Overview
2017 has been another year marked by regional geopolitical tensions and rivalries but despite this very high level of volatility, new exploration projects are underway in Greece and Cyprus creating new potential for investments in the oil & gas industry. At a global scale, the uncertainties created by Brexit and the renewed friction in US-Russian relations continue to mar the possibility for regional stability as US and EU sanctions against Russia remain in full effect. The new set of challenges that will affect EU’s Climate and Energy Policy to 2030 and beyond after President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord.
AGENDA
THURSDAY | FEBRUARY 15
11.30
PARTICIPANTS ARRIVAL – REGISTRATION
12.00
WELCOME REMARKS:
- Achilles Tsaltas, Vice President, International Conferences, The New York Times
12.10
OPENING SPEECH:
- George Stathakis, Minister of Energy and Environment, Hellenic Republic
12.25
REMARKS:
- Konstantinos Skrekas, MP – New Democracy Party, Head of Energy and Environment Sector, f. Minister of Development and Competitiveness, Hellenic Republic
12.35
REMARKS:
- Prof. Yannis Maniatis, MP – Democratic Coalition, f. Minister of Environment, Energy & Climate Change
12.45
PANEL 1: THE GLOBAL GEOPOLITICAL PARAMETERS
– Diversification of energy sources to bring about energy independence for the region
– The impact of Brexit on EU Security & Energy Policy
- Geoffrey R. Pyatt, Ambassador of the United States of America to the Hellenic Republic
- Kate Smith, British Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic
– Energy sector as a leveraging tool despite geopolitical challenges
- Nabil Fahmy, Dean, School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, American University of Cairo, f. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Egypt
- Defne Sadiklar-Arslan, Executive Director, Atlantic Council Turkey
Introduction & Chair: Athanasios Ellis, Editor in Chief, Kathimerini English Edition
13.30
NETWORKING BREAK – LIGHT LUNCH
14.30
PANEL 2: STRATEGIC PRIVATIZATION OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ENERGY SECTOR
- Laurent-Charles Thery, Director for International Development, GRTgaz
- George Longos, Managing Partner, Alantra
14.50
PANEL 3: COMPLETING THE MIDSTREAM PUZZLE: EXPORTING GAS FROM THE EASTERN MED AND THE CASPIAN SEA
– Progress report on IGB and the dynamics of a second LNG imports facility in Alexandroupolis
– TAP: Progress Report and Phase 2
– The feasibility of the East Med Gas Pipeline
– The LNG export option
- The View from Greece
- Dimitrios-Evangelos Tzortzis, CEO, Public Gas Corporation, Greece*
- Sotiris Nikas, President & CEO, Hellenic Gas Transmission System Operator – DESFA, Greece*
- Panayotis Kanellopoulos, Managing Director, M&M Gas S.A., Greece
- The View from the Region
- Katerina Papalexandri, Country Manager Greece, TAP
- Albert Nahas, Vice President, International Affairs, Tellurian Inc., U.S.A.
- Theodore Tsakiris, Assistant Professor, Geopolitics & Hydrocarbons, University of Nicosia, Cyprus & Scientific Adviser Athens Energy Forum
16.45
NETWORKING BREAK
17.00
PANEL 4: THE DOMESTIC AND REGIONAL ELECTRICITY MARKET DYNAMICS
- The continuous need for complete market liberalization
- Progress report on the Inter-connectivity between the Islands and Mainland Greece
- ADMIE’s privatization: the day after
Speeches:
- Manousos Manousakis, Chairman and CEO, Transmission System Planning Department, IPTO S.A., Greece
- Prof. Nikos Chatziargyriou, Chairman & CEO, Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator S.A.- HEDNO, Greece
- Stavros Goutsos, Deputy CEO, Public Power Corporation, Greece*
- Dinos Benroubi, General Manager Electric Power Business Unit, MYTILINEOS, Greece
17.45
END OF THE 1ST DAY OF THE FORUM
.
* TO BE CONFIRMED
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 16
09.30
ARRIVAL OF DELEGATES – COFFEE/TEA
10.00
KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
- Konstantinos Skrekas, MP – New Democracy Party, Head of Energy and Environment Sector, Former Minister of Development and Competitiveness, Greece
10.15
PANEL 5: REGIONAL UPSTREAM DEVELOPMENTS: POLITICAL, REGULATORY AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES
- The results of Cyprus’ Third Licensing Round and the Onisiphoros Discovery
- Future exploration prospects in Egypt and Israel and Lebanon’s untapped potential
- The entry of Exxon and Total in the Greek Upstream market
- Yannis Bassias, President, Hellenic Hydrocarbons Resources Management S.A., Greece
- Yannis Grigoriou, General Manager Exploration & Production of Hydrocarbons, Hellenic Petroleum S.A.
- Dr. Constantinos Hadjistassou, Ass. Professor, School of Sciences & Engineering, University of Nicosia*
- Bernard Clement, Vice President for Caspian and Southern Europe, Total E&P, France
- Dimitris Gontikas, Managing Director, Energean Oil & Gas, Greece*
- Dr. Carole Nakhle, CEO, Crystol Energy, U.K.
11.45
NETWORKING BREAK
12.15
PANEL 6: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY
- Making energy technologies cleaner
- Responsible steps to cut carbon pollution
- Winning the global race for clean energy innovation
- Dr. Dionysia Avgerinopoulou, MP, f. Chairman of the Standing Committee for the Environment of the Hellenic Parliament
- Konstantinos Xifaras, Secretary General, World Energy Council, Hellenic National Committee
- Dr. Spyros Kiartzis, Manager New Technologies & Alternative Energy Sources, Hellenic Petroleum S.A.
- Dionissis Christodoulopoulos, Managing Director, MAN Diesel & Turbo Hellas Ltd
13.00
PANEL 7: RES, ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION
- RES as a means of energy security
- Energy efficiency technologies as a new area for growth
- Overcoming regulatory hurdles for RES development
- George Gkiaouris, Senior Banker, Power & Energy, EBRD
- Professor Xenophon E. Verykios, Managing Director, Helbio Hydrogen & Energy Systems, Greece
- Zisimos Daniil Mantas, Chief Business Development Officer, Eunice Energy Group, Greece
13.45
END OF FORUM
