IENE’s 15th “Energy & Development” Conference concluded successfully
its proceedings on Tuesday, November 23. Focusing once more on the most
crucial issues of the Greek and international energy agenda, this
year’s “Energy & Development” Conference gathered more than 300
participants and speakers from Greece and abroad.
The conference opened on November 22, with a very topical address by
the Deputy Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Mr. John
Maniatis. Mr. Maniatis referred to a broad range of development in the
European and Greek energy scene and to the Ministry’s upcoming actions.
Energy Efficiency programmes, EU’s strategy on RES towards 2020, as well
as natural gas and Greece’s pursued international interconnections were
among the subjects of Mr. Maniatis’ speech.
The Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy also announced the
Request of Expressions of Interest for four Greek geothermal fields,
which was issued on November 23. Another of Mr. Maniatis’ announcements
concerned the bid for financing offers for the award of licenses for new
for Natural Gas Supply Companies (EPA) by the end of this year and the
enlargement of Revythoussa’s LNG terminal storage capacity by 95,000
cubic meters.
Finally, he referred to the electricity interconnection of the Greek
islands with the mainland, at an estimated cost of 4-5 billion euros,
which will facilitate the realization of the national target of
installing 8,000-10,000 MW from RES until 2020.
The first session of the conference, which covered Greece’s new energy
and environment policy, begun with an address by Mr John Costopoulos,
CEO of Hellenic Petroleum SA. Mr. Costopoulos stressed the need for
HELPE to play a primary role in the East Mediterranean, where demand of
oil products is anticipated to increase significantly. Hellenic
Petroleum SA., according to Mr. Costopoulos, is realigning its strategy
in order to respond to regional competition, as well as to that from
India and Arab countries. He also reminded that HELPE is the Greek
company with the largest investment programme in SE Europe, valued at
2,2 billion euros for the period 2008-2012.
The next speaker, Mr. Harris Sachinis, Chairman and CEO of DEPA
described the major changes in the international natural gas market.
Market liberalization of natural gas in Greece has made major steps,
according to Mr. Sachinis, as LNG imports made by private companies,
which only started last April, will account for 12% of the total imports
of the country in 2010.
Mr. George Peristeris, Chairman of the Hellenic Association of
Renewable Energy Electricity Producers and of GEK-TERNA SA, underlined
the great setbacks in the RES sector in Greece, owing primarily to the
shortcomings of the public sector. Yet, he stated that the country has
all the potential to become a net energy exporter, thanks to RES.
A panel discussion followed, with the participation of bank
representatives, focusing on the financing requirements of energy
infrastructure in the context of the present economic crisis. The
discussion was co-ordinated by Mr. Konstantinos Papamichalopoulos
(Lawyer, Partner KGDI and member of IENE’s BoD) and participants
included Mr. Ioannis Emiris (Alpha Bank), Mr. Manos Zozonakis (Emporiki
Bank), Mr. Konstantinos Stavridis (NBG) , Mr. Panagiotis
Papamichalopoulos (Emporiki Bank) and Mr. Ricardo Lambiris (HSBC).
The next panel discussion focused on the electricity market and was
co-ordinated by Prof. Pantelis Kapros (NTUA), Chairman of ΙΕΝΕ’s
Scientific Committee. The participants included Prof. Emmanuel Kakaras,(
Executive Director, Hellenic Association of Independent Power Producers
- ESAI), Mr. Konstantinos Kouklelis (Energy Director, VIOHALCO Group,
Chairman, Association of Industrial Energy Consumers), Mr. George
Koutsoukos (Special Advisor, Regulatory Energy Authority-RAE), Mr.
Michael Filippou (Director, Energy Planning Dept., HTSO), Mr. George
Peponis (CEO, EGL Hellas S.A.), Dr. John Desypris (Chairman of IENE and
Board Member, Protergia S.A), Mr. Spyros Tsarouchis, (CEO, ATEL HELLAS
S.A.) and Mr. Andreas Tzouros (CEO, ELPEDISON Energy S.A.). The
discussion focused on the major issue of the daily electricity market in
Greece and the prevailing distortions in the market’s function. All
participants agreed on the need of introducing a new model that will
reflect the real electricity prices.
