Energy forum 2014

[readon2 url="http://www.analyticamk.org/images/Files/Agenda_01fc0.pdf"]Agenda[/readon2] | [readon2 url="http://www.analyticamk.org/images/Files/Conclusions_8143d.pdf"]Conclusions[/readon2]

On 11 June 2014 in Skopje took place for the second time an Energy forum which was jointly organized by the U.S. Embassy in Skopje and Analytica. The forum aimed to be a platform for exchange between diplomats, government officials, businesses, the international community and civil society on the topics of energy security, gasification, energy policies and cooperation relative to Macedonia and the Balkan region from geopolitical, economic, and policy perspectives.

The idea behind this forum was continuing the dialogue on the topic of energy in Macedonia and the region, as it is a topic of great interest to many different entities, and is one which directly affects the lives of everyone in the region. The forum was organized in four panels and two presentations which covered topics as energy security - associated corporate and political risk; European energy policy, Russia and the Balkans; source diversification - pipelines and liquefied natural gas; and regionalization and cooperation - Macedonia's direction.

The U.S. Ambassador H.E. Paul D. Wohlers, the Head of the EU Delegation in Skopje Ambassador H.E. Aivo Orav, U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Political and Economic Affairs Ryan Stoner and Analytica's Research and Management Coordinator Sonja Zuber opened the forum. In the forum participated representatives from the diplomatic community as the Ukrainian Embassy, Bulgarian Embassy, Embassy of Kosovo, from the business sector MEPSO, Makpetrol, Strumica Gas, EVN Macedonia, Macedonian Energy Resources, Energy Delivery Systems, Gazprom Export Macedonia, government representatives as the Deputy Minister of Economy Hristijan Delev, representatives from the international community as the Energy Community Secretariat, EU Delegation in Skopje, donors such as USAID, the civil society, members of the academic community, consultants, professionals and experts in the energy area.

At the forum the necessity of energy source diversification, further regional energy market integration, continuous energy market liberalization and intensified regional cooperation and exchange in the energy domain was stressed. Furthermore, the need of construction of local gas infrastructure, implementation of the EU third energy package, reform of the heat market, continuous work regarding connecting to various regional gas pipelines, considering also gas supply options such as liquefied or compressed natural gas, as well as the importance of sustainable development were underlined. This forum contributed to the clarification of different stakeholders’ interests in regards to energy and offered a better understanding of the geopolitical and economic frameworks within which energy interests operate in Macedonia and the Balkans.

Pictures of the conference may be found here.

For more information on the conference, please contact Ms Ana Stojilovska, Research Fellow of the Energy and Infrastructure Programme: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.