Seminar: Black Sea Interconnectivity Hub and European Energy Security: Strategies, Projects and Best Practices

Connectivity and renewable energy strategies have increasingly been prioritized globally as well as by the EU and South Caucasus countries as an indispensable factor for increased security and sustainable economic development.

In recent years, the significance of the South Caucasus in connecting the Caspian and Black Sea regions has been elevated. Georgia, as an EU candidate country, and Azerbaijan as a close EU partner, especially in energy supply, have long been developing transport and energy corridor capabilities to ensure hydrocarbon delivery as well as delivery of cargo from the Caspian region to the European Union. Turkey has been another strategic partner in developing oil and gas pipelines infrastructure and railway connection from the Caspian Sea through Azerbaijan to Georgia to Turkey to Europe.

Electricity has emerged as the latest dimension in this overall strategy as manifested in “The Black Sea Submarine Cable Project”, key partners and immediate beneficiaries being Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, Hungary, and the European Union.

The Black Sea submarine cable project envisages the arrangement of an underwater high-voltage transmission network, which should connect the electric power systems of Georgia, Azerbaijan (through Georgia), and the EU. The implementation of the project will contribute to the strengthening of energy security in Europe and the South Caucasus region, the development of the renewable energy sector, and the increase of transit opportunities. A fiber-optic cable would be laid alongside, to strengthen Internet connectivity between the Caucasus and the EU.

The speakers will discuss, among others,

• opportunities for transition on Green Energy and possible lessons and best practices for cooperation in this regard on the example of Europe;
• strategies, projects and best practices related to connectivity and elevated energy security efforts in the South Caucasus and the EU;
• energy and connectivity-related policies of participating countries and the EU;
• Australian best practices in renewable energy and the lessons that can be learned while implementing energy connectivity projects in the Black Sea Region benefiting EU and South Caucasus.

The event is co-hosted by the ANU, Embassy of Azerbaijan, Embassy of Georgia and Embassy of Hungary.

Program

10:30    Registration and morning tea

10:50    Welcome

11:00    Prof Andrew Blakers (Renewable Energy Engineering, ANU), "A Black Sea interconnection hub: helping to speed the fastest energy change in history"

11:40    Panel discussion: Dr Vagif Jafarov (Head of Mission, The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan), H.E. Mr. Beka Dvali (Ambassador of Georgia), H.E. Mr Zsolt Csenger-Zalán (Ambassador of Hungary)

12:30    Q&A session

13:00    Concluding remarks