In April of this year, His Majesty Sultan of the Sultanate of Oman, Haitham bin Tarik visited Russia. At the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the focus was on cooperation in the economic and energy sectors. On the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, OERLive met Vladimir Zatynaiko the Deputy Director of the Roscongress Foundation and the Director of the Russian Energy Week International Forum for an exclusive interaction. Excerpts from an interview:

1. What is the main goal of the Russian Energy Week?

The Russian Energy Week (REW) is a key international platform for an open discussion on current challenges and prospects in the global energy sector. Our goal is to bring together representatives of governments, companies, and the expert community for a constructive dialogue, exchange of best practices, and a shared understanding of the future of the global energy balance.

2. In the context of sanctions and geopolitical tensions, what role does the REW play as an international platform for dialogue?

Russian Energy Week is becoming especially relevant now, in an era of turbulence and the rethinking of energy chains. We see that amidst geopolitical tensions, there is a growing interest in alternative formats of cooperation, and REW provides an opportunity for this. It is a space where open dialogue is possible, independent of political circumstances, focused on practical cooperation and supply security.

3. What projects involving Middle Eastern countries are being discussed within the framework of the REW?

The delegations from the Gulf countries are traditionally numerous and representative. The focus is on infrastructure and investment projects in the energy sector, the localisation of technologies, and the joint development of logistics and new types of fuel. For example, partnerships in the fields of LNG, electric power, hydropower, and renewable energy sources are being actively discussed. Many countries in the Middle East and Africa are interested in technology exchange and long-term cooperation.

  4. How is Roscongress building an international agenda for the REW?

Roscongress forms the international agenda based on a systematic analysis of the interests of Russia and its key partners. We work directly with experts, business associations, and government agencies in foreign countries. This allows us to create panels and attract expertise from various regions, from the Middle East to Latin America. The focus is on real-life cases rather than just declarations.

5. What new formats of international cooperation will be implemented this year?

In 2025, we are introducing a new series of “Energy Talks” – thematic meetings with the participation of representatives of Africa, BRICS and ASEAN, where specific scenarios of energy partnership are discussed. There are also plans for an interactive exhibition with VR solutions and sessions on hydrogen energy, carbon footprint and localisation of energy technologies. For young people, the format of Energy Future has been launched, bringing together students of energy directions from all over the world. Come to REW, this year it will be held on October 15-17.

To know more about Russian Energy Week: https://rusenergyweek.com/en/about/about-rew/