UH Conference Highlights European Energy Issues

Diplomats, academics and energy experts will meet Monday, Nov. 9, at the University of Houston to talk about a massive energy infrastructure project intended to offer new access to natural gas for countries across southern Europe.

The Southern Gas Corridor – which will use existing energy infrastructure, along with developing new pipelines – would connect gas fields in Azerbaijan to six other countries. The first gas deliveries are planned for 2018 in Turkey and 2019 in Europe.

The conference will focus on European energy security and diversity, in addition to the Southern Gas Corridor. It was organized by the Azerbaijan Center of Houston, the Houston Consulates General of Turkey, Greece and Italy, UH Global Strategies and Studies and UH Energy. 

Ramanan Krishnamoorti, chief energy officer and interim vice chancellor/vice president for research and technology transfer at UH, said development of the Southern Gas Corridor has major implications for U.S. oil and gas exports, in addition to its strategic role in national and energy security for Europe and NATO. Tom Holley, director of petroleum engineering programs at UH, will serve as moderator.

WHAT:                           “Southern Gas Corridor in European Energy/Supplying and Diversifying European

                                        Energy” conference at the University of Houston.

 WHO:                             Elin Suleymanov, Azerbaijan’s ambassador to the United States, will provide the

                                        luncheon keynote on the Caspian and European energy security. UH President Renu

                                        Khator will provide opening remarks.

                                         Other speakers include longtime businessman and diplomat John Maresca;  Greek

                                         Consul General Georgios Papanikolaou; Italian Consul General Elena Sgarbi; Christine

                                         Ehlig-Economides, William C. Miller professor of petroleum engineering at UH, and Brenda

                                         Shaffer, Senior Nonresident Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center.

WHEN:                            8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9 

WHERE:                          Hilton University of Houston, Entrance 1 off Calhoun Road. Parking available in the

                                        hotel garage.