Seminar on Benefits and Challenges of Energy Community Membership for Georgia
On February 20th 2014 World Experience for Georgia (WEG) and Ilia State University organized the first seminar of a series of city seminars on Energy Policy and Sustainable development – “Benefits and Challenges of Energy Community Membership for Georgia`.
The seminar was devoted to stakeholder discussion of benefits and challenges of Georgia’s membership in Energy Community. The seminar was opened with the keynote speech of EU Commissioner in Energy Mr. Guenther Oettinger, who spoke about Georgia`s increasingly important role as a key transit country for the Southern Gas Corridor. `The EU attaches great value to Georgia`s decision to move close to the EU, not only in economic terms, but also as regard our common values`- Mr. Oettinger said.
Seminar was moderated by Murman Margvelashvili – World Experience for Georgia (WEG)- Director in Energy Studies, other speakers were: Fabrizio Barbasso –Deputy Director-General – External policy and development of financial instruments, Mariam valishvili – Deputy Minister of Energy, Giorgi Vashakmadze – Trans Caspian Gas Pipeline Project (W-Stream consortium, UK), Sukru Bogut – Senior Energy Infrastructure Advisor, USAID and Giorgi Mukhigulishvili – energy researcher at WEG.
Seminar was attended by experts, students and academia, public officials, CSOs and general public, Who showed high attention and expressed a desire for more involvement in future events. Topics for further discussion, research or actions were also highlighted.
On the seminar WEG announced an opening of a new Energy Research Institute in the Ilia State University and the preparation of a new MBA program in Energy and Sustainable development where a new generation of competitive professionals in energy and sustainability will be prepared.
The seminar was support by EU and Conrad Adenauer Foundation.
- Ukraine, Energy Community and the EU – Mykhailo Gonchar
- USAID Assistance to Georgia – Şükrü Boğut
- Georgia-Energy Community WEG – Giorgi Mukhigulishvili
- Seminar Brochure