05 September 2008

GPPi holds 4th Transatlantic Energy Security Dialogues Session

The Global Public Policy Institute, Berlin held the 4th Transatlantic Energy Security Dialogue (TESD) conference from 4 - 5 September 2008 at the E.ON AG Representation in Berlin. The conference was organized in collaboration with E.ON AG and E.ON Ruhrgas AG. Additional support was provided by the European Commission, the Dräger Foundation and the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

The conference, entitled "Governing the Emerging Global Market for Gas: Trends, Challenges and Policy Implications for the Transatlantic Alliance" brought together professionals from all relevant sectors (governments, NGOs, business, the media, think tank and universities) in order to promote constructive debate on issues surrounding the development of a global gas market.

In recent years we have started to witness a global market for gas in the making, driven primarily by the expanding role of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Falling indigenous supply of natural gas from maturing fields in Europe and the United States combined with falling costs and enhanced technologies for the liquefaction of gas are turning LNG into an increasingly attractive and in fact necessary alternative source of energy. As such, for consumers, LNG is promising because it helps to diversify sources of supply (thereby fostering energy security) and in addition contributes to price competition in gas markets. Increasing demand and the changing structure of the global gas business are both raising a number of critical political and economic challenges that require careful attention, not the least by the Atlantic alliance.

Starting with an opening speech addressing the developing global gas market and the resulting implications, the conference proceeded to examine three main issues: (i) financing exploration and production of natural gas (ii) political implications of a global gas market and (iii) short-term supply management. Two panel discussions  addressed these main issues followed by the formation of small working groups to discuss some of the specific challenges and questions with respect to the development of the global gas market. A final panel discussion was also held to solicit additional input on transatlantic policy options. 

The conference also featured an evening event open to the public which discussed the implications of Caspian Sea resources with respect to European energy security. Panelists for this session included Jonathan Stern, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies; Jochen Weise, E.ON AG; Edward Chow, Center for Strategic and International Studies; and Christof van Agt, International Energy Agency.

Speakers at the conference included, among others: Dr. Jochen Weise, Member of the Executive Board, Gas Supply & Trading, E.ON Ruhrgas AG; Pieter Boot, Director, Long-Term Co-Operation and Policy Analysis, International Energy Agency; Jonathan Stern, Director of Gas Research, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies; Alan Hegburg, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Energy Policy Office of Policy and International Affairs, U.S. Department of Energy; Joachim Pfeiffer, Member of the German Parliament and Coordinator of Energy Matters, CDU-CSU; Ralf Dickel, Director for Trade, Transit and Relations with Non-signatories States, Energy Charter Secretariat; Paul Saunders, Executive Director, The Nixon Center; and Heinrich Hick, Policy Officer, DG TREN, the European Commission.

The TESD sessions are designed to complement our research program on global energy governance and serve as an important forum for both presenting our ideas and receiving feedback. For more information on GPPi's Global Energy Governance research program, please visit www.globalenergygovernance.net.

To download the conference program, including a list of participants and final agenda, please click here.

For more information on the conference, please contact Wade Hoxtell.

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