Business Programme 2023

October 11, 2023,
09:00-10:15

Manege, –2nd floor, conference hall B

The Development of the Fuel and Energy Sector

Improving the Reliability of the Distribution Grid Complex: Consolidation of Electrical Grid Facilities, Establishment of Unified Centres of Responsibility, and Implementation of Reliability Enhancement Programmes

Such issues as ensuring reliable power supply to consumers, promptly restoring power supplies disrupted by adverse weather or man-made accidents, and putting neglected power grid facilities into economic circulation and ensuring their normal operation is of strategic importance for ensuring Russia’s energy security. Accident rates have increased in recent years due to numerous years of insufficient tariff regulation, a shortfall of funds, and high wear and tear of electric grid facilities. The situation has been exacerbated by the recent increase in the frequency of abnormal weather and the existence of neglected power grid facilities. What is the current state of the Russian electricity grid complex, and how will it be affected by reforms? What are the current results of the reforms? Could consolidation be a measure that would improve reliable power supplies to consumers? With the introduction of unified centres of responsibility, what are some of the tasks faced by backbone local grid operators? What progress has been made in implementing power grid reliability enhancement programmes as a tool for standardizing the power grid?

Moderator:
Elena Medvedeva — Director of Operational Control and Management Fuel and Energy Complex Department, Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation

Panellists:
Evgeny Grabchak — Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation
Sergey Gurin — Chairman of the Board, General Director, Bashkir Electric Grid Company
Daniil Krainsky — Deputy General Director for Legal Support, Rosseti
Victor Mamin — First Deputy Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region
Vadim Potomsky — Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Northwestern Federal District
Valery Seleznev — First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Energy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

October 11, 2023,
10:45-12:00

Manege, –2nd floor, conference hall A

The Development of the Fuel and Energy Sector

Advancing Hydropower: From Plans to Implementation

In partnership with Association "Hydropower of Russia"

Last year, a record-breaking 34 GW of new hydropower capacity was commissioned worldwide, including over 10 GW from newly constructed hydropower plants. The increasing focus on decarbonization and comprehensive socio-economic development serves as a primary driver for new hydropower projects.The development of hydropower provides impetus for the sustainable development of countries. In the case of Russia, it also contributes to the preservation and enhancement of its technological sovereignty. The implementation of plans for new hydropower plant construction will play a significant role in ensuring the reliability and efficiency of Russia's Unified Energy System, thereby fostering economic development. What is already being done and what is required to speed up the implementation of new hydropower projects? How can the efficiency of new small hydropower projects be ensured? What state support measures are currently employed in the hydropower industry in foreign countries, and what is required in Russia?

Moderator:
Sergey Brilev — President, The Global Energy Association

Panellists:
Roman Berdnikov — First Deputy General Director, Member of the Management Board, RusHydro
Alexey Vinogradov — General Director, Nord Hydro – Beliy Porog
Vladimir Demyanov — Deputy Director – Head of Hydro Power Division, Power Machines
Daler Juma — Minister of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan
Oleg Lushnikov — Executive Director, Hydropower of Russia Association of Organizations and Workers of Hydropower
Song Liang — Head of Representative Office in Russia, China Energy Engineering Group
Fedor Opadchy — Chairman of the Board, System Operator of the United Power System
Vasily Orlov — Governor of Amur Region
Pavel Snikkars — Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation
Mikhail Khardikov — Operations Director, En+ Group

October 11, 2023,
11:00-12:15

Manege, –2nd floor, conference hall C

The Development of the Fuel and Energy Sector

The Oil Industry: A Contributor to the Budget or a Driver of Economic Growth?

Despite the current uncertainty on global energy markets and the ongoing trend toward decarbonization, oil and gas continue to be the primary resources that make the largest contribution to the global economy’s energy supply. This trend will continue in the long term. Even though hydrocarbons will be somewhat displaced by renewable energy, they will remain a major part of the global energy balance. The main region that will see increased demand for oil and gas will be Asia-Pacific countries that have friendly relations with Russia. This opens a window of opportunity for the Russian oil and gas sector to implement new projects, but this will clearly put pressure on oil prices and budget revenues beyond the horizon of 2030. Nevertheless, the industry’s enormous investment potential could become a driving force for the development of related segments of the economy. What is the best way to overcome the challenges faced by the Russian oil and gas industry? What strategy has the government chosen to maintain the sustainability of Russian oil and gas? How should a balance between the interests of the budget and the industry be maintained in the long term? How can the industry’s investment potential be properly managed?

