GLOBAL ENERGY TRANSITION AND TURKEY'S ENERGY ROADMAP

Global Energy Transition and Turkey's Energy Roadmap

04 Mar 21

On March 4th, 2021, the Turkish Heritage Organization in conjunction with World Energy Turkey facilitated discussion on the global energy transition, Turkey’s energy roadmap and areas for cooperation for the U.S., Turkey and the Mediterranean region. This discussion was moderated by Jeanene Mitchell who expressed the convenient timing of this webinar as she introduced Deputy Minister Dr. Alparslan Bayraktar and Executive Director Sheila Hollis for the first portion of the segment.

For the first segment, Deputy Minister Dr. Bayraktar asserted the social, economic and financial dilemmas that the COVID-19 global pandemic presented to the global energy market and its investments, utilities, and sustainability. In doing so, he urged the importance of IT developments and quality framework in market-based introductions for the Turkish energy market transitions. Initiatives such as Transition 2.0 is aimed at prioritizing security of supply and localization as Turkey has seen a significant increase of capacity. Deputy Minister Dr. Bayraktar indicates that diversification is crucial for security of supply in international infrastructure projects in large scale and operational form. Essential to energy consumption and climate change, LNG was brought to the center of discussion through its global competitive prices, it’s significant increase for the Turkish economy and potential market reforms for negotiations.

Additionally, Sheila Slocum Hollis, Acting Executive Director of the United States Energy Association (USEA) highlighted key elements of energy transition with respect to U.S., Turkish and global perspectives. As she explains USEA’s structure and goals, emphasis on the interlink of energy and human activity has been illuminated. In referencing global energy realities, climate change focuses, cybersecurity and physical security changes and the role of bitcoin and cryptocurrency in relations to energy demands, Dr.(?) Hollis proposes key elements in understanding the politics changes and focuses that will allow the U.S. and Turkey to emerge strategically in the future of energy.

For the second segment of this event, panelists Murat Ozyegin - Chairman of FIBA group, Sinan Ak – CEO of Zorlu Energy and Cantekin Dinçerler- CEO of Kologlu Holding participated in this dialogue.

Mr. Ozyegin touched on renewable potential in energy as well as Turkey’s progression towards seeing success in production, implementation and function notably in hydro gas, and wind and solar energy. In recognizing the current and future crossroads that the US AND Turkey stands at, he proposes much improvement and areas of cooperation for Turkish, US and European companies for regional efficiency.

Next, Mr. Sinan articulated research statistics that project the maximization and its potential for future goals in the Black Sea. Reflecting on possible changes to beneficial negotiations for all parties involved, he conveys anticipation for progress amongst global competitors in the energy market.

As Dr. Dinçerler presented his comments on the global energy transition, he brings an insightful perspective to digitalization on energy in the utility sector. In focusing on the transition in this aspect, he also presents key components on moderating consumer behavior, efficiency in energy-based technology and localization of energy projects in Turkish residential areas.

In closing, each panelist was provided the opportunity to disclose concluding thoughts that were sweepingly optimistic, cognizant and comprehensive of future energy routes.

PARTICIPANTS

Alparslan Bayraktar

Dr. Deputy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar is the Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey and the Chairman of the World Energy Council, Turkey. Before his appointment, he was the Former Chairman of the Energy Regulators Regional Association in Turkey, former Chairman of that association’s Strategic Advisory Board, and Deputy Under Secretary of Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey. He was also the General Director of Foreign Affairs and the EU at the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. From 2010 to 2016, Dr. Deputy Minister Bayraktar served as a Commissioner of the Energy Market Regulatory Authority of Turkey. Before joining the public sector, he worked in the private sector in energy and information technology fields in Turkey and abroad.


Sheila Slocum Hollis

Sheila Slocum Hollis is Acting Executive Director of the United States Energy Association. Through its membership, USEA represents 150 members across the U.S. energy sector from the largest Fortune 500 companies to small energy consulting firms. In her role, Ms. Hollis represents the broad interests of the U.S. energy industry and interacts with domestic and international leaders to advance knowledge and seek partnerships to develop and enhance energy infrastructure worldwide.  Prior to becoming Acting Executive Director, Ms. Hollis served as the United States Energy Association’s Chairman of the Board. She served as the first woman President of the Energy Bar Association, chaired the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy and Resources and serves as its representative on the ABA Board of Governors. Ms. Hollis is also Of Counsel and Chair of the Duane Morris, LLP Washington, D.C. office, and was the office’s founding managing partner, as well as the founding leader of the firm’s Energy, Environment and Resources Practice Group. She served on the firm’s Executive Committee and Partners Board for more than a decade.



Murat Özyeğin

Murat Özyeğin graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a double major in Industrial Management and Economics in 1998 and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. Before assuming the role of Chairman of FIBA Group in 2019, he served as a member of the Board of Directors of FIBA Group between 2003-2019. He also serves as Vice Chairman of Credit Europe Bank, the group’s largest subsidiary in finance, and as Chairman of all non-financial subsidiaries. In addition to his responsibilities at FIBA Group companies, Mr. Özyeğin also serves as Vice President of the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TÜSİAD), President of the Turkey-Netherlands Business Council, and Vice President of the Energy Efficiency Association. He is Honorary Consul-General of Singapore in Istanbul and a Trustee of Özyeğin University and the Hüsnü M. Özyeğin Foundation. He is also a member of Harvard University Global Advisory Board and the Endeavor Board of Directors, Trustee of WWF Turkey and member of Global Relations Forum.


Sinan Ak

Sinan Ak has been the Sector Head of the Zorlu Energy Group since 2016. Mr. Ak joined Zorlu Energy Group in 2006 and served as the Assistant General Manager responsible for Financial Affairs at Zorlu Enerji until January 2012, when he was appointed as the Company’s General Manager and also served as the General Manager of two other Zorlu Energy Group companies. Mr. Ak graduated from the Department of Business Engineering at Istanbul Technical University in 1995 and received his master’s degree in business administration from Old Dominion University in the United States.



Cantekin Dinçerler

Dr. Cantekin Dinçerler is the CEO of Koloğlu Holding, where he currently oversees the company’s vast energy portfolio, along with power and gas trading businesses. Before joining Koloğlu Holding, Dr. Dinçerler was a partner at McKinsey & Company, as well as at Oliver Wyman. He also served as a management consultant for companies and governments in a wide range of countries, including in the United States, Canada, and Russia. Dr. Dinçerler teaches elective corporate risk management courses in the Master of Finance program at Koç University, Istanbul.