




Course description
Student Testimonials
by Maria GEROVA – Transparency Adviser, ENTSOG
Course Objectives
The 5th edition of ERRA’s Natural Gas Training Course builds upon the previous similar training programs. It aims to give a general introduction into the gas value chain with special emphasis on upstream gas supplies. It is supposed to give a good understanding of the restructuring process of the gas industry and of wholesale markets. It puts special emphasis on regulators approaches of gas infrastructures, gas storage and security of supply issues.
During the course the following broad themes will be addressed:
- Upstream Gas Supply and Restructuring of Gas Markets in Europe
- Wholesale Market Trade
- Access to Gas Infrastructures: Regulatory Approaches
- Gas Storage and Security of Supply Issues
- Retail Market Issues
Course Structure
Day 1: UPSTREAM GAS SUPPLY AND RESTRUCTURING OF GAS MARKETS IN EUROPE
The first day deals with the gas value chain, global picture and players, geopolitical dimension (including the role of LNG). The issues of supply and upstream; supply and midstream are discussed. Industry facts and economics of gas industry are presented together with competition between LNG and gas by pipeline. An overview of the main current and prospective suppliers is given and commercial, political and upstream factors influencing their future positioning in the European gas market is discussed. Different market structures (Asia, US, Europe) are discussed from an LNG trader perspective to give a better understanding of LNG trade developments and certain barriers to trade. [W1] [W2] Finally the day concludes with a simulation of energy policy.
Day 2: WHOLESALE MARKET TRADE
The day begins with discussing the evolution of demand over time with an emphasis on EU, Southeast Europe and Eurasia. The factors affecting short and long term demand for natural gas are addressed, seasonality, factors influencing gas demand by consumer groups: residential, industrial, electricity generation, etc. interruptibility of consumption is discussed. Deals with vertically integrated companies; regulatory issues at a vertically integrated industry: licensing and monitoring; end customer tariff setting; network connection and its costs; business conduct rules and consumer protection. Investigates the role of competition and (EU) competition law; the EU Gas Directives, the Third package and the main institutions involved into the enforcement of EU law in the energy sector. Introduces the role of long-term contracts, take-or-pay, volumes, pricing & oil-indexation, flexibility, nominations, defaults, supply-security, destination clauses, transits. Gas market designs: hubs, wholesale markets, price correlation; gas trading in practice.
Day 3: ACCESS TO GAS INFRASTRUCTURES – REGULATORY APPROACHES
Focuses on the TSO function: transmission, system operation and balancing; EU unbundling regimes. Describes the European tariff setting and third party access rules to networks; exit-entry tariffs and their implementation. Practicalities of the EU Network Codes: introduces cross border trade, pipeline capacity allocation and congestion management, transit, new pipelines, quality issues. New approaches of regional gas market development are presented. Finally a case study of the Russian regulatory approach of access to infrastructure is presented.
Day 4: GAS STORAGE AND SECURITY OF SUPPLY ISSUES
Deals with security of supply in terms of short-term and long-term policies and approaches, the external dimensions, strategic stocks, pipeline projects and exemptions from TPA rules. Gas storage regulation in a restructured gas sector is presented. Security of supply issues with regards new pipeline developments, reverse flow on existing pipelines and the regulation and incentives of domestic gas production is discussed.
Day 5: RETAIL MARKETS
The competition issues of the retail market, supplier switching process and consumer protection will be addressed. Monitoring and the role of the regulators in informing consumers about their rights, the role of transparency will be tackled. The retail market price regulation and universal supply, definition of vulnerable consumers and the institution of supplier of last resort will be presented. Social issues related to energy prices and the tools to address the problems.
Group Assignment: Throughout the course a group assignment in form of a strategic game will be played. Participants present the results and the lessons learned on the last day.
Round table discussions: Every day selected hot topics – submitted by the participants – are discussed, possibly grouped thematically along the structure of the course.
Course registration
ERRA Full Members | EUR 1 075 + 27% VAT |
ERRA Associate Members | EUR 1 275 + 27% VAT |
Non-Member Regulators | EUR 1 475 + 27% VAT |
Non-regulators | EUR 1 975 + 27% VAT |
Tuition fee includes: training materials, lunches, coffee breaks during the training course and a social programme.
Accommodation cost for 5 nights will be automatically added to the tuition fee in the amount of 325 EUR if you chose to stay at the training venue (European Youth Centre Budapest (EYCB); http://www.eycb.coe.int). (In case participants wish to stay at a different location, please note that they will need to do their own hotel arrangements.)
Course location
Budapest
Hungary
European Youth Centre Budapest (EYCB)
Address: 1-3 Zivatar Str., H-1024 Budapest
Tel.: +36 1 438 1030 ǀ Fax +36 1 212 4076
E-mail:
Web: www.eycb.coe.int
UPSTREAM GAS SUPPLY AND RESTRUCTURING OF GAS MARKETS IN EUROPE
Opening Address and Introduction by Participants

