VIENNA, 8 February 2010 - An OSCE workshop on protecting critical energy infrastructure from terrorist attacks will start on Thursday in Vienna.

During the two-day meeting, some 200 public and private sector experts will discuss options for co-operation and good practices to enhance the protection of critical energy infrastructure across the OSCE region. The second day will feature a tabletop simulation highlighting the need for measures to prevent terrorist attacks against critical energy infrastructure and to prepare to handle the consequences of such attacks.

William Bryan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Security and Energy Restoration at the U.S. Department of Energy will be among the keynote speakers, and Erhard Busek, former Vice Chancellor of Austria and former Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, will moderate the tabletop simulation.

Journalists are invited to a news conference with William Bryan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Security and Energy Restoration at the U.S. Department of Energy, and Raphael Perl, Head on Anti-Terrorism Issues, at 12.30 on 11 January in Room 201 of the Hofburg Congress Centre. The workshop is closed to media.

Journalists who are interested in interviewing experts taking part in the conference are encouraged to contact OSCE press staff. Participants include:

- Heiko Borchert, who has experience with different military and national security organizations in Europe on issues such as scenario-based security policy planning, security sector evaluation, energy security, energy infrastructure security, public-private security co-operation and defense science and technology.

- Eric Luiijf, Principal Consultant Critical Infrastructure Protection and Information Operations at the Dutch research organization TNO Defence, Security and Safety. Supports the Dutch Government on policy-related issues regarding Critical (Information) Infrastructure Protection and Information Operations.

- Luigi Rebuffi, Chief Executive Officer at the European Organisation on Security and Deputy Security Director of the Aerospace and Defence European Industry Association.

- Frank Umbach, Senior Associate of the Centre for European Security Strategies in Munich and Berlin, official adviser to the Lithuanian government on international energy security and a consultant of the German Foreign and Defence Ministries.

For admittance to the Hofburg Congress Centre, please bring your OSCE press badge or a valid press card to the security desk (main entrance from the Heldenplatz). Parking is available for the press during the event in the OSCE-reserved parking area on Heldenplatz. Temporary parking permits must be collected from the security desk.