Conference
goal:
With the development of extensive energy
sources in the Russian Federation and Central Asia, the whole global
energy balance, long aligned to the dominance of the Middle East is
subtly changing. There is no question that there are substantial oil
and gas reserves in these regions, and that there is a political will
to see these resources developed to a high level and made more
extensively available to energy users throughout the world. Indeed, in
the Russian Federation, the economic recovery of this great country is
largely predicated on its energy exports.
However, developing the infrastructure capable
of delivering this energy to international consumers represents a
substantial challenge for both the exporting countries and their
international partners. Many of the developments are in remote
regions, exposed to extreme climates and bringing this energy to
market involves technical and logistic challenges that require both
innovation and initiative on both technical and financial fronts.
Obviously, maritime transportation will take a major role in the
export of both oil and gas, and the rapid build up of efficient
shipping arrangements and port facilities have been identified as
priorities. The installation and operation of long-distance pipelines
from the energy fields also remains crucial, if the development of
these new energy sources is to proceed in an integrated fashion.
Similarly the opportunities for export of petroleum products ,
petrochemicals and other energy sources such as coal from the Russian
Federation and other countries in the region, beckon to both buyers
and sellers of these resources.
Mare Forum 2004, held in the beautiful
and ancient City of
St. Petersburg will be an opportunity to
consider commercial, financial and technical aspects of this
contemporary energy challenge. It will endeavour to assess the reality
of the energy prospects, the geo-political ramifications of this
potential tilt in the energy axis and the investment opportunities
thus produced.
It will consider the technical problems
relating from the need to exploit energy resources in extreme
climates, the need to develop robust and safe ships and other delivery
systems, and the importance of protecting fragile natural environments
, in both the energy producing areas, and those en route to the
importing countries.
The meeting will draw heavily on the local and
regional expertise and provide a forum for the consideration of
technical issues in the design and construction of new ships,
pipelines, ports and terminals. It will offer a unique opportunity to
bring together financiers, providers of services, systems and
equipment along with high level policy makers concerned with the
economic development of these regions. Case studies will bring the
reality of experience from those with particular expertise in the
areas, providing experiences which will influence the way in which the
energy and maritime industries will attempt to meet demand.
The
themes to be analysed and discussed will be :
Setting
the scene
Geo-political
considerations - opportunities of giant new energy sources -
distribution challenges - environmental concerns - financing the
ambitions - marine system capacity
Russia
- A Major World Energy Supplier
Trade
movements and distribution patterns- political, geographical and
economic impacts - forecasts of world energy requirements, sources
Central Asian energy sources - development of markets .
Marine
Transportation System Capacity
World-Russia-
European perspectives - development of ports and terminals -
international co-operation - research into ships , pipelines, safe
transportation systems.
Ship
operations in Russia - challenges and opportunities
Safe, efficient marine transportation issues with cargo
from Black Sea, Baltic, Northern Russia and Pacific
north-east - importance of local technical expertise in
ice and extreme-weather operations
Financing
Maritime Transportation
Financing
the renaissance of the Russian maritime industry - fleet expansion -
fleet renewal - shipbuilding
Environmental
concerns
The
need for close attention to environmental protection - importance of
"green" delivery systems - issues of transit traffic in Baltic /
Bosporus etc. - "controlling" the flow of energy.
A
focussed agenda for policy makers from government and industry
Set for the first time in
the Russian Federation , the location of this Mare Forum will be St
Petersburg, a major energy and shipping centre.
We
look forward to welcoming you
in St. Petersburg,
MICHAEL GREY
Conference
Chairman
|
JANNIS
KOSTOULAS
Managing Director
MARE FORUM |
PETER SWIFT
Managing Director
INTERTANKO |
The
final conference programme
will be published by mid September
To register for
the conference please click
here
|