Youth Day of the 12th St. Petersburg International Gas Forum

The Youth Day was held on 31 October – 2 November 2023 in St. Petersburg as part of the official convention programme of the 12th St. Petersburg International Gas Forum. The central topic of this year is “New Energy Reality”. The project has been implemented since 2015 by St. Petersburg State University of Economics (UNECON) with the support of Gazprom PJSC, International Business Congress (IBC) and other partner companies.

This year, 32 best students from 10 countries (Russia, Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, China, Morocco, Nigeria) out of 200 candidates got a unique opportunity to come to St. Petersburg and unite at the Expoforum site to have a discussion with leading experts in the energy industry on the development of energy, as well as the prospects for introducing innovative solutions, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in companies of oil and gas sector.

31 October, Day 1

The first day of the forum began for the participants with team building and thematic assignments, which were conducted by the head of the Virtual Academy of Youth Day Natalya Sarakhanova. Young people, according to the “speed meeting” system, exchanged pairs and got to know each other. Then participants formed teams and presented their vision of the impact of artificial intelligence on the energy industry.

The welcoming speeches of the heads and inspirers of the Youth Day project Sergey Khomyakov, Igor Maksimtsev and Yana Klementovichus added a solemn note to the event.

Sergey Khomyakov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Committee of Gazprom PJSC

“Youth Day is a special platform where students and businesses meet, where young people can decide on their future. We are interested in especially energetic people coming to our energy sector. The Youth Day project has existed for nine years. During this time, more than 1600 participants from 70 countries took part in it, and these people formed a certain layer, an international community – Youth Day alumni association. You have a wonderful opportunity to join them. I hope that this Association will set the tone for the energy agenda in the world“

Igor Maksimtsev, Rector of St. Petersburg State University of Economics

“During these days, you will be having meetings with the heads of leading energy companies. I know that they will be very informative. And I am absolutely sure that you will have an opportunity to see our beloved city and take away the best and the warmest impressions from St. Petersburg – both professional and personal. I wish all participants to have interesting discussions and, of course, team friendship that will last for the lifetime”.

Yana Klementovichus, Director of Higher Economic School, Vice-Rector of St. Petersburg State University of Economics

“This event is held owing to the involvement, creative spirit and enormous contribution of a large number of people who are passionate about relevant topics of modern energy development, who are interested in students’ destiny and their success. A lot has been done to ensure that everyone is gathered in this hall. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our colleagues from Gazprom PJSC, Gazstroyprom JSC, and ExpoForum International Ltd. A special gratitude is to our colleagues from the International Business Congress, who have supported this project for many years and done a lot to ensure that the best experts participate in the Youth Day and have an open dialogue with you”.

Further, the teams went to the SPIGF exhibition, where stands of more than 500 exhibitors were presented. At the GID stand, students got acquainted with Gazprom’s digital ecosystem. Representatives of the company demonstrated opportunities of the GID application and told about data products in the ecosystem. At the stand of Tomsk Polytechnic University, the main achievements in the field of innovative developments and training of highly qualified personnel for the energy sector were presented.

In the framework of the workshop organized by Gazprom Gas Engine Fuel LLC (Gazprom GMT), participants visited the joint Russian-Belarusian stand “Natural Fuel of Russia”, where they became familiar with the advantages and prospects of using natural gas in different segments of transport.

The second workshop was held in the “Gas Science and Innovation” zone, where students, together with experts from Gazprom PJSC and St. Petersburg Mining University, discussed issues of interaction between university science and enterprise, as well as the climate agenda and its impact on the energy sector.

By completing the quest tasks, Youth Day participants were able to see the opportunities and evaluate the potential of using artificial intelligence technologies in the energy sector.

1 November, Day 2

At the beginning of the second day of the forum, experts from InfoTeKS JSC conducted a Сyber Range live interactive for students and showed how to counteract cyberattacks at energy facilities.

An important moment was participation in the SPIGF Plenary Session, where world energy leaders discussed topical issues of transformation of the global natural gas market.

After the Plenary Session, Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Management Committee of Gazprom PJSC, personally greeted Youth Day participants, as well as congratulated the best graduates of the Virtual Academy and presented them with certificates in a solemn atmosphere.

Then, the Off-tie meeting under the topic “New Internationality: Perspectives for Energy Development” took place. Among experts form business there were: Konstantin Romanov, Director General of Gazprom Hydrogen LLC, Janco Lončar, Executive Director of Comita d.d., Comita Group of Companies, Satya Widya Yudha, Member of the National Energy Council of the Republic of Indonesia, Denis Demin, Acting Director of Directorate for Strategy, Innovation and Sustainable Development of Gazprom Neft, Evgeny Gengrinovich, Advisor to the Director General, InfoTeKS JSC. Experts discussed with students the development of energy markets, hydrogen economy, personnel training, new technological priorities, importance of SDGs for the energy sector. Answering numerous questions, they showed that a qualitatively new international environment is being formed, and new opportunities and prospects are opening up for the young generation. The moderator of the meeting was Dmitry Vasilenko, Vice-Rector for International Relations of UNECON, Head of the Youth Day 2023 project.

At the end of the day, a city tour was organized for the participants, most of whom came from other cities and countries.

2 November, Day 3

The third and the final day of Youth Day was entirely devoted to teamwork. In the framework of the business game “New Energy Reality. AI Era”, teams of participants represented business analysts and prepared a forecast for long-term energy development using AI technologies.

Original presentations and confident performances did not leave any jury member indifferent. Experts noted the high level of preparation of Youth Day participants, their critical thinking, rational approach to forecasting, valuable conclusions and sense of humor. At the end of the business game, the winner team got memorable prizes and certificates. Among the jury members there were: Alexey Koshelets, Head of Department of Gazprom PJSC (Chairman of the Jury), Olga Orlova, Professor of UNECON, Executive Director of the Endowment fund, Leonid Sukhikh, Acting Rector of Tomsk Polytechnic University, Svetlana Maslennikova, Head of the group for work with educational institutions and young specialists of Corporate University of Gazstroyprom, Konstantin Slanov, Business Development Director, Comita Digital Technologies. Anton Kivalov, Head of Direction, Digital Engineering Directorate of Gazpromneft-ITO PJSC, acted as an expert on AI, and representatives of the Global Energy Community Diaa Behary, Anastasia Remneva and Freddy Cuervo acted as consultants. Moderators: Natalya Sarakhanova, Head of the Youth Day Virtual Academy, and Tatyana Krylova, Expert of MGIMO University Business School.

At the closing ceremony, Andrey Balobin, Head of the Department of Gazprom PJSC, noted that for nine years, Gazprom PJSC, together with UNECON, has been developing and improving the Youth Day project, positively assessing the growing interest of students, whose involvement and active position is the key to success and further development of energy in Russia and the world. In her turn, Yana Klementovichus, Director of Higher Economic School, Vice-Rector of UNECON, expressed special gratitude to partner companies, jury members, and the organizing team, noted the importance of the project for a large number of people and expressed hope for meeting the next, anniversary year.

It should be noted that over nine years, more than 1600 students from 70 countries took part in the Youth Day project. The interest of young generation continues to grow. So we will be looking forward to meeting new participants interested in energy in 2024!