🇬🇧 The 8th edition of the Romanian International Energy Conference (RIEC 2026), organised by the Energy Employers’ Federation (FPE) in partnership with the Ministry of Energy, brings together leading voices from the energy sector to explore “Fields of Power | Mapping the New Energy Frontiers”, a theme that examines the evolving energy landscape, emerging opportunities, and the challenges shaping Europe’s energy security and future.
Fields of Power | Mapping the New Energy Frontiers
10 November 2026
Bucharest
Access will be granted based on prior registration.
Organised by
🇷🇴 Cea de-a 8-a ediție a Romanian International Energy Conference (RIEC 2026), organizată de Federația Patronală a Energiei (FPE) în parteneriat cu Ministerul Energiei, reunește voci importante din sectorul energetic pentru a explora tema „Fields of Power | Mapping the New Energy Frontiers”, care aduce în prim-plan transformările peisajului energetic, noile oportunități și provocările care modelează securitatea și viitorul energetic al Europei.
Panels & Keynotes
PANEL I
Beyond Targets: Building a Carbon Framework That Delivers
🇬🇧 Europe’s climate ambition is entering a new phase, where targets must translate into policies and mechanisms that deliver both decarbonisation and competitiveness. This panel will explore the future of the EU ETS, examining how carbon policy can support investment, industrial resilience and energy independence while keeping Europe on track towards its climate goals.
🇷🇴 Ambiția climatică a Europei intră într-o nouă etapă, în care obiectivele trebuie transpuse în politici și mecanisme capabile să livreze atât decarbonizare, cât și competitivitate. Panelul va explora viitorul EU ETS și modul în care politica privind carbonul poate susține investițiile, reziliența industrială și independența energetică, menținând în același timp Europa pe traiectoria obiectivelor climatice.
PANEL II
Energy: New Fields, Old Habits
🇬🇧 New energy sources, technologies and supply routes are redrawing Europe’s energy map, while traditional energy sources continue to play a significant role in meeting demand and ensuring system stability. Longstanding dependencies and vulnerabilities, however, remain. This panel will examine how the energy landscape is evolving, the opportunities emerging from new resources and technologies, and the challenges of balancing traditional and emerging energy sources to build a more diverse, resilient and secure energy system.
🇷🇴 Noile surse de energie, tehnologiile și rutele de aprovizionare redesenează harta energetică a Europei, în timp ce sursele tradiționale de energie continuă să joace un rol important în acoperirea cererii și asigurarea stabilității sistemului. Cu toate acestea, dependențele și vulnerabilitățile structurale persistă. Panelul va analiza transformarea peisajului energetic, oportunitățile generate de noile resurse și tehnologii, precum și provocările echilibrării surselor tradiționale și emergente de energie în procesul de construire a unui sistem energetic mai diversificat, rezilient și sigur.
KEYNOTE
Energy Markets & Natural Gas
🇬🇧 An international perspective on the changing dynamics of natural gas and energy markets, exploring how shifting supply patterns, demand, infrastructure and geopolitical developments are reshaping Europe’s energy outlook.
🇷🇴 O perspectivă internațională asupra dinamicii în schimbare a gazelor naturale și a piețelor energetice, cu accent pe modul în care evoluția ofertei și a cererii, infrastructura și factorii geopolitici redesenează perspectivele energetice ale Europei.
PANEL III
Security: The Battlefield Above the Pipelines
🇬🇧 Energy security is no longer defined only by access to resources. Critical infrastructure, transport corridors, maritime routes and interconnected networks are increasingly exposed to sabotage, conflict, geopolitical pressure and logistical disruption. This panel will examine the vulnerabilities shaping Europe’s energy security and the measures needed to strengthen resilience.
🇷🇴 Securitatea energetică nu mai este definită doar de accesul la resurse. Infrastructura critică, coridoarele de transport, rutele maritime și rețelele interconectate sunt tot mai expuse sabotajului, conflictelor, presiunii geopolitice și perturbărilor logistice. Panelul va analiza vulnerabilitățile care modelează securitatea energetică a Europei și măsurile necesare pentru consolidarea rezilienței.
KEYNOTE
International Geopolitics
🇬🇧 A broader geopolitical perspective on the forces reshaping the global balance of power and their implications for energy security. The keynote will explore how geopolitical shifts, strategic competition and emerging alliances are influencing Europe’s energy choices and its position in a rapidly changing world.
🇷🇴 O perspectivă geopolitică asupra forțelor care reconfigurează echilibrul global de putere și a implicațiilor acestora pentru securitatea energetică. Keynote-ul va explora modul în care schimbările geopolitice, competiția strategică și noile alianțe influențează opțiunile energetice ale Europei și poziția sa într-o lume aflată într-o transformare accelerată.
