BRAZIL - OPIC PROPOSED LOAN TO PORT SECURITY INTL

UNCLAS BRASILIA 002133 SIPDIS STATE PASS TO OPIC FOR CHRIS COWAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EINV EFIN EWWT OPIC SUBJECT: BRAZIL - OPIC PROPOSED LOAN TO PORT SECURITY INTL REF: STATE 137783 ¶1. Post has no objection to OPIC's proposed loan to Port Security International, LLC (PSI) in support of the installation and operation by that firm of scanning equipment at three ports in Brazil (Itajai, Sao Francisco do Sul, and Paranagua). The Foreign Commercial Service Office in Brasilia does not have any information regarding either PSI or the local partners. ¶2. Post notes that the Department of Homeland Security has a Container Security Initiative (CSI) agreement for the Port of Santos and is working with the Brazilian government on the acquisition of scanning equipment. For additional information, contact Julio Velez, DHS Attache, U.S. Embassy Brasilia, Tel. (55-61) 3312-7398, Fax. (55-61) 3312-7338, E- mail julio.m.velez@dhs.gov. Post also notes that the Department of Energy has initiated discussions with the Brazilian government on the Megaports Initiative (to detect nuclear and radioactive materials) for the port of Santos as well. For additional information, contact Stephanie P. Clarke, Office of the Second Line of Defense - Megaports Initiative, National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, Tel. (202) 586-2595, Fax. (202) 586- 7110, E-mail stephanie.clarke@nnsa.doe.gov. LINEHAN