INDIAN IDEAS FOR ENERGY DIALOGUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002273

SIPDIS

DOE FOR SECRETARY BODMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2015
TAGS: ENRG EPET ECON ETTC PREL KNNP TRGY IN NSSP
SUBJECT: INDIAN IDEAS FOR ENERGY DIALOGUE

REF: NEW DELHI 1824

Classified By: DCM Robert O. Blake Jr, for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (SBU) Summary: Following up discussions between Secretary
Rice and PM Singh, and building on our public agreement to a
high-level Energy Dialogue including civil-nuclear power, MEA
Joint Secretary (Americas) S. Jaishankar presented a
non-paper with four areas for US-India cooperation in a March
24 meeting with EconCouns, PolCouns, and PolMilOff. The
Indian proposed agenda for the Energy Dialogue includes
global energy scenarios and energy security assessments,
hydrocarbon resources, nuclear energy, and clean energy (see
text in para 4). Notably, the Indian paper also includes a
proposal for bilateral cooperation in "strengthening
non-proliferation efforts." As part the of the effort to
build on the Secretary's vision of "a decisively broader
strategic relationship," the GOI hopes we will be able to
respond with a public reaffirmation of our commitment to a
dialogue along the lines described in this paper. End
Summary.


2. (SBU) In response to PolCouns' query about how the
Economic and Energy Dialogues may interface, Jaishankar
underscored GOI flexibility as a result of having
comparatively fewer actors involved. Reflecting the priority
that the Prime Minister placed on energy cooperation, the GOI
wants engagement on that issue across a broad front.
EconCouns noted that the momentum of the energy track of the
Economic Dialogue might best be maintained by the Department
of Energy, particularly under Energy Secretary Bodman's
leadership. Jaishankar intimated that the GOI could decide
to parallel the model of the Economic Dialogue, which has
Planning Commission head Montek Singh Ahluwalia as the
Chairman while MEA takes the operational lead. PolCouns
suggested that other responsible line officials, like Indian
Atomic Energy Commission Chair Kakodkar might also be
involved in the dialogue.
Comment
--------------


3. (C) Comment: The issues in the GOI non-paper closely
track ideas raised in Ambassador Mulford's February 14
message to Secretary Bodman (Reftel) and indicate GOI effort
and enthusiasm to think broadly about ways to expand
bilateral cooperation on energy issues. In a private
conversation after this meeting, Jaishankar indicated to
PolCouns that a US signal of willingness to move forward on
these energy issues would be an important element of the GOI
effort to prove to the Indian public that the "decisively
broader strategic relationship" that Secretary Rice promised
is real.


4. (SBU) Begin text of non-paper:

Indo-US Energy Dialogue
--------------


A. Global energy scenarios and energy security assessments.


B. Hydrocarbon resources

- Exchange of views on demand projection and supply options;
and
- Issues posed by supply options.


C. Nuclear energy

- Access to nuclear technology including civilian nuclear
power reactor technology and supply of nuclear fuel;
- Laboratory-to-laboratory cooperation;
- Participation in ITER and Generation IV Initiative Forum;
- Agreement on roadmap to achieve common goals; and
- Counter proliferation cooperation and strengthening
non-proliferation efforts.

D. Clean energy initiatives
- International Partnership for a Hydrogen Economy;
- International Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum; and
- Methane to Markets Partnership.


E. Level and Timing

- The Dialogue could be led at the level of Cabinet Minister
with a deputy at Secretary level, on the lines of the
Economic Dialogue; and
- First meeting could take place in April or May 2005.

End GOI text.
MULFORD