Decarbonisation policies in SE Europe, in the light of both climate change and the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, was the focus of the joint IENE – ROEC event that took place on Wednesday, March 13, in the Romanian capital, BucharestDecarbonisation policies in SE Europe, in the light of both climate change and the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, was the focus of the joint IENE – ROEC event that took place on Wednesday, March 13, in the Romanian capital, Bucharest. The Institute of Energy SE Europe (IENE) and the Romania Energy Center (ROEC) co-organized a one-day conference, entitled "Decarbonization Policies in South East Europe- Between Climate Change and War", which was held at the headquarters of the European Commission delegation in Bucharest with a large participation by members of the business and energy community of Romania as well as of the countries of the broader region. Also, there was a large number of people who followed the event via livestreaming.
The conference covered current trends in decarbonisation policies and the way they are being implemented across SE Europe, with emphasis on Greece and Romania. The event focused on the ongoing market and political changes in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent hostilities. In this context the impact of the policy measures taken under the EU's REPowerEU strategy, immediately after the start of the war, was examined.
More particularly, the speakers focused on current EU policies in the energy sector, with an emphasis on the further promotion of RES and the introduction of hydrogen, while there were extensive references to the current plans to expand the use of nuclear power and the promotion of “clean” fuels in the transport sector. At the same time, the role of natural gas in energy security was emphasized, as well as its role in providing flexible baseload. In addition, the importance of latest progress in natural gas infrastructure and the much-needed expansion and upgrade of the electricity grid networks in SE Europe was highlighted.
The participants in this joint IENE-ROEC event were welcomed, with short opening remarks, by Ms. Eugenia Gusilov, Director of the Romania Energy Center (ROEC), by the Chairman and Executive Director of the Energy Institute of SE Europe (IENE), Mr. Costis Stambolis, as well as by Ms. Mara Roman, on behalf of the European Commission Representation in Romania.
Speakers and moderators included Mr. Christos Dimas, Deputy Chairman of IENE and Chair of the Scientific Committee on Geopolitics & Energy of IENE, the Chairman of IENE, Mr. Costis Stambolis, Dr. Teodor Chirica, on behalf of Romatom, the body representing the Romanian nuclear energy industry, and also Chairman of the Board of the semi-state nuclear company energy company in Romania, Nuclearelectrica, Ms. Ramona Moldovan, Secretary General Adjunct at the Romanian Ministry of Energy, Mr. Marius Lungu, Policy Officer of DG Energy at the European Commission, Mr. Yiannis Tamaresis, Senior Executive of TERNA Energy, Mr. Nikos Sofianos, Energy Consultant and Chairman of the RES Committee of IENE, Ms. Zsuzsa Bereschi, Principal at Horváth Utilities Group, Mr. Bogdan Termegan, Expert at RoPower Nuclear, Mr. Raul Cazan, President of 2Celsius, Ms. Daniela Staicu, Researcher at Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Mr. Giorgos Satlas Co-Chief Executive Officer of Sofia based ICGB, Ms. Otilia Nutu, Energy Expert, Mr. Kostas Theofylaktos, Secretary General of IENE and Chairman of the Institute’s Energy Efficiency Committee, and Mr. Yiannis Dovelos, Business Area Manager of Asprofos Engineering.
Finally, an important intervention was made by the Ambassador of Greece to Romania, HE Ms. Lili Evangelia Grammatika, in which she emphasized the positive role of Greece in strengthening the energy security of the region.
The conference was sponsored by TERNA Energy S.A., Greece’s leading renewables company (www.terna-energy.gr), while the engineering company Asprofos, a member of the HELLENiQ ENERGY Group contributed as Supporter.
