Dear Friends, I would like to welcome you on the occasion of the opening of the first Russian Energy Week. The Forum will bring together representatives of government bodies, major industries, business circles and the expert community from Russia and other countries to discuss main global energy development trends. In the framework of the intensive program of the Forum, they will conduct a serious and comprehensive analysis of the current situation in the global energy market and offer effective solutions to the challenges facing the energy sector. Sustainable growth of the modern world economy greatly depends on ensuring energy security. And naturally Russia stands to play a special role as one of the guarantors of energy security for the entire Eurasia. The participants and guests of the Forum will have an opportunity to learn about the prospects of the Russian fuel and energy complex, the strategic projects that are being implemented, as well as to map out areas of cooperation, including in the fields of energy efficiency and introduction of cutting edge technologies that meet the highest environmental standards. I hope that a substantive dialogue among the participants in the Russian Energy Week will be instrumental in working out common approaches to development of the international energy agenda and launching new mutually beneficial initiatives. I wish you every success. Vladimir Putin.

Over the past years, the Forum has strengthened its authority by taking its rightful place on the international energy agenda, the head of state noted in his address.

The Russian Ministry of Energy plans to limit the consumption of non-energy-saving incandescent lamps over 50 watts, Russian Deputy Minister of Energy Anton Inyutsyn reported.