The Belgrade Energy Forum brought together leaders of the energy transition from the region, with enthusiasm for a greener future still resonating. Ankica Barbulov, director of Negawatt, moderated the Belgrade Energy Forum, where notable industry leaders were guests, including Branko Zečević from Metalfer Group, Matija Predojević from Elixir Group, Mirjana Jukić from Messer Tehnogas, and Dimitrije Knjeginjić, director of Lafarge Serbia.
A strong message was sent by the Serbian industry that they are ready for the implementation of green energy and the energy transition. However, the government must take a very active role in the consistent implementation of existing legislation and the adoption of missing regulations.
At the Belgrade Energy Forum, the discussion covered key topics such as the circular economy and renewable energy sources, which are crucial for the successful decarbonization of Serbia’s industry. Although discussions with panelists gave the impression that the industry is fully prepared for the green transition, questions remain as to why many of the participants still do not have their own green energy sources, why they do not use waste for energy purposes or as a substitute for raw materials (or do not have it in sufficient quantities).
The forum also explored what else the industry needs to do and what everyone, including lawmakers, should do to reduce emissions from the industry, decarbonize society, and minimize environmental impact. A catalyst for these changes could be the CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism), which was discussed at the panel “Decarbonizing Industry and Business as a Response to the Green Agenda and CO2 Taxation.
