The XIV Distribution Networks Conference opened yesterday with a formal ceremony at Kopaonik, under the patronage of the Montenegrin Electricity Distribution System.
More than 400 people attended the opening ceremony, while over 700 participants were registered, including authors of papers, representatives of companies participating in the exhibition, and those interested in hearing the authors’ presentations and visiting the exhibition.
More than 20 engineers from the Montenegrin Electricity Distribution System are participating in this year’s Conference.
The President of the CIRED Serbia National Committee, Dr Zoran Simendić, delivered the opening address and welcomed all participants to the XIV regular session of the Serbian CIRED National Committee. Greeting everyone at the event, he thanked them for attending the Conference in such large numbers and thereby contributing significantly to its success and the achievement of its planned objectives.
Simendić said that the presence of so many experts from the region confirmed the Conference’s regional character, demonstrating the need to hold such gatherings.
“I am pleased that the Conference features many papers addressing the challenges emerging in distribution and the advent of numerous generation sources. This is a major contribution of this Conference. Finally, I can say that this is a reaffirmation of the energy sector and a call for young people to turn increasingly towards energy, while faculties should ensure that as many students as possible are admitted,” Simendić noted.
Addressing the gathering, the Executive Director of the Montenegrin Electricity Distribution System, Vladimir Ivanović, stressed the importance of holding such meetings, noting that every Conference participant gains valuable experience that can be applied in practice.
Describing the CIRED Conference as the largest power industry gathering in the region, he noted that it represents a unique opportunity to learn about the latest achievements and practices in technology and the management of the technical aspects of electricity distribution.
“In recent years, the energy sector has found itself at a serious turning point and facing major challenges. The energy transition from energy production using traditional energy sources to renewable sources, as well as the demands arising from the rapid development of electric vehicles, make our position and role in this process extremely important. There are also network users, who rightly expect an increasingly better, safer and more reliable energy system,” Ivanović noted.
The CEDIS Executive Director also stressed that he was particularly pleased that, through the CIRED Montenegro National Committee, an associate member of the International Conference on Electricity Distribution, CEDIS has been contributing to the development of electricity distribution for many years and working closely with CIRED Serbia.
At the opening ceremony, the gathering was also addressed by the President of the CIRED Montenegro National Committee, Dr Goran Kovačević, Head of the ICT and Development Sector at the Montenegrin Electricity Distribution System.
On behalf of the Montenegrin CIRED Committee, Kovačević welcomed everyone present, noting that, in his view and that of his colleagues, for many years the Conference has been regarded as one of the largest and best showcases of electrical engineering in this part of the Balkans.
Kovačević expressed his hope that this year’s XIV Conference would be marked by constructive discussions, the exchange of experience and knowledge, and good company.
Also, during yesterday’s opening ceremony, a statue was presented to the Montenegrin Electricity Distribution System in recognition of its role as patron of the Conference. It was accepted on behalf of our company by Executive Director Vladimir Ivanović.
