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The high-level forum will bring together senior executives, policymakers, infrastructure operators and market experts from more than 25 countries to discuss key trends shaping the future of gas in the region.
Amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, shifting supply routes and the phaseout of Russian gas, the role of LNG and regional infrastructure has become increasingly critical. The 2026 summit will focus on the evolving global gas and LNG landscape, energy security, infrastructure development and market integration across Central and Eastern Europe.
Gergely Molnár, a gas analyst at the International Energy Agency, will present a global outlook on gas and LNG markets in a fragmented geopolitical environment. Zoltán Áldott, chair of Iogp Europe, will address trends in the upstream energy sector, while Luis Sanchez, head of LNG at MET Group, will provide a regional perspective.
Experts will also examine the impact of geopolitical developments, including the Middle East conflict, on global and regional gas markets. Speakers such as Ralf Dickgreber of Engie, Vitaliy Baylarbayov of Socar, Mithat Aydin of Botaş, Gábor Orbán of MVM Group, Franck Neel of OMV Petrom, and Eszter Szekeres will discuss supply security, LNG’s role in system flexibility and the impact of global supply growth on regional strategies.
Further insights into global LNG dynamics will be provided by Jefferson Edwards of Shell, who will present the company’s latest outlook on supply, demand and pricing trends.
Infrastructure and market integration will also be key topics, with transmission system operators including Szabolcs I. Ferencz of FGSZ, Elio Ruggeri of Snam, Vladimir Malinov of Bulgartransgaz, Milan Sedláček of Eustream, Konstantinos Sifnaios of Gastrade, and Natalia Boyko of Gtso Ukraine discussing cross-border cooperation and regional resilience.
Borbála Takácsné Tóth of Rekk will examine the impact of the Russian gas phaseout and LNG supply shocks on wholesale gas prices in Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
The program will also cover the role of gas in Europe’s energy transition and competitiveness, alongside gas trading dynamics, risk management and pricing strategies. Speakers will include László Fritsch and Dániel Garai of CEEGEX.
Further information and registration are available on the summit’s official website.
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