Dear Attendees,
On 27-30 September 2020, in Międzyzdroje, we are going to meet for the 23rd GAZTERM Conference,
a prestigious meetings and a venue for discussions involving representatives of the energy industry from Poland and abroad. The agenda of the Conference covers latest trends and factors influencing Polish and global gas markets. Discussion panels and accompanying presentations will focus on such issues as market security, international cooperation in gas trade and integration of gas markets in the Three Seas Area and the Baltic Sea Region.
At the strategic level, during the THREE SEAS GAS SUMMIT, the panel on security of gas markets in the Three Seas Area will discuss further plans and activities designed to increase energy security in the region and the development of cross border gas trade. By 2022, Poland and several other countries of the Three Seas Area will enjoy new opportunities for the supply of gas from the north along the Baltic Pipe. At the same time, in parallel to the Baltic Pipe, the GIPL pipeline is developed to connect Poland and Lithuania, and indirectly Latvia, Estonia and Finland. In the Three Seas Area, the three Baltic States are pioneers of the complex market integration process. Experience in integration, barriers, and trade and storage infrastructure will be discussed by the Forum of Three Seas Operators involving representatives of transmission system operators and commodity exchanges operating in the region.
The Three Seas Fund, a financial vehicle, was established to support investment leading to the integration of gas markets in the region. A separate speech will focus on rules of accessing the funds. Investment finance will be discussed by a dedicated panel on Prospects for Investment Finance in Gas and Petrochemical Industries involving representatives of Polish and foreign banks.
International and global issues will unfold in the discussion panel on Gas Markets After the Pandemic. Economic slowdown due to the pandemic reduced demand for fuels and electricity which has further driven down global gas prices. At the same time, competition has strengthened between main liquefied gas suppliers on international markets. Provided the trends continue, will it lead to permanent changes in business models in the gas and power industries? Can we actually expect negative gas prices on European markets, including Poland? While trying to answer these questions, panellists will attempt to define the future of gas markets after the pandemic.
The new EU strategy of the European Green Deal will certainly influence the gas industry in Europe. The ambitious policy designed to develop a zero emission and climate neutral economy in the EU foresees the elimination of gas and other fossil fuels by 2050. A prospective substitute for natural gas is “green hydrogen” distributed through the existing infrastructure. Such a vision raises questions about financial, economic, technical and market issues. The European Green Deal and its possible consequences for the gas sector will be discussed by representatives and experts from the Oil & Gas sector during a panel on The New Natural Gas and oil Strategy During Energy Transition.
The agenda of this year's GAZTERM continues one of the most important security issues, namely cybersecurity of energy infrastructure. Actually, it is the cyberspace that generates an increasing number
of threats to the proper operation of IT systems that control transmission and storage infrastructure. A separate panel is going to focus on these issues: Security – Today's Challenge for the Utilities Sector in the Face of Cyber Threats, Technological Advances and Legal changes. The panel will involve top cybersecurity specialists.
As with previous conferences, this time we are also going to present new and interesting projects developed and implemented on the Polish gas market by our Partners.
The GAZTERM organizers will make every effort to offer excellent service and the top-notch profile of the conference is going to be secured by the Lower Silesian Institute for Energy Studies (DISE) and Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo S.A. (PGNiG), our Main Conference Partner.
We look forward to seeing you during this year's Conference, an event which is already a fixed item among major events for the energy sector.
Organizers of the 23rd Gazterm Conference 2020
