“Region’s energy security at stake”

The Western Balkan states have energy potential but their infrastructure needs to be modernized. Sustainable energy consumption should also be encouraged. “Region’s energy security at stake” Participants at the Strategic Forum in Bled—ministers, economists, and experts from West Balkan countries—concluded that the countries in the region should join forces to improve energy efficiency, Slovenian STA reports. Slovenian Economy Minister Andrej Vizjak said that the Balkans should consider the use of alternative sources of energy, including nuclear power. However, Marko Krizanovski, owner of the leading Slovenian energy company Petrol, said that more intensive use of nuclear energy could jeopardize several ongoing projects, adding that the Balkan countries should develop a common energy policy, reduce consumption and reinforce the partnership between the public and private sectors. Montenegrin Minister for Economic Development Branimir Gvozdenovic said that his country would intensify growth of the energy sector, adding that that country’s water resources were under-exploited. Murat Billhan from Istanbul University said that the key to achieving energy security lay in diversity which was, in his opinion, undermined by short-term political goals.

“Region’s energy security at stake”

Participants at the Strategic Forum in Bled—ministers, economists, and experts from West Balkan countries—concluded that the countries in the region should join forces to improve energy efficiency, Slovenian STA reports.

Slovenian Economy Minister Andrej Vizjak said that the Balkans should consider the use of alternative sources of energy, including nuclear power.

However, Marko Krizanovski, owner of the leading Slovenian energy company Petrol, said that more intensive use of nuclear energy could jeopardize several ongoing projects, adding that the Balkan countries should develop a common energy policy, reduce consumption and reinforce the partnership between the public and private sectors.

Montenegrin Minister for Economic Development Branimir Gvozdenović said that his country would intensify growth of the energy sector, adding that that country’s water resources were under-exploited.

Murat Billhan from Istanbul University said that the key to achieving energy security lay in diversity which was, in his opinion, undermined by short-term political goals.