The special features of this year's “SE Europe Energy Dialogue” and a group of distinguished keynote speakers, covering core energy areas, attracted wide attention at IENE's top annual event. The special features of this year's “SE Europe Energy Dialogue” and a group of distinguished keynote speakers, covering core energy areas, attracted wide attention at IENE's top annual event. The Ambassadors' Forum, the "Country Reports from SE Europe", as well as the sessions on Geopolitics and Energy Security in SE Europe, and the session on the Regional Power Exchanges, underscored the uniqueness of this year's SEEED, which was held in a hybrid format in Thessaloniki, on May 25-26, 2023. Another feature of the event was the participation of representatives from influential energy industry associations in Europe, such as Fuels Europe, EFET and AVERE.
More specifically, the Ambassadors' Forum, expertly moderated by John Roberts, the Conference Rapporteur, with the participation of HE Mr. Matthew Lodge, UK's Ambassador in Greece, Mr. Erik Holmgren, Economic Counselor at the US Embassy in Athens and HE Mr. Michael Christides, Ambassador (a.h.) and former Secretary General of PERMIS-BSEC, showcased the international interest in energy developments in SE Europe. Additionally, the "Country Reports from SE Europe" contributed by acclaimed experts, offered a detailed look into each country’s energy situation, providing essential context for comprehending the energy dynamics of SE Europe. The conference also underscored the geopolitical aspect of the current energy crisis, under the light of the ongoing war in Ukraine, with a dedicated session on Geopolitics and Energy Security in SE Europe.
Dr. Katja Yafimava, Senior Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, UK, was the keynote speaker in the session on Energy Security and the Strategic Role of Gas, whereas as Mr. Efthimios Tartaras, the Head of Geoscience & Advisor to the CEO in HEREMA, Greece, was a speaker in the Oil & Gas Exploration session of the 14th SEEED. Professor Victor Mocanu, Dean of the Geology and Geophysics Department at the University of Bucharest, focused on hydrocarbon exploration and production in the Black Sea area while Prof. Ionut Purica, also from Romania, contributed to the “Energy and Geopolitics in SEE” session, which was expertly moderated by Mr. Slavtcho Neykov, chairman of the Board of EMI in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Mr. George Spyrou, Executive Director at Terna Energy S.A., Greece, was the keynote speaker in the session on Key Issues in Regional Energy Transition, while Dr. Margarita Dareioti, Project Manager at DEPA, Greece, and Dr. Muhsin Mazman, Director Energy Storage Division at T-Dynamic, Turkey, were among the speakers in the same session. Mr. Konstantinos Chatzifotis, EU Affairs Manager at Motor Oil, Greece, was the keynote speaker in the session on Transportation Outlook, Hydrogen and CCUS, covering regional issues concerning refining, green guels, electric vehicles and LNG, while other significant speakers in the same session included Mr. Philippe Vangeel, Secretary General of AVERE, in Brussels, representing the European Association for Electromobility, and Ms. Marta Yugo, Policy Executive at Fuels Europe, Brussels.
In the session on Electricity & Gas Market Dynamics, among the speakers were Ms. Efi Millioni, Market Analysis & Back Office Department Manager at ELPEDISON S.A, Greece, Prof. Pantelis Biskas, Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece, and Mr. Arben Kllokoqi, Director for Electricity Market Design of EFET (European Federation of Energy Traders) took the floor in this year's “SE Europe Energy Dialogue” event.
Finally, the vital role and tasks of the region’s Power Exchanges was discussed in a special session moderated by Mr. Aleksandar Mijuskovic, who is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of CGES in Montenegro. Other contributors to Session VII included Mr. Sokol Dishnica, CEO at ALPEX, the Albanian Power Exchange, Dr. Tamer Emre, Director of Market Operations at EXIST, the Energy Exchange of Istanbul, Mr. Antony Zhelyazkov, Head of Market Operations at IBEX, the Bulgarian Energy Exchange, Mr. Milos Mladenovic, Managing Director of SEEPEX, the SEE Power Exchange, located in Belgrade and Mr. Manolis Kalaitzakis, Director for Strategy and Business Development of the EnEx Group in Athens.
In its effort to enrich the content of the 14th SE Energy Dialogue, the Institute had prepared and circulated in advance an important background paper (here), entitled “Key Energy Issues in SE Europe: Current Challenges and Prospects”, which helped put in context the whole meeting.
The 14th SEE Energy Dialogue was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Regulatory Authority of Energy (RAE). Main sponsors of the 14th SEE Energy Dialogue included HELLENiQ ENERGY, the Hellenic Energy Exchange (EnEx), and the law firm KG Law. The supporters included the companies Elpedison, Energean, Exist, SEleNe CC, EnSCo, HEREMA, DEPA Commercial, TERNA Energy, and ADMIE. Media sponsors included the energy portal Energia.gr, the NE Global website, Energypress and SeeNews.
