Joint IENE/ ACCI/ PEA Conference on Energy Investments, Employment and Exports Highlighted Greece’s Competitive Advantage and the Challenges Ahead

Joint IENE/ ACCI/ PEA Conference on Energy Investments, Employment and Exports Highlighted Greece’s Competitive Advantage and the Challenges AheadThe one-day conference, on “Energy: Investments, Employment and Exports”, which was held in Athens on April 26, 2017, highlighted the major challenges and prospects for Greece’s energy sector and its overall potential in the context of efforts now in progress for reviving the economy

The one-day conference, on "Energy: Investments, Employment and Exports”, which was held in Athens on April 26, 2017, highlighted the major challenges and prospects for Greece’s energy sector and its overall potential in the context of efforts now in progress for reviving the economy. Jointly convened by the Institute of Energy for SE Europe (IENE), the Athens Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ACCI) and thePanhellenic Exporters Association (PEA), this conference brought together senior executives and professionals from the country’s energy, banking and business community, focusing on energy as a "locomotive” for the restart of Greece’s economy in order to boost its exports and employment rates.

The opening speeches of the event, which took place in the ACCI auditorium, were delivered by the Chairman of ACCI, Mr. Constantinos Michalos, and the Chairwoman of PEA, Ms. Christina Sakellaridis, while Mr. John Chatzivassiliadis, Chairman of IENE contributed opening remarks.

This very timely conference, jointly convened by three of the most active organizations of the country, and organized by IENE, which included among its speakers high-ranking officials from Greece’s major and most influential energy groups, stressed the urgent need for the introduction of policies that would guarantee a viable course for energy investments and exports, thus improving employment in a sector so crucial for the economy.


The conference’s first session, on investment prospects of the Greek energy sector and related employment and exports, moderated by Mr. Costis Stambolis (Deputy Chairman and Executive Director, ΙΕΝΕ), included, as speakers, Mr. George Andriotis (Deputy Chairman, Public Power Corporation -PPC SA), Mr. Diomedes Stamoulis (Senior Director, Strategic Planning of Industrial Activities and Participations, Hellenic Petroleum SA, Greece, Hellenic Petroleum SA), Mr. Dinos Benroubi (Deputy CEO, Protergia) and Mr. Dimitris Gontikas (Vice-President and Managing Director, Kavala Oil SA, Part of Energean Oil & Gas Group).

The second session focused on investments in natural gas (transport, storage, distribution and markets), as well as on energy exchange and employment. Under the co-ordination of Mr. Christos Dimas (Chairman of IENE’s Geopolitics Committee & Member of the BoD), the aforementioned subjects were described and analyzed by Ms Maria Fantridaki (Financial and Administrative Activities Manager, Public Gas Corporation, DEPA), Mr. Christos Balaskas (General Manager, Gas Distribution Company of Attica, EDA Attikis SA - Attiki Natural Gas Distribution Company), Mr. AndreasDaskalakis(Director, Market Operation, & Member Support, Athens Exchange SA). During this session, Mr. Dimitris Mezartasoglou (Research Associate, IENE), presented the preliminary findings of the latest revised study of the Institute on "Energy and Employment”, the first version of which was published in 2013.

Investments on electricity grids, RES and industrial energy products, were covered during the conference’s third session, which was co-ordinated by Mr. Konstantinos Theofylaktos (Chairman, Greek Association of CHP and Chairman of IENE’s Energy Efficiency Committee). Mr. John Kambouris, (CEO, Independent Power Transmission Operator -ADMIE), Dr. Savvas Seimanidis (President, European Renewable Energies Federation -EREF), Mr. Antonis Gerasimou (Chairman and Managing Director, ΙΤΑ Group), Dr. Sotiris Kapelos (President, Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Companies - SEF), Mr. Stylianos Loumakis (Chairman, Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Energy Producers - SPEF), Mr. Efthimios Spanos (Managing Director, Solar Thermal Industry Federation - EBHE) were the speakers of this session.

The speakers of this joint event elaborated on their viewpoints on the current situation of energy business and energy markets in Greece as well the role which energy could play for the country’s exiting policy from its ongoing crisis. Most participants were in agreement that such an objective can only be achieved through investments in new projects and the promotion of exports with the parallel rejuvenation in employment. Despite the great difficulties that Greece is currently facing, as the country’s economy has been going through a long phase of decline and stagnation, many significant opportunities have arisen lately in its energy sector. Infrastructure, together with the new energy markets, has emerged as a most promising field in Greece’s energy sector, whereas there is a growing export potential in oil refining, solar thermal systems, building materials and energy related products, metering systems and services.

The conference’s main sponsors included TERNA Energy SA, Energean Oil& Gas and EDA Attikis SA (Attiki Natural Gas Distribution Company), while Greece’s leading energy portal Energia. Gr was media partner.

A microsite with the speeches, presentations and interventions of the conference will soon be available and IENE will inform its members accordingly.

EVENTS Decarbonization Policies in South East Europe – between climate change and war Webinar IENE: Energy Security in SE Europe and the East Mediterranean 27th Annual National Energy and Development Conference IENE Workshop: Prospects for the Implementation of CCUS Technologies  in Greece and SE Europe

ADVISORY SERVICES Green Bonds

PUBLICATIONS The Greek Energy Sector 2023 South East Europe Energy Outlook 2021/2022 Long-Term Gas Contracting Terms, definitions, pricing - Therory and practice More

COOPERATING ORGANISATIONS IEA Energy Institute Energy Community Eurelectric Eurogas Energy Management Institute BBSPA AERS ROEC BPIE