Interview with Policymaker
With the opening of the 22nd World Energy Congress just around the corner, BusinessKorea had an exclusive interview with Kim Jon-dong, Deputy Minister of the Energy and Resources Office at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, who is responsible for national energy and resources policy. The following are some excerpts from the interview.
What is the significance of the 22nd World Energy Congress taking place in Daegu City in October?
The World Energy Council has expanded its scope of activities to embrace government agencies, international organizations, think tanks and civic groups around the world since the congress in Montreal, Canada three years ago. This year’s event in particular is going to be attended by more than 40 ministers from all over the world, including from China, Russia, and many Asian countries. We are looking forward to more diverse opinions and views in discussing sustainable future development of the global energy industry.
Also, this year’s congress is especially meaningful in that it is held in today’s revolutionary era of the industry. Six years ago, when the congress took place in Rome, Italy, the peak oil crisis was the hot-button issue. However, the development of non-conventional energy sources such as shale gas is expected to be the new talk of the congress this year.
With the Asian markets increasing their presence in the global energy industry via a rapid increase in demand, the World Energy Congress 2013, hosted by an Asian country for the first time in 18 years, will be an opportunity to show Asia’s status in the energy industry to the entire world.
Please give some explanation as to main agenda and events, the scale of the congress, and the progress of preparations.
The theme of this year’s conference is Securing Tomorrow’s Energy Today. In that framework, the participants will discuss how to cope with the energy trilemma: that is, energy security, climate change, and the enhancement of access to energy resources. This is the threefold issue that the energy industry is facing now for sustainable development for the future.
We have completed the organization of 59 sessions and liaised with the speakers who will deal with the energy trilemma. The sessions will cover a wide variety of issues, ranging from the development of shale gas and measures to resolve energy-related funding risks, to the future of the new and renewable energy industry.
Up to now, more than 4,300 participants from 107 countries have promised their participation, and 223 companies from 22 countries are going to set up their booths in the venue to show off their advanced technologies. We are expecting at least 5,000 visitors to head for the event to turn the congress into a great forum for information exchange among world-renowned figures in the industry.
The opening of the congress is about 30 days away. The organizing committee is in close cooperation with the host city and the authorities concerned with bringing the establishment of related infrastructure to perfection. We are preparing a hearty welcome for the guests.
How much attention are the worldwide parties concerned paying to the Congress and what will be its ripple effects?
Over 240 speakers, including energy sector ministers, international organization personnel, and CEOs of global energy companies have confirmed their participation. They have been so interested that they say that they don’t need any fees for their speeches, and they will attend the congress at their own expense. This shows how keenly they are interested in the prestigious conference.
The Congress is a golden opportunity to foster our broad understanding and appreciation of the future of the energy sector. We will be able to listen to global leaders themselves as to the future of shale gas, renewable energy, and nuclear power. At the same time, the policy directions and visions of advanced countries will be shared through the meetings with energy sector ministers from all over the world.
We are also expecting the congress to be an opportunity for Daegu City and North Gyeongsang Province to further promote their new and renewable energy industry, which will become one of the future growth drivers of not just both regions but also Korea as a whole. Also, substantial visible results are expected in the form of networking between global energy companies and the like.