As the repercussions of the latest energy crisis are still being felt across Europe, the Institute is going ahead with its plans to organise the annual “SEE Energy Dialogue” which will be held in Thessaloniki, in JuneAs the repercussions of the latest energy crisis are still being felt across Europe, the Institute is going ahead with its plans to organise the annual “SEE Energy Dialogue” which will be held in Thessaloniki, in June. The town of Thessaloniki, Greece’s northern commercial capital, will once again host this year’s colloquium as it is located at the commercial and energy crossroads of SE Europe and the East Mediterranean. In this sense the Institute is expecting maximum participation from all counties in the broader region including the West Balkans, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Central Europe and Greece as well as from regional and international organizations and think tanks.
From the very start the “SEE Energy Dialogue” has been established by IENE as an important regional event spanning the entire energy spectrum and involving most countries in the region. The purpose of this regional forum, which is being organized with the support of leading and regional organisations and major energy companies, is to bring together high-ranking government officials, senior business executives and energy experts from all countries of S.E. Europe and beyond. The objective being the free exchange of information and ideas, networking and the furthering of cooperation between all countries in SE Europe.
The “SEE Energy Dialogue” has been conceived as an open forum for furthering the idea of a SE European energy bridge between East and West and North of South, and for promoting initiatives aimed at tackling the region's complex energy and environmental challenges. In this context representatives from major energy suppliers are also expected to have a strong presence in this year’s conference including senior government officials and company executives from major Central Asian and Middle East producers.
Europe, and particularly SE Europe, is highly dependent on imported fossil fuels and in this sense the efforts for decarbonization and energy autonomy will be discussed at length. The quest for clean energy solutions will be at the front of this important regional meeting. The “Energy Dialogue” will also cover the latest developments in the region’s evolving natural gas, electricity and RES markets and the ongoing energy partnerships with major oil and gas suppliers.
Energy security will once again be at the forefront of the debate concerning the safeguarding of oil and gas supplies to the region in view of ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. The role of alternative gas supply routes, LNG shipments, cross border interconnections and electricity grid upgrades and international electricity interconnections together with latest achievements in renewable energy and CCUS applications will also be examined.
The 15th SE Europe Energy Dialogue will be held at The Met Hotel in Thessaloniki. The conference will start at on Wednesday afternoon, June 19 to be followed by the official cocktail reception and will end on Thursday afternoon, May 20. The event programme is under preparation and will be announced shortly.
