28 - 29 June 2022, Tirana, Albania: After two very long years of virtual meetings, the Danube Water family will get together again. The theme is hot, the speaker line-up is impressive, registration is open and the agenda is now available.

At long last, we will all get together again: Everybody with a stake or an interest in the water sector of the Danube region is cordially invited to attend the 2022 Danube Water Forum, hosted by IAWD and World Bank in the frame of the Danube Water Program and in cooperation with SHUKALB.

Over many years, the Danube Water Program has established an international network of water sector institutions and experts, dedicated to capacity building, knowledge sharing, analytical and advisory services.

The bi-annual Danube Water Conference (DWC) and Danube Water Forum (DWF) are signature events for the Program and the Danube region. They rotate on a yearly basis, with the DWC hosted in Vienna, Austria, and the Danube Water Forum hosted in cities of the region in cooperation with regional partners, offering sector professionals from the Danube region and beyond an annual meeting and platform to discuss challenges and opportunities in the Danube region water sector.

Focus on Energy

This year's forum theme is “Energizing the Water Sector in the Danube region”, and the recent steep rise of energy prices adds extra urgency to this topic. For a majority of water and wastewater utilities, investments in energy efficiency promise spectacular returns on investment. In many parts of the region, electricity costs for water production, distribution, and treatment contribute from around 30% to 80% of non-labor operating costs of water and wastewater utilities. The majority of utilities could reduce their energy consumption by an estimated 20-50%, promising a full return on investment in 1-5 years.

The 2022 Danube Water Forum will focus on the linkage between energy and water, with sessions exploring the development of the energy market and its effects on utilities in the region, innovative technologies, financing, and the creation of an enabling environment for modernization and reform.

Impressive Speaker Line-up

The Forum program is rich in highlights: The opening session on Day 1 will bring an introductory keynote on Exploiting the Water-Energy Nexus by Loïc Charpentier, Water Innovation Policy Manager of the Water Europe platform, followed by a welcome reception and cocktail that also celebrates the launch of the Albania National Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Modernization Program.

The morning session on Day 2 will focus on the energy price shocks in the Danube region and the vast room for improvement in the energy efficiency of many utilities, with keynotes from World Bank Senior Energy Economist Katharina Gassner and Wadata CEO Radoslav Russev, followed by case studies on renewable energy production, a look at energy management technology for the water and waste water industry, presented by Siemens representative Steffen Haendler.

After the lunch break, the afternoon will be dedicated to the question of financing energy-related measures in the sector, with presentations delivered by World Bank Expert Water Consultant Dilip R. Limaye, European Investment Bank Senior Water Engineer Juan Bofill Maestre, and Sofia Water Strategic Partnerships and Projects Director Lyubomir Filipov.

Also scheduled for the afternoon of Forum day 2 is a session on Capacity Building, Policy, and Regulation: World Bank Senior Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist Dambudzo Josephine Muzenda will hold a speech on aligning policies, institutions and regulations for efficient water service delivery. Klevis Jahaj, Director of the Albanian National Agency for Water Supply, Sewerage and Waste Infrastructure will present the Albanian Water Sector Modernization Program, and Danube Learning Partnership Committee Council Chair Vesna Muslic will throw a light on regional capacity building.

The closing session on day 3 will review all the take-homes of the conference, moderated by Mr. Winston Yu.

Take a look at the detailed Agenda under the link below!

Full Program

Scheduled back to back with the Danube Water Forum are the invitation-only Conference on “Benchmarking and Asset Management Nexus – Key tools for Regulators/ Decision Making” on 30 June and the a series of business meetings on 28 June, inclusing the IAWD Board Meeting and General Assembly, the D-LeaP Committee Council Meeting and the Regulators Meeting.

It is therefore a safe assumption that everybody with a stake in the water sector of the Danube region will be there. Be there, too: Follow the link to the Forum registration page and all helpful travel and accommodation information.

Welcome to the Danube Water Forum. We have been missing you for much too long.