TAKÁCSNÉ TÓTH, Borbála
Course Director; Senior Research Associate, Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
Introducing the Value Chain. Global Picture and Players. Geopolitical Dimension

TAKÁCSNÉ TÓTH, Borbála
Course Director; Senior Research Associate, Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
Coffee Break
A 2025 Outlook for Gas Supplies to Europe

FRANZA, Luca
Researcher (International Gas Market), Clingendael International Energy Programme (CIEP), The Netherlands
Lunch Break
Restructuring the gas sector: EU directives from market opening to gas target model

KADERJÁK, Péter
Director, Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
Coffee Break
Off-Class Teamwork Assignment for the Week

KOTEK, Péter
Senior Research Associate, Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
End of Day 1
Group Dinner
WHOLESALE MARKET TRADE
Building a regional gas market in the Baltics

OTS, Märt
ERRA Chairman; Director General, Estonian Competition Authority (ECA), Estonia
Coffee Break
Gas demand characteristics and international developments

TAKÁCSNÉ TÓTH, Borbála
Course Director; Senior Research Associate, Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
Hot Topics in Gas Markets Regulation
Lunch Break
Wholesale trade in the EU: techniques, progress in gas trading, liquidity and barriers to trade

PHILIPP, Stefan
Senior Customer Service Manager, Gas Exchange Services, Central European Gas Hub (CEGH), Austria
Coffee Break
Restructuring of gas markets and wholesale market trade in Russia

GOLOMOLZIN, Anatoly
Deputy Head, Federal Antimonopoly Service, Russian Federation
End of Day 2
ACCESS TO GAS INFRASTRUCTURES: REGULATORY APPROACHES
Role of TSO, Network access arrangements, congestion management and capacity allocation, balancing; Case Study: NBP Capacity Trading Platform

GELLÉNYI, Zoltán
Director of System Operation and Capacity Trade, Hungarian Natural Gas Transmission Company (FGSZ), Hungary
Coffee Break
Transmission tariff systems; Entry/ exit tariff system in the EU

SZOLNOKI, Pálma
Senior Business Analyst, IP Systems, Hungary
Cross Border Transmission Tariffs in the Balkan (CESEC) region

TAKÁCSNÉ TÓTH, Borbála
Course Director; Senior Research Associate, Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
Lunch Break
Price Regulation of the Natural Gas Sector incl. a case study in Turkey

KORKUTATA, Nedim
Head of Tariffs Department, Energy Market Regulatory Authority, Turkey
Coffee Break
Hot topics in gas markets regulation
Access to gas infrastructures: Russian regulatory approach

GOLOMOLZIN, Anatoly
Deputy Head, Federal Antimonopoly Service, Russian Federation
End of Day 3
GAS STORAGE AND SECURITY OF SUPPLY ISSUES
Security of supply issues in the European gas sector. Case study: The gas crisis of January 2009 and regulatory responses

TAKÁCSNÉ TÓTH, Borbála
Course Director; Senior Research Associate, Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
Coffee Break
Regulation of Ukraine’s gas market: the ongoing reform

BADANOVA, Ielyzaveta
Deputy Head of Legal, NJSC Naftogaz, Ukraine
Hot Topics in Gas Markets Regulation
Lunch Break
Gas storage regulation in a restructured gas sector

TAKÁCSNÉ TÓTH, Borbála
Course Director; Senior Research Associate, Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
Coffee Break
Case study on the Romanian gas offshore prospects and related infrastructure development

SELAVARDEANU, Cristian
Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE), Romania
Case study on liberalization of gas prices in Romania

SELAVARDEANU, Cristian
Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE), Romania
End of Day 4
RETAIL MARKET ISSUES
Retail market and social issues in the gas sector. End-user price regulation, supplier switch, political involvement and social subsidies

KEREKES, Lajos
Senior Researcher, Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
Coffee Break
New pipeline projects in and around Turkey

