Russian Energy Week: a space for necessary dialogue

In October, Moscow will host one of the largest international energy forums, the Russian Energy Week. The event is organized by the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation, the Roscongress Foundation, and the Moscow Government.

Despite the fact that COVID-19 has become a major and controversial stress factor for the energy sector (falling energy demand, low oil prices, delayed payments, reduced capital expenditures, and the prospect of rising debt servicing costs), a vital industry is undergoing a large-scale transformation today: new markets are opening, breakthrough technologies are coming to the industry technologies, a course towards digitalization has been taken, and new promising areas of energy transmission and use are being formed.

"This year is marked in the calendar of power engineers by important events. On April 16, the President of Russia signed Decree No. 270, entitled "On the development of technology, technology and scientific research in the field of the use of atomic energy in the Russian Federation." In June, the Government adopted an important document for strategic planning of the energy industry - the Energy Strategy of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2035 (approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1523-r dated June 9, 2020). Both sectoral documents are significant tools for the implementation of national projects defined by President Vladimir Putin's "May decree" and aimed at sustainable socio-economic development of the country. The uncertainty that the pandemic has provoked has long-lasting, often delayed consequences. For professionals in the energy sector, the way out can be the exchange of experience, information, joining forces and an open dialogue. Today, as in previous years, the Russian Energy Week will become a key platform for demonstrating the prospects of the Russian fuel and energy complex and realizing the potential of international cooperation in the energy sector. The event is traditionally attended by the President of Russia and invited leaders of global energy corporations. In the new conditions, the importance of the Forum is only increasing," Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation, is convinced. He also noted that this year's Russian Energy Week will be held in rather difficult conditions: "Energy companies, as a rule, have a high level of preparation for emergency situations. Russia definitely has something to offer the global energy community in this sector of the economy today and to provide competitive advantages in global energy markets in the future." 

The global crisis caused by the outbreak of coronavirus has seriously changed the organization of the global economy, social structure and energy markets. Fierce price competition, reduced demand for energy resources, reduced export revenues, scenarios and forecasts for the recovery of the industry are a matrix of controversial issues on the international agenda of the REN 2020. According to Alexander Novak, Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation, representatives of the Russian and global energy industries are more than ever faced with the issue of strategies for adapting to the new rules of the game. In the current conditions, the most effective strategy for achieving balance in the energy sector is open communication between government officials, companies and public organizations.  The primary task of REN is to create all the necessary conditions for such communication.

"Russian Energy Week traditionally attracts the attention of influential international energy organizations and institutions, energy industry leaders and leading experts. The relevance of the Forum is also confirmed by the participation of representatives of federal agencies and heads of Russian regions. In the current conditions, issues related to changes in consumption forecasts, the use of modern technologies, including digital ones, and the environmental agenda, including an accelerated transition to green energy, will be discussed," said Alexander Novak, Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Russian Energy Week International Forum.

A source: Ministry of Energy