On July 28, St. Petersburg State University of Economics (UNECON) hosted the official opening ceremony of the InteRussia Energy Fellowship, titled "Changing Energy Landscape",welcoming 10 energy sector specialists from Latin America and the Caribbean.
The programme is implemented at the premises of the UNECON in cooperation with the Mezhdunarodniki Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation, the Gorchakov Fund, and the TV BRICS international media network, supported by the Global Energy Association, the Russian Energy Agency (REA) of the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation, the National Committee for Economic Cooperation with Latin American Countries, and the Presidential Grants Fund. The fellowship's primary objective is to promote dialogue within the energy sector between experts from Russia and Latin America, and to reinforce economic, scientific, and technological connections in the energy sector.
Dmitry Vasilenko, UNECON's Vice-Rector for International Relations, noted that the InteRussia programme is not based on traditional educational principles, but rather serves as a platform for exchanging experience and engaging in professional dialogue.
"Our goal is not to tell participants how to work, but to show them how things are done in Russia, and to introduce them to representatives of the academia, business, and government. We want everyone to discover new approaches, share their knowledge, and find ideas that will be useful for developing their own countries and regions.
It's important not only to listen closely to the lectures and speak with experts, but also to interact with one another. New ideas and a shared understanding of common challenges and prospects for cooperation emerge precisely through this kind of international dialogue. We hope that the time spent in St. Petersburg and Moscow will provide participants with new knowledge and a vivid personal experience that they will carry with them for years to come", emphasised Dmitry Vasilenko.
"For several years now, the InteRussia programme has been bringing together young specialists from countries around the world. Over that time, hundreds of researchers and experts have taken part, not only getting to know Russia, but also sharing their own professional experience and perspective on pressing international issues.
It's especially significant that St. Petersburg State University of Economics has become one of the programme's first regional partners. The university has supported this format of professional exchange from the very beginning, and today it remains one of the key venues for implementing the programme.
We're seeing strong interest in cooperation with Russia from Latin American countries, and we expect this fellowship to give participants an opportunity not only to learn about Russia's experience in the energy sector, but also to build lasting professional ties with Russian organisations and with one another.
Over the course of the programme, participants will visit leading companies and organisations in the field, learn how Russia's energy sector operates, and have the chance to exchange experience with representatives from business, academia, and government agencies. I hope that these contacts will pave the way for new joint projects and the further development of international cooperation", said Sergey Orlov, Deputy Executive Director of the Gorchakov Fund.
This year's fellowship brought together specialists from Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Uruguay, Cuba, Chile, Ecuador, and Brazil.
The programme will feature discussions on a wide range of topics, including international energy security, the specifics of new energy market formation, the impact of the 2026 Middle East crisis on energy markets, the use of AI technologies to improve energy efficiency and protect the environment, the principles behind organising hybrid energy systems, and key issues in Russia–Latin America energy relations. Fellows will also meet leading experts in the energy sector and senior government officials, and tour key energy infrastructure sites such as the Russian Energy Agency (REA) of the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation, thermal power plants, the St. Petersburg Committee for External Relations and the municipal public transport operator Gorelektrotrans.
The InteRussia international energy fellowship programme is implemented at the premises of UNECON in cooperation with the Mezhdunarodniki Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation, the Gorchakov Fund, and the TV BRICS international media network, supported by the Global Energy Association, the Russian Energy Agency (REA) of the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation, the National Committee for Economic Cooperation with Latin American Countries, and the Presidential Grants Fund.