Energy security and economic development

As part of the Zagreb Autumn Fair and Fourth International Energy Fair, on September 21, 2006, a regional conference was held entitled "Energy security and economic development".

Minister Branko Vukelić, in his introductory speech entitled "Croatia as an intersection of future energy routes", presented future guidelines of the Croatian Government for energy investments which will for all energy sectors reach a total amount of four to five billion euros in the next five years. For consumption in Croatia, which grows at 4 percent a year, as opposed to 2 percent in the EU, sufficient energy should be secured as a condition for economic growth as well as living standards. This means that new supply routes should be secured, energy efficiency increased and renewable energy sources promoted. By investing into backbone gas and oil pipelines and into the electricity sector and/or by connecting to major European projects - Croatia will become an intersection of energy routes, said B. Vukelić.
Among the distinguished speakers from different European and international institutions was President of HEP Management Board, Ivan Mravak, who spoke about the liberalization of the energy market and privatization in Croatia. Outlining what had happened in the area of prices over the last decade in the industrial sector, I. Mravak pointed out that the liberalization in Europe initially caused prices to fall and then to gradually increase but due to increase in charges, and that a similar but milder pro