20.09.2024 / News

Energy transition issues discussed on final day of EWF-2024

On September 20, the last day of the fourth Eurasian Women's Forum, a discussion was held dedicated to the current issues of energy transition. At the thematic session "Women's Contribution to the Energy Transition of BRICS Countries," the participants discussed the most pressing issues on the current agenda. What best practices in promoting the agenda of a just energy transition can representatives of the BRICS countries share? What is the practical role of women in the energy transition of the BRICS countries? How do the BRICS countries support women's leadership in fuel and energy companies and what additional support measures are possible and necessary? How do the BRICS countries use the potential of women's entrepreneurship in the energy sector? What joint projects are possible in the BRICS countries in the field of training and adaptation of women to engineering specialties needed for the energy transition? These and other questions formed the basis of the dialogue between the experts.

The session participants included Gulnara Bikkulova , Deputy Director General, Director of the International Initiatives and Partnerships Block of the ANO Rosatom Corporate Academy, Yulia Dyakova , First Deputy Director for Science of the National Research Center Kurchatov Institute, Irina Gaida , Coordinator of the Eurasian Women's Forum Council's Ecological Platform project, expert at the Skoltech Center for Energy Transition and ESG, independent member of the Novatek Board of Directors, Nelisiwe Nhlapo , Project Manager of the State Agency for Professional Training in Energy and Water Supply from the Republic of South Africa, Samin Dot Shirvaniarani , Director of Scientific and International Cooperation at the Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI) of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Professor of Radiochemistry from the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Anastasia Lavrentyeva, Deputy Head of the Center for the Implementation of Sustainable Development Principles at Gazprombank.

Munira Sultana , Chairperson of the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Agency of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Farah Al-Gharib , Executive Director of Precision And Choice (Saudi Arabia), and Mpo Mookapeli , Chief Executive Officer of the South African Authority for Education and Training in the Energy and Water Sector, joined the dialogue remotely.

During the session, the parties noted that issues of a fair energy transition are at the forefront of the global energy agenda and are key in the energy dialogue of the BRICS countries in the year of Russia's chairmanship in the association. Women in all BRICS countries play an important role in addressing them. "It is gratifying to observe the growing participation of female specialists, female managers in such a traditionally male sphere as energy. A female perspective on conducting business negotiations, on communication in general, allows us all to find a common language and jointly solve truly fundamental problems in the field of energy," said Samin Dot Shirvaniarani .

Last but not least, the parties discussed the issues of the influence of the female audience on the solution of issues in the field of nuclear energy. "Women have inspired and continue to inspire men to improve nuclear energy for many years," Yulia Dyakova noted in her speech. She added that "green energy" issues require close cooperation between specialists and governments of different countries, and in this regard, women's talent for reaching a compromise plays a significant role.

Following the meeting, the parties agreed to maintain contacts and continue discussing pressing issues in subsequent periods.