BAYRAKTAR, Alparslan
Deputy Undersecretary, Energy and Natural Resources Ministry of Turkey; Former ERRA and ICER Chairman, Turkey
Final Test
Lunch Break
Presentation of the Off-Class Assignments
Course EvaluationSigning of the Alumni BookGroup PhotoFinal Comments and Farewell

TAKÁCSNÉ TÓTH, Borbála
Course Director; Senior Research Associate, Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
End of the 5-day Training Course
Course Faculty Team

BADANOVA, Ielyzaveta
Deputy Head of Legal, NJSC Naftogaz, Ukraine

BAYRAKTAR, Alparslan
Deputy Undersecretary, Energy and Natural Resources Ministry of Turkey; Former ERRA and ICER Chairman, Turkey

FRANZA, Luca
Researcher (International Gas Market), Clingendael International Energy Programme (CIEP), The Netherlands

GELLÉNYI, Zoltán
Director of System Operation and Capacity Trade, Hungarian Natural Gas Transmission Company (FGSZ), Hungary

GOLOMOLZIN, Anatoly
Deputy Head, Federal Antimonopoly Service, Russian Federation

KADERJÁK, Péter
Director, Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary

KEREKES, Lajos
Senior Researcher, Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary

KORKUTATA, Nedim
Head of Tariffs Department, Energy Market Regulatory Authority, Turkey

KOTEK, Péter
Senior Research Associate, Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary

OTS, Märt
ERRA Chairman; Director General, Estonian Competition Authority (ECA), Estonia

PHILIPP, Stefan
Senior Customer Service Manager, Gas Exchange Services, Central European Gas Hub (CEGH), Austria

SELAVARDEANU, Cristian
Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE), Romania