Moderator:
Daria Kozlova — Head of Analytical, Russian Energy Agency of the Russian Federation; Advisor to the General Director, REA Ministry of Energy of Russia

Panellists:
Denis Borisov — Director of the Department for Analyzing the Efficiency of Preferential Tax Regimes, Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation
Egor Delendik — Head of the Oil and Gas Department of the Key Clients Department, Sberbank
Andrey Klepach — Chief Economist, VEB.RF
Denis Maximov — Deputy General Director for Economics and Finance, Zarubezhneft
Anton Rubtsov — Director of Oil Refining and Gas Complex Department, Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation

Front row participant:
Yury Stankevich — Member of the Energy Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

October 11, 2023,
16:30-17:45

Manege, –2nd floor, conference hall D

The Development of the Fuel and Energy Sector

Countering New Threats to the Fuel and Energy Sector: Legislation and Practice

The fuel and energy industry is one of the most important sectors of any country’s economy. Ensuring the safety of Russian fuel and energy facilities is more important than ever today. Not only have the threat scenarios changed recently; their actual essence has as well. This poses a challenge not only for energy companies and their supply chains, but also for monitoring and decision-making centres in the fuel and energy sector. In this regard, it is essential to not only take prompt additional measures to ensure the comprehensive safety of energy facilities, but to also improve the overall legal regulation that is used to establish safety requirements, as well as approaches to assigning facilities to a particular hazard category and assessing the risks of new models of violators. Eliminating outdated and redundant requirements, as well as legal gaps, is a crucial element in work to ensure the comprehensive safety of fuel and energy facilities. What steps are being taken to regulate the procedure for using different means to combat new models of violators. What changes will be made to the process of categorizing facilities and approaches to assigning hazard classes?

Moderator:
Anastasiya Bondarenko — State Secretary, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation

Panellists:
Andrey Badalov — Vice President, Transneft
Igor Makovskiy — General Director, Rosseti Centre – Managing Organization of Rosseti Center and Volga Region
Sergey Martynenko — Head of Airspace Management Organization, Federal Air Transport Agency
Anton Semeykin — Head, Department of Economic Security in the Fuel and Energy Complex, Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation
Yury Khamchichev — Head of Staff Department, Security Council of the Russian Federation
Artem Sheikin — Member of the Federation Council Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Constitutional Legislation and State Building

Front row participant:
Sergey Miroshnichenko — Director for Security and Special Programs, System Operator of the Unified Energy System

October 12, 2023,
12:15-13:30

Manege, –2nd floor, conference hall A

The Development of the Fuel and Energy Sector

Cryptocurrency Mining as Seen from the Energy Sector: Choosing between Regulation and Free Rein

In 2023, Russia moved up to second place in the world in terms of cryptocurrency mining, with more than 2 GW of electrical power being consumed by miners per year. Experts say Russia has a great opportunity to further develop this sector, but there are constraints not simply related to a lack of legislative measures for its regulation. Energy specialists believe that the rapid rise of cryptocurrency mining in Russia is due to its low electricity prices, particularly in the regions of Eastern Siberia. This, in turn, complicates the long-term forecasting of power consumption and could lead to localized shortages, while the activities of illegal crypto farms often cause accidents at power plants and network overloads. In this regard, it is crucial to bring the crypto mining sector into the legal field and identify the special features of the tariff policy for this category of consumers. Should the power consumption of cryptocurrency miners be separated from the overall volume? How should it be taken into account in forward-looking balance sheets? What changes in legislation and the tariff system are needed to make mining cost-effective for the energy system?

