Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend / An international conference 'Gas for Europe: New Rivalry, Supplies - Role of NABUCCO' organized by the Hungarian Government and British Financial Times newspaper will take place in Budapest on 14 September.
The program of the conference is as follows :
Friday, 14th September 2007
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09:00 Opening Remarks from the Chair
Mr Ed Crooks, Energy Editor, Financial Times (Moderator)
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09:10 KEYNOTE OPENING ADDRESS
Mr Ferenc Gyurcsany, Prime Minister of the Republic of Hungary
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LONG-TERM SUPPLY/LONG-TERM COMPETITION - DEFINING ENERGY CHALLENGE OF THE 21st CENTURY
09:25 Europe's Energy Situation and its Global Context
Mr Patrick Heren, Chairman, Heren Energy
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09:45 Scenarios for Europe - The EU Perspective
Dr Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for Energy, European Commission
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10:00 Energy Challenges for New Europe
Mr Zsolt Hernadi, President and CEO, MOL
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10:15 Nabucco - Energy Project in the Heart of Europe
Mr Reinhard Mitschek, Managing Director, Nabucco Gas Pipeline International GmbH
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HOW TO PUT THE NABUCCO PROJECT INTO PRACTICE: SUBSTANTIATING THE BUSINESS CASE
11:15 The feasibility and viability of the Nabucco project requires a critical assessment of the fundamental assumptions underpinning its business case, including the role of gas in Europe's future energy mix, its positioning vis a vis alternative solutions, and critically, an assessment of its ability to secure adequate gas supplies from alternative and emerging sources such as the Caspian, and the Middle East.
The Role of Gas in Europe's Future Energy Mix
The role of gas in Europe's energy mix and competitiveness vis a vis other fuels and technologies
Can LNG be a long-term supply solution for Europe?
Prospects for the LNG market given current lack of critical infrastructure, lack of fungible and tradable market?
Mr James Ball, President and Chief Mentor, Gas Strategies Consulting
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NABUCCO AND SUPPLY DIVERSIFICATION IN EUROPE
11:40 The success of Nabucco is dependent on its ability to secure adequate gas suppliers from alternative and emerging sources such as the Caspian and the Middle East. Speakers in this session will explore the potential and reliability of these markets as suppliers for Nabucco, as well as the technical and financial challenges, and the commercial feasibility of bringing these sources to Europe via Nabucco.
Assessing the role and prospects of the Caspian as a supplier for Europe and Nabucco: examining the technical and financial challenges associated with bringing Caspian resources to the European market; prospects for a Trans Caspian pipeline? The role of Turkmenistan as a future energy supplier?
The outlook for Russian oil and gas: what is the outlook in the longer term, given the critical lack of investment in their resource base?
Who are the possible alternative sources and suppliers? To what extent, and in what time frame might alternative suppliers such as Iraq, Iran become suppliers to the European market, and to Nabucco in particular? The role of African suppliers e.g Egypt, Libya?
Assessing the competitiveness of gas transported via long distance pipeline to Europe - the feasibility of Nabucco vis a vis other pipeline alternatives e.g. Nordstream, Bluestream 11, and vis a vis other supply alternatives e.g. LNG from North Africa, Qatar, etc. What are the most cost effective and realistic options for Europe?
Mr Natig Aliyev, Minister of Industry and Energy, Republic of Azerbaijan
Mr Vladimir Milov, President, Institute of Energy Policy
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BUSINESS PERSPECTIVES
13:55 The Financiers' Perspective
What are the political/economic risks associated with the project?
What are the essential conditions, which must be met to secure financing for the project? What do the financiers view as the role of government in enabling the Nabucco project?
To what extent would expanding existing pipeline and other energy projects be a feasible alternative to Nabucco?
Outlook for oil and gas prices going forward and impact on feasibility.
Regulatory challenges: can Nabucco achieve the competition exemptions required from the Europe Union which will allow the full control of the project on which its economic viability depends?
Mr Thomas Barrett, Director, EIB
Mr Kevin Bortz, Director, Natural Resources, EBRD
Dr Peter Kaderjak, Director, Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Budapest, Hungary
Mr William Stevens, Director, Oil and Gas, Project and Export Finance, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (Panelist)
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14:45 The Investor's Perspective
What does the investor view as the principle challenges and solutions for taking the Nabucco project forward?
What is the view of the investor on the government's role and what might be needed from government/s to take the project forward?
Mr Huseyin Saltuk Duzyol, Acting General Manager and Chairman of the Board, BOTAS
Mr Stefan Judisch, CEO, RWE Gas Midstream
Mr Jean-Marie Dauger, Chief Operating Officer, Gaz de France
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15:55 The Role of the Government
What do the policy makers see as the challenges/impediments facing Nabucco and the possible solutions?
How are governments creating the enabling environment (e.g. legal, tax investment,) as well as the completive energy markets, which will provide the vital interconnections and commercial collaborations on which the future project viability depends?
To what extent can conflicting interests be addressed to secure the viability and financial support of the project going forward?
How should Nabucco be viewed in the context of overall European Energy, supply and how effectively does it contribute to the European strategy of energy diversification, and to the objective of a pan-European energy policy?
How can the EU help the project?
Mr Ed Crooks, Energy Editor, Financial Times (Moderator)
Dr Martin Bartenstein, Minister of Economics and Labour, Republic of Austria
Mr Valentin Ivanov, Government of Bulgaria
Mr Van Aartsen, EU Coordinator for the Nabucco Project
Mr Darius Mesca, State Secretary, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Romania
Mr Alfonso Gianni, State Secretary of Economic Development, Italy
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16:25 CONCLUDING KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Mr Janos Koka, Minister of Economics and Transport, Republic of Hungary
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