Please join the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center on Tuesday, July 26th, from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. EDT at 1030 15th St NW, 12th floor, in Washington, DC, for a private roundtable discussion on US-Romania cooperation on energy security and climate with H.E. Dr. Virgil-Daniel Popescu, Romanian Minister of Energy. The conversation will be moderated by Olga Khakova, deputy director for European Energy Security at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center.

As Russia’s war against Ukraine and withholding of energy to European states increasingly threatens European energy security, Romania stands at the frontline of the conflict. Yet, Romania’s diversified energy mix with over a quarter of its electricity from hydropower and a fifth from nuclear has equipped it to handle the energy implications of the war. Furthermore, Romania has recently embarked on nuclear projects with US partners, including the historic agreement with NuScale Power to build a first-of-a-kind small modular reactor. In addition to its potential as a nuclear energy exporter along the European grid, Romania also promises to emerge as a key node for new oil and gas supplies, through LNG imports and its own substantial reserves in the Black Sea, transported by a growing network of regional interconnectors within Central Europe. Additionally, Romania can play a leading role in new renewable power development given its potential for solar and offshore wind.

During this Chatham House-format discussion, Minister Popescu will outline Romania’s perspective on the energy security issues facing Southeast Europe. The discussion will touch on the challenges of financing new energy deployments and opportunities for transatlantic cooperation to overcome these obstacles. The conversation will also explore the role Romania can play in creating a more secure and decarbonized European energy system in the aftermath of the war in Ukraine, and how Romania can help to integrate Ukraine into that system.

This high-level discussion will hugely benefit from your expertise and insights, and we hope you will join us. Please do not hesitate to reach out to event coordinator Paddy Ryan, PRyan@AtlanticCouncil.org, with any questions. We look forward to seeing you!

A conversation with

H.E. Dr. Virgil–Daniel Popescu
Romanian Minister of Energy

H.E. Dr. Virgil–Daniel Popescu was appointed Romanian minister of Energy on December 2020. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Popescu served as Minister of Economy, Energy and the Business Environment. He had been serving also as vice president at Commission of Industry and Services, at Chamber of Deputies, Romanian Parliament. He is also parliamentary in the Romanian Parliament since 2016. Minister Popescu is also involved in didactic, scientific, and research activities, working as an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Craiova University. He holds a PhD in management from Craiova University and BS in engineering/automation from the University of Bucharest, Romania.

Moderated by

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The Global Energy Center develops and promotes pragmatic and nonpartisan policy solutions designed to advance global energy security, enhance economic opportunity, and accelerate pathways to net-zero emissions.