Promoting energy security and investment in the Black Sea area: The role of multilateral cooperation

Today, on 27 July 2010, the Black Sea has become a key area within the context of energy relations between Europe and Eurasia. But despite the development of important energy projects, the region's considerable energy potential identified in earlier studies remains largely unfulfilled. If the Black Sea is to emerge as a major energy region, attention will need to be given to understanding clearly the energy opportunities and the challenges that currently confront the countries of the region. On 27 July 2010, the Energy Charter Secretariat in cooperation with the organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung organised a conference on Promoting energy security and investment in the Black Sea area: The role of multilateral cooperation.

The Conference focused on the following central question: 'How can the Black Sea region's full energy potential be achieved given the substantial barriers that have impeded energy projects over recent decades?'

This important issue was addressed in the keynote speeches delivered by the Minister of Fuel and Energy of Ukraine Yuriy Boyko, the EU Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger, the Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism of Bulgaria Traycho Traykov, the Minister of Energy of Georgia Aleksandre Khetaguri, and the Deputy Undersecretary of the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources Selahattin Çimen.

This highly successful event brought together over 150 participants from various countries and international organisations. Senior figures from government, industry, international bodies and non-governmental organisations presented their views on the key issues that lie before the Black Sea states and the international community in the promotion of energy security and investment in the energy sector.

Programme and Presentations

Welcome and Opening Statements

Oleksandr Prokopenko
Secretary, Odessa City Council

André Mernier
Secretary General, Energy Charter Secretariat

Leonidas Chrysanthopoulos
Secretary General, Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation-PERMIS

Andreas von Below
Country Director Bulgaria, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

Session One: Energy Challenges in the Black Sea Area

Chaired by Andreas von Below, Director, KAS/Bulgaria

Dario Chello
Director for Energy Efficiency and Investment, Energy Charter Secretariat

James Sherr
Head, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House

Valentina Pop
Reporter, Euobserver.com

John Roberts
Global Energy Security Analyst, Platts

Discussion

Session Two: Energy Investment Needs, Opportunities and Risks

Chaired by Jean-Marie Devos, Secretary General, Eurogas

Graham Coop
General Counsel, Energy Charter Secretariat

Liviu Muresan
Executive President of the Eurisc Foundation, Romania

Manfred Schrenk
Managing Director, Central European Institute of Technology (CEIT), Austria; Member of Board of the Energy Worldwide Holding

Michael Sipos
Managing Director, SPM International

Discussion

Session Three: The Role of International Organisations in the Black Sea Area Energy Challenges

Chaired by André Mernier, Secretary General, Energy Charter Secretariat

Vladimir Rakhmanin (in Russian)
Deputy Secretary General, Energy Charter Secretariat

Traian Chebeleu
Deputy Secretary General, BSEC

Michael Thomadakis
Chairman, Energy Charter Investment Group

Matteo Colangeli
Senior Banker, EBRD

Ann Eggington
Head of Division, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Directorate of Global Energy Dialogue, International Energy Agency

Discussion

Plenary Session: Multilateral Policy Responses to Energy Challenges in the Black Sea Area

Chaired by Selim Kuneralp, Chairman of the Energy Charter Conference

Yuriy Boyko (in Russian)
Minister of Fuel and Energy, Ukraine

Günther Oettinger
EU Commissioner for Energy

Traycho Traykov
Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism, the Republic of Bulgaria

Aleksandre Khetaguri
Minister of Energy, Georgia

Selahattin Çimen
Deputy Undersecretary, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, the Republic of Turkey

Discussion

André Mernier, Secretary General, Energy Charter Secretariat

Andreas von Below, Country Director Bulgaria, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

Dario Chello, Director for Energy Efficiency and Investment, Energy Charter Secretariat

James Sherr, Head, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House

Valentina Pop, Reporter, Euobserver.com

John Roberts, Global Energy Security Analyst, Platts

Graham Coop, General Counsel, Energy Charter Secretariat

Liviu Muresan, Executive President of the Eurisc Foundation, Romania

Jean-Marie Devos, Secretary General, Eurogas

Manfred Schrenk, Managing Director, Central European Institute of Technology (CEIT), Austria; Member of Board of the Energy Worldwide Holding

Michael Sipos, Managing Director, SPM International

The Panel

André Mernier, Secretary General, Energy Charter Secretariat

Matteo Colangeli, Senior Banker, EBRD

Ann Eggington, Head of Division, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Directorate of Global Energy Dialogue, IEA

Vladimir Rakhmanin, Deputy Secretary General, Energy Charter Secretariat

Traian Chebeleu, Deputy Secretary General, BSEC

Michael Thomadakis, Chairman, Energy Charter Investment Group

Yuriy Boyko, Minister of Fuel and Energy, Ukraine

Günther Oettinger, EU Commissioner for Energy

Selahattin Çimen, Deputy Undersecretary, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Turkey

Plenary Session - The Panel

Press Conference for Günther Oettinger and Yuriy Boyko

Günther Oettinger, André Mernier, Selim Kuneralp

Selim Kuneralp, André Mernier, Yuriy Boyko, Vladimir Rakhmanin

Participants

Günther Oettinger, EU Commissioner for Energy Yuriy Boyko, Minister of Fuel and Energy, Ukraine Selim Kuneralp, Chairman of the Energy Charter Conference

The Panel