DESCRIPTION:

After a short introduction of the EU’s natural gas market (sources, infrastructure setup and demand centres), the first part of the session discusses the EU regulatory framework related to natural gas markets, with a special emphasis on infrastructure. Third party access rules to pipeline, LNG and storage infrastructure, allocation of capacities, tariff systems and the unbundling rules are discussed on a high level.

The second part of the session is dedicated to the energy crisis and the EU level regulatory responses to the crisis related to natural gas. The REPowerEU plan, the storage fill obligation, the wholesale level price cap and the joint gas purchase initiative are discussed. If time allows retail price regulation in EU countries will be discussed with some specific case studies related to the high price environment in 2022.

The Women in Energy (WIE) Initiative of ICER, is contributing to the WFER with this meaningful conversation on the future of infrastructure development for 2025. This session is a statement about the importance of gender mainstreaming as it helps us raise new questions to design future and inclusive solutions.

What will the infrastructure development needs look like (for EU/the world) in 2025 and beyond to remain as a reliable pillar for different energy sources? What does it take from a leader with a growth mindset to tackle the right questions to address associated challenges, especially in the light of digitalization, geopolitics, regionalization, climate change and the 2030 Agenda?

The session will include relevant questions to design proper and individual Network Development for all different future societies. Rather than providing answers, the WIE wants to provide a space to reflect upon the direction of the sector with the support of relevant and experienced experts.