About Aspen Energy Summit 2025:
The Aspen Energy Summit, now celebrating its 6th edition, has become a landmark event in the regional and European energy landscape.
The Summit stands as a premier platform fostering high-level dialogue at the intersection of energy security, economic growth, technological innovation, sustainability and circular economy.
Since its inception in 2017, the Summit has brought together thought leaders, policymakers, CEOs, innovators, and strategic investors to address critical issues at the crossroads of energy, economics, technology, geopolitics, and security.
The event’s inaugural edition was especially symbolic, commemorating the 160th anniversary of the world’s first modern oil refinery, built in Romania — a testament to the country’s historic leadership in the global energy sector.

Institutional Partners:
● Ministry of Energy, Romania
● Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE)
● Committee for Economic Policy, Reform and Privatization, Romanian Chamber of Deputies
● Aspen Institute Central Europe

Event Partners:
● PPC Romania
● Rompetrol
● Premier Energy
● Enevo Group
● Electrica Furnizare
● Romgaz

Media Partners:
● DC Media Group
● Ringier
● Libertatea
● AGERPRES

White Paper

Conference Report

Agenda

September 23, 2025, Nicolae Balcescu Hall, Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest, Romania

09:15 – 10:00 | Registration & Networking

10:00 – 10:50 | Opening Ceremony – Navigating the Energy Trilemma

Welcome Remarks by:

▪ Mircea Geoană – President of Aspen Institute Romania, former Deputy Secretary General of NATO
▪ Costel Dunava – President, Committee on Economic Policy, Reform and Privatization, Chamber of Deputies of Romania
▪ Bende Sandor – President, Committee on Industries and Services, Chamber of Deputies of Romania
▪ Marius Antonie Negru – Secretary of State, Ministry of Energy

Presentation – Aspen Energy Summit 2025 White Paper

▪ Rapporteur: Alexandru Manda, Aspen Public Service Leadership Program Fellow

10:50 – 11:30 | Panel: Geopolitics & Energy Security in a New Era of Great Power Politics

As the global balance of power shifts, energy security has re-emerged as one of the most critical fault lines in international relations. From the weaponization of energy supplies to the race for control over critical resources and clean energy technologies, governments and corporations alike are rethinking long-standing assumptions. The return of great power competition has created both risks and opportunities that are reshaping the energy landscape. This panel will explore how regional and global actors are recalibrating their energy strategies, what this means for Europe’s resilience, and how Romania and its neighbors can navigate the intersection of security imperatives, energy diversification, and strategic autonomy.

▪ Radu Burnete – Presidential Advisor, Economic and Social Policies Department
▪ Inga Pkhaladze – Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia
▪ Tudor Constantinescu – Principal Adviser, DG Energy, European Commission
Moderator: Ana-Maria Cătăuță – Senior Partner at Leo Consulting Group, Aspen Fellow

11:30 – 12:15 | Panel: From Policies to Actions and Implementation

Expanding access to energy is a global priority, but the real challenge lies in delivering it affordably and sustainably. This panel explores how policies can be turned into concrete strategies that reduce costs, improve efficiency, and scale solutions—highlighting best practices from governments, industry, and communities working to make universal energy access a reality. Romania and other countries from the Black Sea region have already witnessed this transformation: large-scale renewable deployments, investments in grid modernization, offshore gas developments, the rollout of smart metering, and preparations for small modular reactors are redefining the sector’s trajectory. Globally, similar shifts are underway as countries move from regulatory ambition to project execution. This panel will examine how policies can be translated into tangible outcomes, what obstacles remain in the path of implementation, and how best practices can accelerate progress.

▪ George Niculescu – President of the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE)
▪ Alessio Menegazzo – CEO & Country Manager, PPC Romania
▪ Alexandru Chiriță – CEO, Electrica
▪ Răzvan Popescu – CEO, S.N.G.N Romgaz S.A.
Moderator: Sebastian Staicu – VP for Financing, Enery / Aspen Fellow

12:15 – 13:00 | Panel: The Supply Versus Demand Dilemma

The global energy system is caught between rising demand—driven by industrial development, digitalization, and electrification—and constrained supply amid the pressures of decarbonization, security concerns, and infrastructure limits. This panel will analyze the evolving balance of supply and demand across Europe and its neighborhood. Experts will discuss energy affordability, the impact of global market fluctuations, and the challenges of ensuring a secure, competitive, and sustainable energy mix. Special attention will be given to Romania and the region’s potential to act as both an energy producer and a regional hub.

▪ Dr. Davit Narmania – Chairman of the Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (GNERC)
▪ Kevin Dayaratna – Director, Center for Data Analysis and Chief Statistician, The Heritage Foundation
▪ Cosmin Ghiță – CEO, Nuclearelectrica
▪ Frank Hajdinjak – Vice President, Romanian Energy Center (CRE)
Moderator: Lucian Mircescu – Public Policy Specialist, PPC Romania

13:00 – 13:45 | Networking lunch

13:45 – 14:30 |Panel: Creating breakthrough technologies to accelerate the safe energy transition – in partnership with the European Center for Economic Security, Technology and Resilience (ECESTR)

Innovation is the cornerstone of the energy transition. Yet with greater connectivity and reliance on digital infrastructure comes new vulnerabilities—particularly in cybersecurity, critical infrastructure resilience, and network safety. This panel will highlight the technologies with the greatest potential to transform the energy sector, while also addressing issues of safety, scalability, and public trust. Speakers will explore how to foster innovation ecosystems that not only accelerate decarbonization, but also safeguard energy systems against cyber threats and systemic risks. Romania’s role as a testbed for both technological adoption and secure energy innovation will be a key point of focus.

▪ Dan Cîmpean – Director, National Cybersecurity Directorate (DNSC)
▪ Luca Tagliaretti – Executive Director, European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC)
▪ Cristian Pîrvulescu – CEO, ENEVO Group
▪ Petru Rușeț – Managing Director, Siemens Energy Romania
Moderator: Alina Urs – Senior Cyber Security Manager, National Cybersecurity Directorate / Aspen Alumna

14:30 – 15:00 |Panel: Powering the Pivot: Financing the Energy Transition & Sustainability in 2025

The energy transition requires unprecedented levels of investment—public and private, domestic and international. Financing green infrastructure, ensuring just transition pathways, and attracting strategic capital are at the heart of this transformation. This panel will examine the role of financial markets, EU and national funding instruments, and innovative financing models in accelerating sustainable energy projects, creating resilient financial frameworks for Romania and the wider region.

▪ Oana-Marciana Özmen – Energy Expert / former Deputy, Parliament of Romania
▪ Will Herlinger – Head of Investment, Nala Renewables
▪ Iuliana Pănescu – Head of Treasury, Premier Energy
▪ Nicoleta Forfotă – Director Corporate Bank, Citi România
Moderator: Alexandru Manda – Aspen Public Service Leadership Program Fellow

15:00 – 15:15 | Instead of conclusions – The way towards Oslo Energy Forum