AGENDA
10:00 – 10:15
Welcome & Opening Speeches
- Franck Neel – President, FPE
- Bogdan Ivan – Minister of Energy
10:15 – 11:00
PANEL I
Weaving the European Energy Fabric
The entire European architecture is built on cooperation. This spirit also drives the energy sector, where technical, political, and economic collaboration between countries is vital. Europe shares the same interests, the same vision, and now the same stage at RIEC.
- Victor Negrescu – Vice-President of the European Parliament (online)
- Victor Grigorescu – Former Minister of Energy of Romania
- Andreas Guth – Secretary General, Eurogas
- Oana Ijdelea – Managing Partner – Ijdelea & Associates; Board Member – Black Sea Oil & Gas
Moderator: Daniel Apostol
11:00 – 12:20
PANEL II
The New Energy Fabric: Regional & National Perspectives & Insights
From a high-level perspective, the outlook on the energy sector is sharp. The insights of decision-makers and senior representatives from Ministries and Regulatory Authorities shape the horizon in which the national energy sector will rise.
Session I – Regional
- Bogdan Ivan – Minister of Energy of Romania
- Péter Szijjártó – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary
- Sergiu Brașoveanu – Chief of Staff, Advisor to the Minister of Energy, Republic of Moldova
- Farhad Mammadov – General Director, Green Energy Corridor Power Company
Session II – National
- Cristian Bușoi – State Secretary Ministry of Energy
- Diana Buzoianu – Minister of Environment, Waters and Forests
- Viorel Băltărețu – State Secretary in the Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism
- Adriana Petcu – President, National Regulatory Authority for Mining, Petroleum and Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxide
- George Niculescu – President, Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority
Moderator: Raluca Covrig
12:20 – 13:15
SPECIAL TALK (DEBATE)
Threads of Innovation: Policies Driving Energy Transition – RES: from production to storage
The first step for innovation is a policy that supports it. Although we often discuss obstacles, we are confident that RIEC will facilitate finding solutions and help locate the start lever for new technologies.
- Ionuț Ciubotaru – CEO, Electrocentrale Borzești
- Petru Rușeț – Managing Director, Siemens Energy
- Sebastian Enache – Business Development Manager, Monsson
- Zoltan Nagy-Bege – Energy Market Department Director, CIGA ENERGY
- Doru Avramescu – CEO, Roserv Green Energy
- Alexandra Bocșe – Director of Institutional and International Relations, Investment and Development Bank
Moderator: Radu Dudău
13:15 – 14:00
Lunch Break
14:00 – 15:00
PANEL III
Threads of Stability: National Flagship Projects Impacting Energy Security
Romania has energy projects to be proud of and to trust in. Their creators join us on the RIEC stage to provide insight into how history is made in the energy sector.
- Christina Verchere – CEO, OMV Petrom
- Răzvan Popescu – CEO, Romgaz
- Ion Sterian – General Director, Transgaz
- Mark Beacom – CEO, Black Sea Oil & Gas
Moderator: Daniel Apostol
15:00 – 16:00
PANEL IV
Energy Weaving: Cross-Border Cooperation and Integration
We are united by geography, history, and, today, by energy. Representatives of the energy sector from Eastern and Central European countries meet in Bucharest to discuss how synergies make us stronger.
- István-Loránt Antal – President of the Committee on Energy, Energy Infrastructure, and Mineral Resources of the Romanian Senate
- Sándor Bende – President of the Committee on Industry of the Chamber of Deputies
- Leszek Wiwała – Director General, The Polish Petroleum Industry & Trade Organization
- Svetoslav Benchev – Chairman, Bulgarian Petroleum and Gas Association
- Eugen Cozmulici – Policy Director, European Business Association Moldova
Moderator: Raluca Covrig
16:00 – 16:15
An honest talk on the future of the Romanian society
At RIEC, we come with questions and leave with answers — and a clearer vision for the future.
- Gelu Duminică – Sociologist, Lecturer at University of Bucharest
16:15 – 16:45
Q&A & Closing Remarks | Strenghtening the Energy Fabric Together
- Franck Neel – President, FPE
- Bogdan Ivan – Minister of Energy
16:45 – 20:00
Networking Cocktail Reception
TRENDS, PROSPECTS, NETWORKING, PERSONALITIES
An edition full of insights, future partners, new ideas, and opportunities.
An event offering important viewpoints from both the industry and government sector, designed to refine your perspective on energy and help you stay one step ahead.