Tectonic changes are occurring not only in the world financial system, trading and investment, energy, geopolitics, and technology; a fundamental transformation is also underway in the way the cities have been managed and regenerated, creating profound implications for mega-cities such as Istanbul. The global population is congregating in our cities. Eighty per cent of the world’s estimated nine billion people in 2050 are expected to live in urban areas. Our cities and urban areas face many challenges from social to health to environmental. The impacts of cities and urban areas are felt in other regions which supply cities with food, water and energy and absorb pollution and waste. However, the proximity of people, businesses and services associated with the very word ‘city’ means that there are also huge opportunities. Indeed, well designed, well managed urban settings offer a key opportunity for sustainable living.

Myriad trends indicate that the current world energy system is far from being sustainable. It will be shaped by rising demand over the long term, dominance of fossil fuels, inaccessible supplies, price volatility, inadequate investment, geopolitical tensions, and climate change. The most pressing decision facing the next generation may be how best to accelerate the transition from a fossil-fuel-based energy system to a system based on climate-friendly energy alternatives. Turkey has emerged as an important actor to reckon with as a consumer, transporter, investor, regional hub, and security provider in world energy and geopolitics. Likewise, Istanbul as a global city and gateway to the world’s major producers and consumers offers so much opportunities for energy investment, conservation, efficiency, distribution and shipment. It also faces serious energy-related challenges including from climate change, congestion, power black-outs, and local pollution. READ MORE

• February 2, 2011

Turkey aspires to possess at least 20 nuclear reactors operating in the country by 2030, a key official from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources has said.

• February 1, 2011

Ministry of Economic Regulation (MER) of Kyrgyzstan intends to attract Turkish businessmen to develop the mining sector, as the head of the investment policy of MER Kubat Murzaev stated at a joint Kyrgyz-Turkish Business Forum.

• February 1, 2011

Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, the first of its kind in the country, is to join the national power grid in early April, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI), Ali Akbar Salehi said

• January 29, 2011

Russian experts confirmed during a presentation of the Kaliningrad nuclear power plant project in Riga yesterday that the project will have no detrimental effect on the environment.

• January 29, 2011

Today I would like to talk about Turkey in the foreign policy of the EU. I am not going to talk about the European approach to Turkey as it is already well known – especially here in Europe; but I will talk about the position of Turkey in its region, and from the Turkish point of view.

Turkey today is perceived as one of the region’s most sucessful countries. Although it is improving its relations with the east, such as Iran, Russia, Iraq, Syria; its relations with the EU is getting closer to a deadlock.

In my speech, I would like to focus on the new Turkish foreign policy focusing on Turkey’s complicated position as a “bridge” or as a “buffer” between the East and West, namely between the European Union and the Middle East.

• January 29, 2011

Main Discussion Points

• The Basics of the Gulf Gas Sector


• The Basis of EU Diversification (The Context)


• Qatari Expansion into Eastern and Central Europ


• Future Challenges

• January 29, 2011

Issue 2: January 2011

A Snapshot Of Key Developments In The External Relations Of The Russian Gas Sector

According to export plans for 2011 revealed by Aleksei Miller, Gazprom will export more gas than in 2010, but still less than during the pre-crisis period. Gazprom plans to enter the Portuguese and Spanish markets, having arranged deliveries of gas from Africa. READ MORE

• January 29, 2011