The one-day conference, on
"Energy: Investments, Employment and Exports”, which was held in Athens on
April 26, 2017, highlighted the major challenges and prospects for Greece’s
energy sector and its overall potential in the context of efforts now in
progress for reviving the economy. Jointly convened by the Institute of Energy
for SE Europe (IENE), the Athens Chamber of Commerce &
Industry (ACCI) and thePanhellenic Exporters
Association (PEA), this conference brought together senior executives and
professionals from the country’s energy,
banking and business community, focusing on energy as a
"locomotive” for the restart of Greece’s economy in order to boost its exports
and employment rates.
The opening speeches of the
event, which took place in the ACCI auditorium, were delivered by the Chairman
of ACCI, Mr. Constantinos Michalos, and the Chairwoman of PEA, Ms. Christina
Sakellaridis, while Mr. John Chatzivassiliadis, Chairman of IENE contributed
opening remarks.
This very timely conference,
jointly convened by three of the most active organizations of the country, and
organized by IENE, which included among its speakers high-ranking officials from
Greece’s major and most influential energy groups, stressed the urgent need for
the introduction of policies that would guarantee a viable course for energy
investments and exports, thus improving employment in a sector so crucial for the
economy.
The conference’s first session, on investment prospects of the Greek energy
sector and related employment and exports, moderated by Mr. Costis Stambolis (Deputy
Chairman and Executive Director, ΙΕΝΕ), included, as speakers, Mr. George
Andriotis (Deputy Chairman, Public Power Corporation -PPC SA), Mr. Diomedes
Stamoulis (Senior Director, Strategic Planning of Industrial Activities and
Participations, Hellenic Petroleum SA, Greece, Hellenic Petroleum SA), Mr.
Dinos Benroubi (Deputy CEO, Protergia) and Mr. Dimitris Gontikas
(Vice-President and Managing Director, Kavala Oil SA, Part of Energean Oil
& Gas Group).
The second session focused on investments
in natural gas (transport, storage, distribution and markets), as well as on energy
exchange and employment. Under the co-ordination of Mr. Christos Dimas (Chairman of IENE’s Geopolitics Committee & Member of
the BoD), the aforementioned subjects were described and analyzed by Ms Maria
Fantridaki (Financial and Administrative Activities Manager, Public Gas
Corporation, DEPA), Mr. Christos Balaskas (General Manager, Gas Distribution
Company of Attica, EDA Attikis SA - Attiki Natural Gas Distribution Company),
Mr. AndreasDaskalakis(Director, Market Operation, & Member
Support, Athens Exchange SA). During this session, Mr. Dimitris Mezartasoglou
(Research Associate, IENE), presented the preliminary findings of the latest
revised study of the Institute on "Energy and Employment”, the first version of
which was published in 2013.
Investments on electricity grids,
RES and industrial energy products, were covered during the conference’s third
session, which was co-ordinated by Mr. Konstantinos Theofylaktos (Chairman,
Greek Association of CHP and Chairman of IENE’s Energy Efficiency Committee). Mr.
John Kambouris, (CEO, Independent Power Transmission Operator -ADMIE), Dr.
Savvas Seimanidis (President, European Renewable Energies Federation -EREF), Mr. Antonis Gerasimou (Chairman and
Managing Director, ΙΤΑ Group), Dr. Sotiris Kapelos (President, Hellenic
Association of Photovoltaic Companies - SEF), Mr. Stylianos Loumakis (Chairman,
Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Energy Producers - SPEF), Mr. Efthimios
Spanos (Managing Director, Solar Thermal Industry Federation - EBHE) were the
speakers of this session.
The speakers of this joint event elaborated on their viewpoints on the
current situation of energy business and energy markets in Greece as well the
role which energy could play for the country’s exiting policy from its ongoing crisis.
Most participants were in agreement that such an objective can only be achieved
through investments in new projects and the promotion of exports with the
parallel rejuvenation in employment. Despite the great difficulties that Greece
is currently facing, as the country’s economy has been going through a long
phase of decline and stagnation, many significant opportunities have arisen
lately in its energy sector. Infrastructure, together with the new energy
markets, has emerged as a most promising field in Greece’s energy sector,
whereas there is a growing export potential in oil refining, solar thermal
systems, building materials and energy related products, metering systems and
services.
The conference’s main sponsors
included TERNA Energy SA, Energean Oil& Gas and EDA Attikis SA (Attiki
Natural Gas Distribution Company), while Greece’s leading energy portal
Energia. Gr was media partner.
A microsite with the speeches, presentations and interventions of the conference
will soon be available and IENE will inform its members accordingly.