Moderator:
Alexander Volobuev — Editor of the Department “Industry and Primary Industries”, Vedomosti Business Edition

Panellists:
Maxim Bystrov — Chairman of the Board, NP Market Council

Valery Seleznev — First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Energy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Pavel Snikkars — Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation

Front row participants:
Sergey Bezdelov — Director, Center for Digital Economy Competencies, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics
Denis Iordanidi — General Director, Lighthouse; Member of the Coordinating Council on Digitalization, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP)

October 12, 2023,
12:15-13:30

Manege, –2nd floor, conference hall C

The Development of the Fuel and Energy Sector

The Coal Industry: New Challenges and Opportunities

The Russian coal industry has faced unprecedented external challenges in recent years, including the refusal of Western companies to participate in joint projects, restrictions on the supply of Russian energy resources, and a ban on the export of foreign equipment and technologies to Russia. Contrary to negative forecasts, the Russian coal industry is coping with the restrictions that have been imposed and functioning stably and reliably. There are objective reasons for this: Russia is developing new markets, increasing coal exports to Asia-Pacific countries, and intensifying cooperation with African nations. Global coal consumption is projected to grow over the next 20-30 years. Coal is a driver of numerous economies around the world and will continue to have enormous economic importance in the future in such places as China, India, and Africa. This is why the Russian coal industry remains competitive. However, the main constraint for the development of coal mining in Russia is the limited capacity of transport infrastructure, which significantly reduces the volume of shipments and sales (and, as a result, foreign exchange earnings) of all types of cargo in general and coal in particular. Expanding this infrastructure is a top priority. What problems does the Russian coal industry face today? What does the industry view as the main goals at different planning horizons and how does it plan to achieve them? What new opportunities for development are there for the Russian coal mining industry? What difficulties does the industry face and how do industry experts plan to overcome them?

Moderator:
Anatoly Yanovsky — Head of the Working Group on Environmental Safety of the Commission under the President of the Russian Federation on the Strategy for the Development of the Fuel and Energy Industry and Environmental Safety

Panellists:
Petr Bobylev — Director of the Coal Industry Department, Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation

Karin Kneissl — Head of the G.O.R.K.I. Centre (Geopolitical Observatory on Key Issues in Russia), St. Petersburg University; Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria (2017–2019)

Front row participants:
Denis Ilatovsky — Senior Vice President for Public Activities and GR, Delo Management Company
Alexander Isaev — General Director, ELSI Management Company
Anton Karpov — Vice President, Member of the Management Board, Saint Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange
Vadim Petrov — Chairman of the Public Council at Roshydromet

October 12, 2023,
12:15-13:30

Manege, –2nd floor, conference hall D

The Development of the Fuel and Energy Sector

Russian Price Benchmarks for Raw Materials: A Realistic Prospect?

In partnership with Gazprombank

Price benchmarks were established in the 1970s by the former main production centres – Europe, the United States, and Australia. Over the past 20 years, global trade flows have rapidly shifted to Asia, while price benchmarks have not. There is high demand for new benchmarks based on the world’s largest producers and consumers. The fragmentation of the market has increased since the 2008 financial crisis. In markets where new exporters and importers are particularly dominant, the price benchmarks are already drifting. Russia is one of the world’s largest exporters of energy resources and chemicals, but no Russian-based price benchmark has emerged. Could Russian price benchmarks be created for raw materials? What price indicators are currently used by such “consumers” of price information as exporters working in commerce, auditors and banks when assessing risks and investment projects, and regulators? What demands do “consumers” of price information in Russia have for Russian price indicators?

Moderator:
Natalya Porokhova — Head of the Price Index Center, Gazprombank

Panellists:
Denis Borisov — Director of the Department for Analyzing the Efficiency of Preferential Tax Regimes, Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation

Vitaly Korolev — Deputy Head, Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation
Alexey Rybnikov — President, Saint Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange
Larisa Selyutina — Advisor to the Deputy Chairman, Bank of Russia

October 12, 2023,
14:15-15:30

Manege, –2nd floor, conference hall B

The Development of the Fuel and Energy Sector

Energy Development: Who Will Invest?

In partnership with En+ Group

Despite sanctions, the country's economy continues to develop, and electricity consumption continues to increase. Moreover, in several regions, the growth rate of electricity consumption is significantly higher than the national average. In the medium term, it is necessary to ensure the availability of energy infrastructure in growth areas, and in the long term, it is necessary to formulate a target structure of generating capacities. The discussion aims to explore how the energy sector should operate to meet the economy's needs under conditions of increasing uncertainty. What energy-related problems do regions face when implementing promising investment projects, and how are they solved? How can the points of advanced growth in energy consumption be forecasted and the growing demand be met? How should the target generation structure be defined, and what are the mechanisms for achieving it? How can an optimal ratio of state and private investors' participation in financing the construction of energy facilities be ensured under conditions of market payback constraints? What investment mechanisms are required on the part of the state and the banking sector? What are the potential benefits for the state in the implementation of budget co-financing of projects in the power sector, and how can it be implemented?

