ENERGY MINISTER CANCELS TRIP TO U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 002719

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FOR ENERGY SECRETARY BODMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2014
TAGS: PREL EPET IN
SUBJECT: ENERGY MINISTER CANCELS TRIP TO U.S.

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Robert O. Blake for Reasons 1.5
(B,D)

1.(C) Energy Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar contacted the
Embassy on April 11 to convey his regret that he will not be
able to travel to the United States to meet with Energy
Secretary Bodman and address an energy symposium at Harvard.

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The Minister explained that the Emir of Qatar had scheduled a
short notice visit to India, for which he must be present
given India's important energy interests with Qatar. The
Minister asked that the Embassy convey his best wishes to
Secretary Bodman and his invitation for the Secretary to

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visit India at his earliest convenience. Qatar is presently
one of India's major suppliers of imported gas, with plans
for significant further expansion of capacity in the next few
years. This Qatar option is particularly important as a
potential alternative if a gas pipeline from Iran proves not
to be feasible.


2. (C) COMMENT: Despite talk of the Qatari visit, we
suspect that a major factor in the Minister's cancellation
was MEA's concern about protecting the Foreign Minister's
agenda in Washington this week and ensuring that Mani Shankar
Aiyar does not muddle the GOI's message to DOE. Aiyer is
widely rumored to be a contender for Congress Foreign
Minister if Natwar Singh ever moves on. When the Ambassador
spoke with Natwar on April 8, the Foreign Minister intimated
that he would make sure that Mani's agenda with Secretary
Bodman did not conflict with Montek Singh Ahluwalia's, who is
part of the MEA delegation.
MULFORD