IENE is in the process of organizing a conference on «Energy & Development in Crete», to be held next spring on the island of Crete. Initially planned to take place in late October 2005, the interest raised among potential participant agencies and companies led to the decision of rescheduling its date to end-March or early April 2006. The Conference will be held in Hania under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of Development, in collaboration with local authorities (Municipality of Hania, Hania Prefecture), the Regional Council of Crete, the prefectures of Iraklion, Lasithi and Rethymnon as well as the Energy Centre of Crete.
As IENE's chairman, Mr Costis Stambolis, pointed out: «Up to now, energy issues in Greece's insular regions have not received adequate attention either from local authorities or from companies as, in most cases, they were the responsibility of national agencies such as the Public Power Corporation (DEI) or, in a more distant past, the Public Petroleum Corporation (DEP). However, following the liberalization of the energy market on an international and European level –and, more recently, in Greece as well–, the act of ensuring energy resources has now come under the sole responsibility of local society (e.g. local government, local public companies) and private companies. The Conference's aim is, primarily, to discuss the "energy landscape" in Crete as regards the resource situation, demand, supplies and consumption. The discussion of planning issues for ensuring energy supplies in the coming years, as well as regarding the necessary infrastructure, are also part of the agenda. Lastly, the Conference will include presentations and discussions both on traditional forms of energy (e.g. oil, natural gas, LNG, electricity) and on renewable and decentralized forms of energy, such as solar energy, wind power, biomass, hydropower and geothermal energy»
The Conference's aim is to result in a panoramic presentation of energy issues in Crete. IENE's viewpoint is that the sole means of reaching environmentally acceptable, technically feasible and economically viable solutions stems from a global approach of energy.
The Conference's completion will be followed by the publication of its proceedings, which will constitute a useful guide and a precious reference book. Finally, any proposals that might arise in the course of the Conference will be formulated in full detail once it is over so as to be submitted to the Regional Council, the Ministry of Development and other interested parties.
The subjects of discussion during the Conference include the following:
· Energy Demand and Consumption in Crete
· Production, Transportation and Distribution of Electricity
· Location of New Electricity-producing Plants
· Storage and Distribution of Oil Products
· Possibilities of Importing Natural Gas in Crete
· Research and Exploiration of Hydrocarbons
· The further Development of Crete's Wind Power Potential
· The further utilisation of Solar Energy
· Design and Construction of Bio-climatic Buildings
· Agricultural Crops and Biomass Exploitation for the
Production of Heat, Electricity and Bio-fuels
· Geothermal Fields and their Exploitation
The detailed programme and the exact dates of the Conference will be announced as soon as an understanding is reached with the various local authorities, the Hellenic Ministry of Development, the Regulatory Authority for Energy (RΑΕ), the Public Power Corporation, etc.