Russia is a major energy power: it has steadily held top positions in the production and export of energy worldwide. It would seem that given our energy resources we can view the energy gap challenge with greater confidence than others. But the issue is not merely our energy reserves but also the fact that, compared to other economies, the energy consumption figures in our economy are several times higher. I believe that the Global Energy International Prize will foster not only the search for new energy sources but also the development of energy-saving technologies.
