GON OFFICIAL SUGGESTS POSSIBLE NUCLEAR ENERGY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001185 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV PARM ENRG TRGY KNNP NI SUBJECT: GON OFFICIAL SUGGESTS POSSIBLE NUCLEAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FROM SOUTH KOREA Classified By: Ambassador John Campbell for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) During a wide-ranging discussion with the Ambassador, Prince Adegboyega Christopher Ariyo, Director of Asia and Middle East Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), expressed concern about the possibility of Nigeria's oil and gas reserves' becoming depleted over the next forty years. Ariyo suggested that at some point in the future, Nigeria would ask the U.S. to facilitate a meeting with the Government of South Korea in order to obtain nuclear energy technology. ¶2. (C) Note: The meeting took place at Ariyo's office, at his request. The Ambassador had earlier met Ariyo at several diplomatic receptions. Ariyo's portfolio includes South Korea, but not nuclear energy. End Note. CAMPBELL