Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06YEREVAN1697
2006-12-11 04:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:  

POST CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR POSSIBLE NATURAL GAS

Tags:  AMGT ABUD ADCP ENRG AM 
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VZCZCXRO1256
RR RUEHDBU
DE RUEHYE #1697 3450408
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 110408Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4540
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 001697 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EUR-IO/EX, S/ES-O/CMS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2011
TAGS: AMGT ABUD ADCP ENRG AM
SUBJECT: POST CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR POSSIBLE NATURAL GAS
CRISIS

REF: YEREVAN 1687

Classified By: CDA A.F. Godfrey, for reasons 1.4 (b,d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 001697

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EUR-IO/EX, S/ES-O/CMS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2011
TAGS: AMGT ABUD ADCP ENRG AM
SUBJECT: POST CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR POSSIBLE NATURAL GAS
CRISIS

REF: YEREVAN 1687

Classified By: CDA A.F. Godfrey, for reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) Reftel outlined the risks that the political crisis
between Russia and Georgia may result in a cutoff of Russian
natural gas supplies to Armenia this winter. Our contacts
suggest that if such a cutoff takes place, it would likely be
of relatively short duration, as it was in January 2006.
This should create no serious problems for post operations.
However, there remains a significant possibility of an
extended interruption in gas supplies to Armenia, which would
be more problematic. Armenia has sufficient gas reserves on
hand to last anywhere from 2-4 weeks, depending on a number
of variables, especialy the weather and how aggressively the
GOAM acts to curtail energy consumption.


2. (C) Embassy Yerevan's NEC and post's residential housing
pool rely primarily on electrical power (significantly
derived from the Hrazdan gas-fired power plant). Post has
approximately 2-3 weeks supply of diesel fuel on hand to
power back-up generators at the NEC and embassy residences.
Anticipating the possible need, post used a significant
tranche of end-of-year funds to purchase diesel fuel on the
local market; leaving us with roughly 100,000 liters on hand.


3. (C) Should an interuption in gas supplies occur, post
should have--between Armenian national reserves and our own
resources--at least 4 weeks to prepare alternatives for the
event of an extended energy crisis. While such an
eventuality is highly unlikely, prudence suggests that we
alert the Department that options may include authorized or
ordered departure, and/or the need to request emergency
funding from the Department to purchase additional quantities
of diesel fuel.
GODFREY