Sixth Regional Energy Conference Energy Development in South East Europe: energy security, sustainability, investments and growth

Opening and welcome notes from the Organizing Committee

Ivan Hinovski, Programme director, Bulgarian Energy and Mining Forum

Valentin Nikolov, Member, 43th Bulgarian National Assembly

Amb. Peter Poptchev, President, Professional Energy Union Circle

Political messages to the Conference

H.E. Mr. Tomislav Donchev, Deputy Prime Minister, Republic of Bulgaria

H.E. Ms. Temenuzhka Petkova, Minister of Energy, Republic of Bulgaria

Panel 1: Strategy for an Energy Union and energy security and their implementation in Southeast Europe – the European perspective

Moderator: Julian Popov, BPIE, Brussels

Keynote presentations:

Vladimir Uruchev, Member of the European Parliament

Role of Bulgaria as a key player in the future regional energy union

Nikolay Nikolov, Deputy minister of energy of Bulgaria

Liberalization of the electricity market – a priority of the Bulgarian energy policy

Erica Thomas, US EU Energy, Environment, Science and Technology Counsellor, Department of State

Policies towards energy security in SE Europe

Amb. Peter Poptchev, President, PEUC,

European gas hub Balkan: compliance with EU strategies; comments from European institutions and professional circles within and outside Central and SE Europe; prospects for regional integration solutions

Panel discussion

Panel 2: Prospects for new regional infrastructure and regulations for establishment of regional electricity and gas markets in Southeast Europe

Expected role of regional gas hub “Balkan”, development stage of IGB, ITG and other gas interconnectors in the region and EU LNG Strategy will be topics for discussions.

In the area of electricity markets liberalization, the topics of interest  be discussed are the role of energy exchanges and regionalization and widening of their regulation, coupling of electricity markets, possible arrangements for free-flows across borders, how to tackle overcapacity and integration of the renewable energy generation, regional capacity mechanisms, grids and interconnections, solutions for energy poverty in SEE region

Moderators: Olivier Marquette, Co-Chairman of the National Energy Chamber and Xavier Faugeras, General Manager, Total E&P Bulgaria B.V.

Keynote presentations:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ivan Ivanov, Chair, Bulgarian Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (CEWR)

Position of the Bulgarian regulator on electricity and gas markets coupling of Bulgaria, Romania and Greece – steps ahead to go

Kamen Manev, Bulgartransgaz

Plans for upgrades of the national gas transport system to prepare for establishment of interconnected natural gas market in the region

Viktoria Popovska, Bulgarian TSO

Competitive electricity market in Bulgaria and plans for its integration with the SE Europe markets and the common pan-European market

Konstanin Konstantinov, CEO, Bulgarian Independent Energy Exchange

Bulgarian Independent Energy Exchange – achievements and development

Ben Samuel, ICIS, UK

Best practice for natural gas hub planning, development and operation

Panel discussion

Panel 3: Low-carbon economy, energy efficiency and consumption management – leading EU policies towards sustainable development

The role of renewable energy, energy efficiency and innovation in SEE: the challenge of investing in renewables; improvements in the ETS; ensuring a clear and cost-effective policy framework for renewables; smart grids and smart metering; opportunities for IT and High-Tech companies in the new green economy and energy

Moderators: Krassen Stanchev, IME, Bulgaria and Meglena Rusenova, Bulgarian Photovoltaic Association

Keynote presentations:

Olivier Marquette, Executive Director, AES Bulgaria

The low carbon energy strategy and the challenges for the coal power generation in the future

Meglena Rusenova, Bulgarian Photovoltaic Association

Role of the green energy in the sustainable development of the Bulgarian economy

Vanya Benovska, WADE, USA

Distributed energy generation trends and implementation in the world today-technologies and achievements.

Vassil Petev, 3B Management AD, Bulgaria

The opportunities for IT and High-Tech companies in the future green economy and power generation in SEE

Pavel Manchev, EnEffect

Best practices in demand-side management in Bulgaria

Panel discussion

RECEPTION

Panel 4: The future of the nuclear energy on the liberalized markets and options for feasible realization of Belene NPP equipment

The role of nuclear energy in achieving the low-carbon economy and sustainable development is beyond doubt. Many countries in Europe and the rest of the world consider it as an option in their energy development efforts.

The pros and cons of the nuclear energy are discussed and optimum solutions are sought to comply with the liberalized markets where the plants will have to operate.

Bulgaria is at a crossroad to decide on the ordered equipment for Belene NPP: does the government have a viable option and what is it?

Moderator: Prof. Atanas Tassev, BEMF

Keynote presentations:

Acad. Stefan Vodenicharov, President, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Approach for building of two nuclear units with VVER-1000 reactors at Belene site: technical aspects

Anton Ivanov, BEMF

Vision for building of one nuclear unit with VVER-1000 reactor on Kozloduy NPP site: technical aspects and the state engagements

Panel discussion

with participation of the invited members of the club “Nuclear Seniors” from Kozloduy NPP

Panel 5: Enhancing the potential for domestic production of energy resources in SEE

E&P onshore and offshore operators in the maritime space around the Balkan Peninsula are expected to present info on ongoing projects, the challenges and the oil and gas E&P potential in the Black Sea and the East Mediterranean

Moderators: Valentin Nikolov, Member of the Bulgarian National Assembly and Ilian Vassilev, Innovative Energy Solutions

Keynote presentations:

Varinia Radu, CMS-CMK, Romania

Recent developments in the Romanian upstream sector

H.E. Stavros Avgoustides, Ambassador of Republic of Cyprus

Hydrocarbon Exploration Activities Offshore Cyprus

Assoc. Prof. Atanas Vasilev, Institute of Oceanology, Bulgarian Academy of Science, Assoc. Prof. Valentin Georgiev, GeoMarin Ltd.

Marine gas hydrates – nature, distribution in the European seas, exploration and production technologies developed, and forecast energy potential in the Bulgarian exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea

Zhecho Stankov, Deputy minister of energy, Bulgaria

Status of petroleum upstream activities in Bulgaria

Panel discussion

Concluding discussion panel and discussion on the Memorandum "The energy future of Southeast Europe"

Panelists: Nikolay Nikolov, Zhecho Stankov, Georgi Gegov, Julian Popov, Anton Ivanov, Ilian Vassilev, Krassen Stanchev, Meglena Rusenova, Peter Poptchev, Xavier Faugeras, Olivier Marquette

All representatives of participating parties and institutions and the corporate sector will be given an opportunity to share ideas and make proposals to the document. The Organizers/the Program Director will draft a written compilation of these conclusions and will send it to all participants for information.