SZOLNOKI, Pálma
Senior Business Analyst, IP Systems, Hungary

TAKÁCSNÉ TÓTH, Borbála
Course Director; Senior Research Associate, Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
Please note that Training Materials are available only for registered participants and ERRA Members. Please LOGIN with your username and password.
Nr. | Country | Name | Organization | Job Title |
1 | Estonia | Indrek Ahermaa | Estonian Competition Authority (ECA) | Adviser |
2 | Lithuania | Valdemaras Bagdonas | AB Amber Grid | |
3 | Latvia | Inga Balabkina | Public Utilities Commission (PUC) | Head of Energy Division, Legal Department |
4 | United States (US) | Rhedon Begolli | The World Bank | Energy Specialist |
5 | Tanzania | Blandina Bilau | Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) | Economist |
6 | Latvia | Jānis Bunkovskis | AS "Latvenergo" | Project Manager of Regulatory Affairs |
7 | Egypt | Suzan El Gamal | Egyptian Natural Gas Company - Gasco | |
8 | Belgium | Maria Gerova | ENTSOG | Transparency Adviser |
9 | Pakistan | Noorul Haque | Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) | Member Finance |
10 | Hungary | Ákos József | MFGT Hungarian Gas Storage Company | Senior Regulation Expert |
11 | Georgia | Sopio Khozrevanidze | Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (GNERC) | Chief Specialist, Natural Gas Department |
12 | Turkey | Asude Korucuogullari | Turkey Energy Market Regulatory Authority | Assistant Energy Expert |
13 | Pakistan | Najaf Khan Malik | Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) | Deputy Executive Director (LPG/LNG) |
14 | Tanzania | Felix Ngamlagosi | Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) | Director General |
15 | Georgia | Ivane Pirveli | Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (GNERC) | Deputy Director, Natural Gas Department |
16 | Tanzania | Thobias Rwelamila | Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) | Natural Gas Distribution Manager |
17 | Georgia | Georgi Shengelia | Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (GNERC) | Deputy Director, International Relations Department |
18 | Turkey | Melih Turhan | Energy market regulatory authority turkey | energy expert asistance |
19 | Latvia | Aivars Viess | Public Utilities Commission (PUC) | Executive Director |
20 | Latvia | Agnese Villere | Public Utilities Commission (PUC) | Senior Expert at Gas Division |
21 | Slovakia | Vladimír Volčko | Deloitte Advisory s.r.o. |
Venue/ Accommodation
European Youth Centre Budapest (EYCB)
Address: Zivatar u. 1-3., H-1024 Budapest
Tel.: +36 1 438 1030 ǀ Fax: +36 1 212 4076
E-mail:
Web: www.eycb.coe.int
Tuition fee includes: training materials, lunches, coffee breaks during the training course and a social programme.
Please be informed that 5 nights of accommodation at the course venue – European Youth Center (EYCB) can be added (November 27 – December 2). Please note that EYCB has a dormitory type of accommodation, which means that there are no television and air conditioner in the rooms. Participants are accommodated in private rooms with private bathroom included. For more information please visit: http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/eycb/Conf_facil/photos_en.asp. In case you need extra nights for your stay, a separate form will be sent to you with the confirmation letter. Single room rate is € 65/night (including breakfast and VAT).
Visa
Please verify the visa requirements of Hungary by contacting the Hungarian Embassy in your country. The list of diplomatic missions is available here: http://www.kormany.hu/en/ministry-of-foreign-affairs-and-trade/missions. The list of countries whose citizens do not require visas to enter Hungary can be found at http://konzuliszolgalat.kormany.hu/visa-waiver-agreements.
List of third countries, where a Schengen state issues visas on behalf of Hungary is available on this page: http://konzuliszolgalat.kormany.hu/visa-issuance-on-behalf-of-hungary.
In case you need an entry visa, please immediately contact the ERRA Secretariat! To prepare a visa invitation letter for you, please send us your passport copy.
Airport Transfers/ Travel Information
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (formerly Ferihegy):
- Located 16 kilometres (9,9 mi) east-southeast of the centre of Budapest
- Central telephone number for information: +36 1 296 7000
- http://www.bud.hu/english
- The transfer time to/from the airport to the downtown is approximately 45-60 minutes (subject to traffic)
Shuttle bus
miniBUD (http://www.minibud.hu/) is the official airport shuttle service company providing fixed-priced transfer service between Budapest Airport – Budapest city center – Budapest Airport. The miniBUD airport shuttle service counters located on the arrivals level of Budapest Airport.
Rate to the EYCB:
- one-way: HUF 3900 (approx. 12,5 EUR)
- round trip: HUF 6900 (approx. 22 EUR)
Taxi from the Airport
There is an official airport taxi company (Főtaxi) available at the Arrival Hall of the Terminals. All Főtaxi cars are equipped with POS terminal, therefore passengers can pay with credit card as well. Reservations can be made in person at Főtaxi booths located at the exit at Terminal 2A and 2B. At the taxi rank in front of the stands taxis are parking continuously waiting for passengers.
Rates (for reference purposes only): around HUF 8500 (27 EUR) for one way.
Calling a Taxi in Budapest
Please find below the list of larger taxi companies in Budapest:
- Taxi 2000: +36 1 200 0000
- Citytaxi: +36 1 211 1111
- Főtaxi: +36 1 222 2222
- 6×6 Taxi: +36 1 666 6666
Public Transport
Budapest’s network of public transport services (BKK) includes buses, trolleybuses, trams, subway (Metró) and over ground suburban trains (HÉV).
For ticket prices and more information please visit the official website of BKK: http://www.bkk.hu/en/tickets-and-passes/prices/
Booklet in PDF with useful information is available here >>
Railway Stations
International trains operate from the three largest stations:
- Keleti pályaudvar: VIII., Baross tér. Tel: (+36-1) 413 – 4610.
- Nyugati pályaudvar: VI., Nyugati tér Tel: (+36-1) 349-8503
- Déli pályaudvar I. Krisztina krt. 37. Tel: (+36-1) 375-6593
All three international railway stations are part of the Budapest Underground system, the Metró. The Déli is on the Red (Number 2) line, Keleti is on the Red (Number 2) and Green (Number 4) lines and the Nyugati is on the Blue (Number 3) line.
Official website of the Hungarian State Railways: https://www.mavcsoport.hu/en
General Information
Currency: | HUF (Hungarian Forint) Currency Exchange Rates: http://www.mnb.hu/en/arfolyamok |
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Time zone: | UTC/GMT +1 hours | |
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Electricity: | 230 V/50 Hz (Europlug) | |
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Dial Codes: | +36 – | |
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Emergency Calls: | 112 (ambulance, police and fire) | |
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Smoking: | Smoking is not permitted in public places, dining and meeting facilities. | |
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Weather: | http://www.meteoprog.hu/en/weather/Budapest/ http://koponyeg.hu/t/Budapest |
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Information on Budapest: |
http://bebudapest.hu/ http://www.budapest.com/ https://www.budapestinfo.hu/home.html http://www.funzine.hu/ |
Course location
Budapest
Hungary
European Youth Centre Budapest (EYCB)
Address: 1-3 Zivatar Str., H-1024 Budapest
Tel.: +36 1 438 1030 ǀ Fax +36 1 212 4076
E-mail:
Web: www.eycb.coe.int