The 12th national annual Conference “Energy & Development” titled “The Emerging Greek Energy Challenge” kicked off works late Wednesday with the opening speech of Greece’s Development Minister Christos Folias.
Mr Folias underlined Greece’s role in the new energy era with the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline and the announced South Stream pipeline.
The energy market deregulation in Greece along with the increasing role in the country’s energy balance of the Renewable Energy Sources came under the spotlight in Minister’s speech.
“Greece is at crossroads of the international oil, gas, electricity routes, enhancing, therefore, its geopolitical importance.” Mr Folias said.
PASOK MP Christos Papoutsis focused on the Russia-European Union energy relationship and the role of Turkey in the energy supply of the European Union.
Mr Papoutsis stressed the need for the construction of the LNG terminals in Europe.
On Thursday, the second day of the conference – speakers like Dr Peter Carter head of policy for UK Licensing, Exploration and Development DTI, Dr Nikos Vasilakos, Vice President of EREF, Mr Ger Klaassen Policy Analyst of DG Environment, EC Brussels, Professor Pantelis Capros of NTUA and Mr Dimitris Beis, executive secretary of SEES participated in the session titled “The New Energy and Environment Policy Package of the EU-Implications for Greece and the SE European Area.
Topics like the new European energy policy , opportunities and challenges for RES, long-term prospects for Greece and SE Europe were discussed.