Opening the GIE Annual Conference 2017 today in Prague, Jean-Marc Leroy, President of Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), stressed the role of gas and gas infrastructures in achieving the Energy Transition goals. In an all-energy system, innovation will spur the development of the gas business for the benefit of European economic growth and competitiveness.

Over 380 delegates met at the fifteenth edition of the GIE Annual Conference, gathering the industry, policymakers, regulators, financial investors, academics and other stakeholders.

Keynote speeches were addressed by the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, Jiří Havlíček, the Deputy Chairman of the Management Committee of Gazprom, Alexander Medvedev and the CEO of NET4GAS, the host of the conference, Andreas Rau.

This year’s conference addresses major issues such as the clean energy package and the shape of a sustainable energy system of tomorrow. Day One focuses in particular on the transformation of the energy sector, its impact on renewables and natural gas and the required market design. Day Two explores disruptive trends in the business and provides a fresh outlook on the energy future as seen by young generation.

Jean-Marc Leroy said, "gas and gas infrastructures are a key asset and a backbone to make the Energy Transition possible, accessible and affordable". He added also that "a holistic vision of the energy system with a balanced energy mix will allow to seize the advantages of the different energy sources and to foster innovation". "The thus conceived Energy Transition", he stressed, "will be a facilitator, not a burden, of the European economic acceleration and competitive edge".

For more information about the conference and real-time information, please visit www.gie.eu and/or follow us on Twitter (@GIEBrussels, #GIEPrague2017).

Note to Editors

Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) is an association representing the interests of European natural gas infrastructure operators active in natural gas transmission, storage and LNG regasification. GIE is a trusted partner of European institutions, regulatory bodies and industry stakeholders. It is based in Brussels, the heart of European policymaking.

GIE currently represents 69 member companies from 25 countries. Its internal structure has three columns corresponding to the three types of infrastructure activities represented: GTE (Gas Transmission Europe), GSE (Gas Storage Europe) and GLE (Gas LNG Europe), all of which fall under the umbrella of GIE. This structure allows member companies to speak with one voice on infrastructure topics as well as to build positions on column-specific issues.

To find out more about GIE’s structure and activities, please visit our website at www.gie.eu.

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