Moderator:
Andrey Sharonov — Chief Executive Officer, National ESG-Alliance

Panellists:
Maxim Bystrov — Chairman of the Board, NP Market Council

Fedor Opadchy — Chairman of the Board, System Operator of the United Power System

Pavel Snikkars — Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation
Mikhail Khardikov — Operations Director, En+ Group

October 12, 2023,
16:15-17:30

Manege, –2nd floor, conference hall C

The Development of the Fuel and Energy Sector

Development of Heat Supply Systems: Who Shapes the Future?

In partnership with T Plus

Russia’s heat supply system needs thorough technological modernization. However, the existing mechanisms for accomplishing this goal have yet to lead to a fundamental change in the situation, as there is still a high level of losses and accident rates, as well as a surplus of inefficient thermal power capacity. The selective replacement of individual obsolete facilities with new ones only reproduces equipment without taking into account systemic changes in technologies, infrastructure, and the needs of a particular territory and its consumers. Customers are not satisfied with the current quality of services. The standard accrual method continues to be used with insufficient distribution of thermal power metering devices. There is a lack of investment in the infrastructure of heat supply systems, and customers are not investing anything in heat-receiving equipment. In recent years, the state policy has aimed to transition to a new way of regulating relationships between customers, suppliers, and heat transporters. New approaches to providing investment guarantees have led to the development of major industry players that are implementing a long-term investment programme that increases investments by at least 150% and often much higher compared with the levels of previous years. Is it too early to assess the effectiveness of the state support measures that have been implemented? Are these measures balanced and sufficient for the systemic modernization of the sector and to enhance the efficiency and reliability of heat supply to consumers? What are some of their shortcomings? What else needs to be done to effectively develop the industry? Who is the guarantor of high-quality and cost-effective heat supplies in the future, and who should determine the future of the industry?

Moderator:
Irina Bulgakova — Executive Director, "United Housing and Communal Council" Association of Public Utilities Enterprises

Panellists:
Artem Balakhnin — Minister of Housing and Communal Facilities and Improvement of the Perm Territory
Alexander Vilesov — General Director, T Plus
Alexey Yeresko — Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation
Vladimir Koshelev — First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for Construction, Housing and Communal Services
Andrey Likhachev — General Director, Specialist Developer Rublevo-Arkhangelskoye, SberCity
Svetlana Nikonova — First Deputy General Director for Development, Interaction with Regions and Government Agencies, Rusatom Infrastructure Solutions JSC
Pavel Snikkars — Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation
Natalya Trunova — Auditor, Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation

October 12, 2023,
16:15-17:30

Manege, –2nd floor, conference hall D

The Development of the Fuel and Energy Sector

Unchanging Priorities: Occupational Health and Safety in the Electric Power Industry

The primary job of the government and electric power industry employers is to ensure the uninterrupted provision of light and heat to the country’s population, maintain the reliability of electric power facilities, and prevent accidents at such sites. These priorities are regularly emphasized at the highest level as regards preserving human potential and decent living standards. The country’s power system is reliable on the employee, whose working conditions and qualifications directly determine the efficiency and uninterrupted operation of power grid facilities. Different government agencies, the Energy Employers Association of Russia, and representatives of energy companies maintain a constant dialogue to ensure safe working conditions for workers and the functional capabilities of the Russian energy system. How have approaches to ensuring safe conditions and occupational safety in the country changed since changes were made to Section X “Occupational Safety and Health” of the Russian Labour? How have regulators managed to decrease the overall level of occupational injuries in the industry, despite a reduction in the number of control (supervisory) measures? How does sectoral monitoring of occupational safety and injuries help employers reduce the level of equipment accidents and financial losses for companies?

Moderator:
Arkady Zamoskovny — General Director, Association of Electric Energy Employers

Panellists:
Evgeny Grabchak — Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation

Front row participants:
Almir Latipov — Deputy General Director, Technical Director, Grid Company
Maxim Shalaev — Director of Industrial Safety, Siberian Generating Company