Europe is bracing for what risks to be the toughest winter for energy supplies in many years. The looming energy crisis threatens not only the primary comfort of households, but also the entry into recession of the European Union’s economy. This is primarily against the background of the Russian Federation’s military aggression against Ukraine and the EU-Kremlin sanctions war, which call into question the continuity of Gazprom’s natural gas supplies to the continent, and the possibility of their being completely interrupted cannot be ruled out. Under these conditions, wholesale energy and gas prices have reached levels unimaginable a year ago, and the scarcity of resources has led to open talk across the EU of policies to rationalize consumption. How prepared is Romania to face these challenges? What should be done, both by the authorities and the private sector, to strengthen the country’s energy resilience?

EVENT CONCEPT
In such a context, Profit.ro aims to bring together, at the same table, for a consistent debate on the significant topics of the moment, in an offline conference, officials and representatives of the responsible authorities in the field, leaders of companies active in energy markets, consultants and specialists.

DISCUSSION TOPICS
Natural gas panel

• The current levels of wholesale prices (except those regulated for households and CETs) are stimulating for producers, but create problems for consumers and suppliers. How will they evolve in the coming winter and next year?
• In the event of a gas crisis in the EU in winter, which consumers in Romania will have their supply reduced/interrupted based on the obligations agreed at the European level? Can Romania resist with zero Russian gas imports?
• Will Romania be able to import gas from sources other than the Russian Federation in the coming winter?
• How desirable are the Romanian governmental policies of subsidizing the construction of new gas distribution networks, given that the EU proposes an accelerated reduction in consumption in the coming years, both for climate and geostrategic reasons?

Electricity panel

• What are the reasons why wholesale electricity prices have reached the enormous levels we see today, and what are the chances that they will decrease or even stabilize? Should the European market design be changed, by reducing the role of the marginal price?
• How sustainable is the current capping scheme of final energy prices for consumers? Can she last until spring? What could it be replaced with?
• What can and should be done to accelerate the implementation of investments in new electricity production capacities, as well as in strengthening transmission and distribution networks?
• Will the national energy system survive the winter?

The event will be LIVE on Profit News TV, www.profit.ro and Facebook Profit.ro