The third session, on the opening-up of the natural gas market, was
co-ordinated by the Chairman of IENE, Dr. John Desypris. Participants
included Mr. Max Vauthier (President, LNG Brokers, Paris, France), Mr.
Spyros Paleoyannis (Deputy Chairman, DEPA S.A.), Mr. Panayotis
Kanellopoulos (CEO, Μ&Μ Gas Co. S.A.), Mr. Michael Thomadakis
(Deputy Chairman, Regulatory Energy Authority, RAE), and Mr. George
Paparsenos (CEO, DESFA S.A.). The key issue was the next steps that need
to be taken to liberalize fully the market and yet provide security of
supply to all customers.
The panel discussion on electricity grids and investments in RES, that
followed, was co-ordinated by Mr. John Chadjivasiliadis (Independent
Consultant and Secretary General of IENE). Prof. Michael Papadopoulos
(Chairman, HTSO), Mr. Panayotis Papastamatiou (Chairman, Hellenic Wind
Energy Association - HWEA), Mr. Konstantinos Tigas (Director, Division
for Energy Policy & Planning, Centre for Renewable Energy Sources
and Saving - CRES) and Mr. Christos Kalyviotis (Chairman, Hellenic
Association of Photovoltaic Companies - HELAPCO) were some of the
panelists.
Mr. Simon Uzunov, Head of Electricity Unit at the European Community
Secretariat spoke at the Conference’s 4th Session, on the second day of
the proceedings (November 23). Mr. Uzunov analyzed the key regional
energy developments in SE Europe and referred especially on the progress
in electricity interconnections, followed by Dr. Dinos Nikolaou
(Petroleum Geologist, KANEERGY Ltd). Dr. Nikolaou criticized the Greek
government’s lack of interest on hydrocarbon research in Greece, which
was also the main point of Dr. Elias Konofagos’ speech (Executive V.
President, Hydrocarbons Development, FLOW S.A.). Mr. Costis Stambolis,
Deputy Chairman & Executive Director of IENE, speaking at the same
session, underlined the importance of small natural gas interconnectors
and electricity grid interconnections for the development of the energy
sector in SE Europe.
Mr. Stambolis argued that small interconnections are far more
preferable and economically viable than large intercontinental
pipelines.
The 5th Session of the Conference focused on the global perspective of
energy. The international developments in the oil sector were analyzed
by Dr. Leo Drollas, Chief Economist at CGES (London), noting that global
oil reserves will be able to cover the future oil demand as it
developed further. Dr. Gul, Senior Energy Analyst of the International
Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris presented the World Energy Outlook 2010.
Mr. Hans ten Berge, Secretary General of Eurelectric (Brussels) and Mr.
Erlend Fjosna, Technical Advisor of the European NGO Bellona (Oslo) also
spoke in this session.
Mr. George Peristeris was the invited speaker at the official
conference luncheon of the “Energy & Development 2010” conference
that followed. Mr. Peristeris made special reference to the challenges
that private companies producing electricity face in Greece, as well as
to the imbalances of the domestic energy sector.
The “Energy & Development 2010” closed with two sessions on the
“Roadmap to 2020: Focus on Investment and Technologies”. These two
session included 14 oral and 21 poster presentations which were selected
following a call for papers that attracted many scientists and
researchers.
“Energy & Development 2010” (22 – 23 November, 2010) took place at
the “Ethniki Asfalistiki” Conference Centre (103-105 Syggrou Ave.) in
Athens. This major IENE event was organized within the framework of the
“4th Energy Week” (22-27 November 2010), under the auspices of the Greek
Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change.
For the detailed programme of the “4th Energy Week”, please click on the respective banner on IENE’s website
www.iene.gr
The sponsors of the “4th Energy Week” include Greece’s leading
industrial company Mytilineos Holdings, Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE), DEPA
(Public Gas Corporation SA)., as well as GEK - Terna, Greece’s atop RES
development company. The supporters of the “4th Energy Week” were EGL,
Siemens, DESFA (Hellenic Gas Transmission System Operator) and PPC
Renewables. Media Partners include the Greek daily “Kathimerini”,
“Ecotec”, “Natural Gas and Electricity” and “Anemologia” magazines as
well as the websites sites Euro2day and Energia.gr