The Institute of Energy for SE Europe (IENE) held in Athens, on 4-5 July 2017, an international Workshop on "Energy Security in SE Europe and the role of LNG”, which brought together high-level energy professionals from several European countries, including some of the region’s top energy players, as well as from pioneering companies working at global scaleThe Institute of Energy for SE Europe (IENE) held in Athens, on 4-5 July 2017, an international Workshop on "Energy Security in SE Europe and the role of LNG”, which brought together high-level energy professionals from several European countries, including some of the region’s top energy players, as well as from pioneering companies working at global scale.
The Workshop
succeeded in providing the latest information and analysis on the critical
issue of regional energy security and the increasingly important role of LNG
through presentations and discussions on the present situation but also on
energy demand and technology prospects and forecasts.
The event’s first session, on Tuesday, July 4, focused on the energy security dimension in SE Europe and the role of gas, and opened with welcome and introductory remarks by Mr. Costis Stambolis, Executive Director of IENE.
A highly respected energy expert, Mr. John Roberts, Senior Fellow at the, Washington DC–based, Atlantic Council (USA), as well as Energy Security Specialist at Methinks Ltd (Scotland), was among the session’s keynote speakers. Other keynote speakers included Mr. Gokhan Yardim, General Manager of Angoragaz and Manager and Partner of ADG Consultancy Ltd (Turkey) and Mr. John Arapoglou, Chairman of the BoD of Gastrade (Greece).
A panel discussion followed, with the participation of Dr. Marika Karagianni (Caspian Energy Expert, Demokriteion University of Thrace and Research Associate ΙΕΝΕ, Greece), Dr. Charles Ellinas (CEO, Cyprus Natural Hydrocarbons Company Ltd., Cyprus), Dr. Stylianos Bikos (Head, Commercial Division, Public Gas Corporation, Greece) and Mr. Dimitris Mezartasoglou (Research Associate, IENE, Greece). The discussion was co-ordinated by Mr. Christos Dimas (Chairman of IENE Geopolitics Committee, Honorary Chairman of the Hellenic-Russian Chamber of Commerce, Greece), who chaired this session.
The second session, on the global and regional LNG market perspectives, chaired by Mr. Costis Stambolis, opened with the keynote presentations by Mr. Spyros Paleogiannis (Managing Director, Med Gas and More Ltd, ex- CEO, Public Gas Corporation -DEPA, Greece) and Mr. Max Vauthier (President, LNG Value Ltd, UK).
Ms. Elfride Covvarubias (Business Development Manager for Italy & Mediterranean Area, DNV GL MARITIME, Italy), Mr. Alex Lagakos (President, Greek Energy Forum, Greece) and Dr. George Paparsenos (Independent Energy Consultant, ex- CEO DESFA, Greece) participated in this session’s panel discussion, which ended the works of the first day of the Workshop.
The second day of this international IENE event, Wednesday, July 5, started with the 3rd session, which focused on the challenges and opportunities in the regional LNG market. Mr. John Roberts chaired this session, which opened with an address by Dr. Michael Thomadakis (Head of Energy Sector, Grant Thorton, Greece), who outlined the role of LNG in bolstering energy security in SE Europe.
The 3rd session was divided in two parts. In the first one, on LNG Production and Export Options in East Mediterranean, Dr. Charles Ellinas (CEO, Cyprus Natural Hydrocarbons Company Ltd., Cyprus) and Mr. Panayotis Kanellopoulos (Managing Director, M & M Gas, Greece), participated as Keynote speakers. A panel discussion followed, with the participation of Mr. Max Vauthier and Mr. Nicholaos Sofianos (Head of Research, IENE, Greece).
The second part, on LNG storage and gasification options, analyzed both the land-based and the FSRU solutions. Mr. Nikolaos Katsis (Director of Operations Division, Hellenic Gas Transmission System Operator SA, Greece), Dr. Marika Karagianni (Caspian Energy Expert, Demokriteion University of Thrace and Research Associate ΙΕΝΕ, Greece) and Ms. Marianna Charalampous (Member of the Board, Natural Gas Public Company, Cyprus), provided, with their presentations, valuable information on the most recent developments in this sector.
The Workshop’s 4th and final session, on the growing importance of LNG for European energy security, included also two parts both chaired and co-ordinated by Mr. Spyros Paleogiannis. Ms. Elfride Covvarubias and Dr. George Paparsenos delivered presentations describing the market aspects of LNG’s rising importance for Europe, and also discussed the relevant subjects.
The technical perspectives of LNG’s implications on European energy security were analyzed by the speakers of the second part of this last session. Dr. Philip- Mark Spanidis (Project Manager, Oil & Gas Systems, Asprofos SA, Greece), Mr. Laurent Ducoup (Technical Director, Sofregaz, France), Mr. Panos Yannoulis (Chairman, Oceanking, Greece) and Ms. Daria Nochevnik (Deputy Head of Brussels Branch, Greek Energy Forum, Belgium) were the speakers of this part, who also participated in a panel discussion.
IENE’ 2-day workshop on the Energy Security in SE Europe and the role of LNG concluded with a round-up by Mr. John Roberts and Mr. Costis Stambolis.
M&M Gas, Hellenic Gas Transmission System Operation – DESFA S.A. and Greece’s Public Gas Operation –DEPA S.A. were the event’s supporters, while the daily Kathimerini and Greece’s leading energy portal, Energia. Gr, were media partners.
A microsite with the speeches, presentations and interventions of the workshop will soon be available and IENE will inform its members accordingly.
