Emart Energy in Lyon to Discuss if Energy Trading in Europe is Losing Its Appeal

Lyon, France, October 16, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Europe’s foremost energy trading experts are meeting in Lyon in November for the annual Emart Energy conference and expo to discuss the challenges facing the industry such as the eurozone crisis, stricter EU trading rules, security of supply and the impact of renewables. More than a thousand energy trading professionals will be at the 13th edition of Emart from 23-24 November, at what has long been regarded as Europe’s largest and leading industry platform.

Energy trading business model in jeopardy?
Emart project director Nel Jonk says many energy traders have been feeling lately that their business model is in jeopardy. She explains: “There are so many challenges to the industry currently such as the eurozone crisis which is impacting prices and making them volatile and bringing uncertainy to the market. Also, the European Commission endorsed even stricter trading rules this week which many in the industry fear will frighten investors away from the sector.”

According to Nel Jonk, other challenges facing the industry include the issue of security of supply: “We’ve seen many different interventions by European states, such as new taxes and regulations and in a capital-intensive sector like this you need stability. Other issues include the increasing pressure to use renewables which are heavily subsidised as well as the emissions trading market which has gone through difficult times.”

Emart Energy programme development with industry
“We developed the conference programme in close cooperation with EFET, the European Federation of Energy Traders, and also with an expert panel representing the largest trading companies in Europe. We have planned the separate conference streams on power, gas and emissions trading and, simultaneously, offer regulatory updates in each stream, price drivers and country updates.”

Lyon easy choice as location for Emart Energy
Large players in the energy trading market, including GDF SUEZ Trading, APX Endex, E.ON Energy Trading and Gazprom Marketing & Trading, are supporting the event as well as several important French companies such as CNR, Powernext and EPEX SPOT. “Lyon was an easy choice as location for Emart Energy,” says Nel Jonk, “it is located in the heart of Europe, close to Geneva which is an important energy trading centre, it is a beautiful city and is known as the cradle of French haute cuisine.”

Top speakers at Emart include:

- Andras Hujber, DG Energy, European Commission
- Jukka Ruusunen, Vice-President, ENTSO-E / CEO, Fingrid
- Pierre Chareyre, CEO, GDF SUEZ Trading
- Egbert Laege, Chief Commercial Officer, E.ON Energy Trading
- Christophe Gence Creux, Head of the Electricity Department, ACER
- Steve Gordon, Head of the Gas Department, ACER
- Laszlo Varro, Head, Gas, Coal and Power Division, IEA (International Energy Agency)
- Johannes Kindles, Vice President, Bundesnetzagentur
- Henry Derwent, President and CEO, IETA

Event dates and location:
Workshops : 21-22 November
Conference : 23-24 November
Centre de Congrés, 50 Quai Charles de Gaulle, Lyon, France

###