Energy and Development 2013

Tuesday, December 3, 2013 - Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The Institute of Energy for SE Europe (IENE) is organizing, once again in Athens, its annual National Energy Conference “Energy and Development 2013” on December 3-4, 2013. This year’s conference theme will focus on the “Sustainability and Security of Greece’s Energy System”.

The conference will be attended by senior executives, scientists, engineers and energy professionals from all the major Greek energy-related companies and also by policy-makers. Participations is also expected from other European countries especially from S.E. Europe and by international electricity, RES, oil and natural gas companies. The Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Prof. John Maniatis and other senior political figures have accepted IENE’s invitation to address the conference.

The conference will cover the following subject areas:

• Energy Geopolitics in Greece and SE Europe     
• The Oil Market: Regional Developments and International Trends     
• Oil & Gas: HydrocarbonExploration and Production     
• The Domestic Energy Market: Prices and Sustainability     
• Power Generation and Investments in the Next Decade     
• The Transformation of the Power Sector, the Electricity Market and RES     
• Transformation of the Energy Market and Competition Issues     
• Towards EU’s Goals of 2020/ 2030 and the Role of Renewable Energy Sources in Greece and SE Europe

Geopolitics, Sustainability, Energy Security and related economic developments are some of the key parameters of the Greek energy system which IENE’s 18th Annual National Conference “Energy & Development 2013” will consider. The “open-door” licensing round for hydrocarbon exploration in Western Greece, the planned non-exclusive seismic surveys in offshore areas in the Ionian and south of Crete, the ongoing exploration in the EEZ of Cyprus, the South Corridor’s passage through Greece, the financial crisis in Greece and the Eurozone, the current violent political transformation in the Middle East and North Africa among others form a complex geopolitical setting that will, undoubtedly influence Greece’s energy developments in the years to come.

Energy, being one of the most dynamic sectors of the global economy, has undergone an impressive expansion over the last 25 years, mainly as a result of the steep rise in energy consumption in most countries and especially in emerging economies. The improvement of living standards along with significant investments in energy infrastructure has contributed to the current affluent situation. On the other hand, energy consumption on such a large scale has a negative impact on the environment (i.e. Climate Change), necessitating the introduction of new technologies and measures in order to mitigate adverse conditions and at the same time achieve sustainable development. The high cost of the introduction of RES in Greece and SE Europe and how it affects investment and future energy policies is a key area of interest in this year’s conference. These aspects, together with the most recent economic and geopolitical developments in Greece, SE Europe and neighbouring areas, will form the background of presentations and discussions that will take place during this year’s "Energy & Development” conference.

A review of latest developments, the exchange of views and most importantly, the formulation of useful conclusions will, once again dominate the proceedings of, this IENE annual conference. The various facets of energy policy, sectorial energy markets and their operation and the overall prospects in the energy field in Greece and SE Europe will be analysed by some of the better known experts and professionals of the domestic and international energy scene. Furthermore, panel discussions with the participation of well-known market players will take place.

The “Energy & Development 2013” conference is organized under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change and will take place at the “Eugenides Foundation”, conference facilities in Faliron a short distance from the center of Athens (387, Syngrou Av., 175 64 Athens). Thanks to the contribution and support by some of Greece’s leading energy corporations as well as by some well known international energy companies, “Energy & Development” has evolved over the years as the key event for energy policy and business in Greece and SEEurope.