was successfully held at the Royal Hall, on November 17, 2022, in Nicosia, under the title “Cyprus: An Energy Hub in the Eastern Mediterranean”, bringing together senior government officials, energy professionals, executives of energy companies, officials, decision makers and academics from Cyprus, Greece, SE Europe but also the Middle East. This landmark event for Cyprus’s energy sector was jointly organized by the Institute of Energy for SE Europe (IENE) and Nicosia based FMW - Financial Media Way.
In his opening address, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, H.E. Mr. Nikos Anastasiadis, stressed that the country will proceed with the implementation of its stated energy policy, as a sovereign and independent state, regardless of the provocative and illegal threats and actions of Turkey. He also underlined the importance of the Cyprus Energy Symposium, stressing the fact that it has been established as the prime conference on Cyprus’s energy sector.
The Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Cyprus, Ms. Annita Dimitriou and the Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry of the Republic of Cyprus, Ms. Natasha Pileidou, also addressed the Symposium, whereas the Ambassador of Greece in Nicosia read the message of the country’s Minister of Energy of Greece, Mr. Kostas Skrekas, to the Symposium. This section of the Symposium was moderated by the CEO of FMW Financial Media Way, Mr. Iosif Iosif.
The President of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) Mr. Cristodoulos Angastiniotis Chief Banking Officer of Hellenic Bank Mr. Phivos Stasopoulos also delivered opening remarks welcoming the participants in the 10th Cyprus Energy Symposium.
Then, Dr. Andreas Poulikkas, Chairman of the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (CERA), and Dr. Konstantinos Nikolaou, Petroleum Geologist - Energy Economist, provided an in-depth outlook on Cyprus’s energy situation and the prospects for hydrocarbon development respectively. This was followed by a detailed discussion on the geostrategic repercussions.
The speakers of the 1st session of the Symposium, on hydrocarbons exploration, included Mr. Panos Papanastassiou, Member of BoD, Cyprus Hydrocarbons Company (CYC), Mr. Andreas Petaliotis, Chairman at Cyprus’ National Technical Committee for Standardization, Mr. Charles Ellinas, CEO and Founder of EC Cyprus Natural Hydrocarbons Company Ltd (eCNHC) and Mr. Panagiotis Tillyros, Senior Financial Officer, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Cyprus and Scientific Associate at the Cyprus Center for European and International Affairs, University of Nicosia, whereas Dr. Konstantinos Nikolaou, Vice President of the BoD at Energean Greece, described the research drilling programme of the company offshore Israel.
Following that, the Chairman and Executive Director of IENE, Mr. Costis Stambolis, and the Secretary General and Chairman of the IENE Energy Efficiency Committee, Mr. Costas Theofylaktos presented the Institute’s flagship publication, the “SEE Energy Outlook 2021/2022”.
The 2nd session, moderated by Mr. Nick Frydas, IENE Partner and Vice President of Grant Thornton Business Solutions, focused on electricity. Session speakers included Ms. Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou, Chairperson at the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC), Mr. Giorgos Chrysochoou, CEO of Power Energy Cyprus (P. E. C.), and Mr. Pavlos Liasidis, CEO of Thalis Engineering Co. The EuroAsia interconnector, this major Project of Common Interest (PCI) of placing an HVDC interconnector between the Greek, Cypriot, and Israeli power grids via the world's longest submarine power cable, was presented during this session of the 10th Cyprus Energy Symposium.
The 3rd session, on RES and energy efficiency, was moderated by the Chairman of IENE’s Energy Efficiency Committee, Mr. Costas Theofylaktos. Ms. Anthi Charalambous, President at the International Solar Energy Society (Cyprus), Mr. Fanos Karantonis, President at Cyprus Association of Renewable Energy Enterprises (CAREE) and President at the Association of Participants in the Competitive Electricity Market of Cyrpus, Mr. Makis Ketonis, President at the Cyprus Hydrogen Association, and Ms. Marina Strovilidou, representing the UK-based Climate Bond Initiative, were the speakers of this session.
The Chairman and Executive Director of IENE, Mr. Costis Stambolis, concluded this year’s Cyprus Energy Symposium, summing up its findings and thanking all sponsors and supporters.
The Hellenic Bank was the Gold Sponsor of the 10th Cyprus Energy Symposium which was convened under the aegis of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI). Sponsors included Energean, Cyfield, EuroAsia Interconnector, Cyprus Hydrocarbons Company (CYC), ESSO, Cyprus’ Natural Gas Public Company (CYGAS), as well as the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (CERA). VTT Vasiliko Ltd (VTTV) was the sponsor of the Symposium’s meal. Media partners included "Phileleftheros” newspaper and the websites Nomisma.com.cy and Energia.gr.