Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASHGABAT1054
2007-10-01 07:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: NAVCENT COMMANDER OFFERS
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001054
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/CARC, EUR/RUS, EEB
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR EPET MARR TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: NAVCENT COMMANDER OFFERS
HYDROCARBON SECURITY COOPERATION -- BUT TURKMENISTAN NOT
READY TO BITE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001054
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/CARC, EUR/RUS, EEB
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR EPET MARR TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: NAVCENT COMMANDER OFFERS
HYDROCARBON SECURITY COOPERATION -- BUT TURKMENISTAN NOT
READY TO BITE
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. During a September 29 meeting, the U.S.
Navy Commander of the Combined Maritime Forces (NAVCENT),
Vice Admiral Kevin Cosgriff, offered Minister of Oil and Gas
Baymyrat Hojamuhamedov assistance with improving
Turkmenistan's capacity to deal with a variety of security
threats to its hydrocarbon sector. The minister, a
technocrat who clearly had never previously considered
security issues, was largely dismissive, though he agreed to
consider NAVCENT's offer. Notwithstanding his
less-than-enthusiastic reception of NAVCENT's offer, we
believe that the answer could change once Turkmenistan's
authorities have collectively had more of a chance to
consider the issues at stake. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) During a September 29 meeting with Minister of Oil
and Gas Baymyrat Hojamuhamedov, Vice Admiral Cosgriff noted
that the U.S. Navy works with friends on the Arabian
Peninsula, where there have been two attacks and at least one
foiled attack, to protect the security of their hydrocarbon
infrastructure. While the same situation does not exist in
the Caspian Sea region, it could, and Cosgriff said that one
thing that the United States Navy and others are learning in
the Arabian Peninsula is that all parties must cooperate and
work together to protect hydrocarbon infrastructure. For
this reason, the Vice Admiral had asked to meet with Minister
Hojamuhamedov, and he wanted to listen to the minister's
concerns about hydrocarbon security.
3. (SBU) Hojamuhamedov responded that most of his
discussions are about oil and gas, and this was the first
time this subject had been raised with him. That said, the
minister has no concerns about the security of Turkmenistan's
factories or infrastructure, an assessment that foreign
companies active in Turkmenistan will agree with.
Turkmenistan is neutral, and has not had any security
problems since it received its independence in 1991. If,
however, the Vice Admiral really wants to discuss this issue,
he should do so with Turkmenistan's law enforcement organs,
rather than with the Ministry of Oil and Gas. Cosgriff noted
that, in the U.S. Navy's experience, if any problems develop,
the Ministry of Oil and Gas will probably become involved.
4. (SBU) The Vice Admiral pointed out threats to security do
not always involved attacks. They can include emergencies
caused by oil platform explosions or oil spills, which could
cause severe problems. He pointed out that in dealing with
oil spills time counts. And the damage from a catastrophic
oil spill can close down water desalinization plants and
cross borders. It is easier to deal quickly and efficiently
with oil spills than to have to figure out how to provide
millions of gallons of potable water to a city whose water
supply is impacted by an oil spill. Cosgriff offered
cooperation in sharpening the skills of emergency responders
to these or other security threats.
5. (SBU) Hojamuhamedov stated that, while the Ministry of
Oil and Gas always welcomes training, but already has a
number of courses for dealing with oil field emergencies, and
Turkmenistan's emergency response personnel can deal
effectively with crises. For example, he claimed, in the
case of an oilfield blow-out, Turkmenistan had called in
Chinese and American companies to help put deal with the
emergency, but nobody was able to do so. In the end,
Turkmenistan was able to contain the blow-out on its own.
(NOTE: If Hojamuhamedov was referring to the blow-out in
Turkmenistan's South Yoloton field last year, it was caused
by a Chinese drilling team. After months of trying to get
the blow-out under control, Turkmenistan called in a U.S.
firm, Cudd Pressure Control, which was finally able to
extinguish the fire. This is the only such incident we are
aware of involving both Chinese and U.S. companies. END
NOTE.) As for the capacity of the Caspian littoral countries
ASHGABAT 00001054 002 OF 002
to deal with cross-border emergencies, while he did not know
what arrangements existed elsewhere, Turkmenistan is always
ready to lend a hand. The minister concluded by promising to
consider Vice Admiral Cosgriff's offer of cooperation in
dealing with hydrocarbon emergencies. The Government of
Turkmenistan will let NAVCENT know if it decides to go
forward with cooperation in this area.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: Hojamuhamedov, whose background is more
technical than policy-oriented, clearly was unprepared to
discuss these issues -- and, quite probably, never has had to
consider the possibility of dealing with a largescale
hydrocarbon disaster. That said, if Turkmenistan really is
planning on the significant expansion of its hydrocarbon
sector that it seems to be offering up, the possibility of
hydrocarbon-related crises increases substantially. The
interest of other government sectors -- most notably, among
law enforcement and military personnel -- in learning more
about disaster management demonstrates both a growing
recognition of how weak Turkmenistan's capabilities are in
this particular area and an increased understanding of the
need to be able to cope with the unexpected. While
Hojamuhamedov's first response may have been a reflexive "we
don't need this, thank you very much," post believes that
this answer could change once the authorities have
collectively had more opportunity to consider the issues at
stake. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/CARC, EUR/RUS, EEB
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR EPET MARR TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: NAVCENT COMMANDER OFFERS
HYDROCARBON SECURITY COOPERATION -- BUT TURKMENISTAN NOT
READY TO BITE
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. During a September 29 meeting, the U.S.
Navy Commander of the Combined Maritime Forces (NAVCENT),
Vice Admiral Kevin Cosgriff, offered Minister of Oil and Gas
Baymyrat Hojamuhamedov assistance with improving
Turkmenistan's capacity to deal with a variety of security
threats to its hydrocarbon sector. The minister, a
technocrat who clearly had never previously considered
security issues, was largely dismissive, though he agreed to
consider NAVCENT's offer. Notwithstanding his
less-than-enthusiastic reception of NAVCENT's offer, we
believe that the answer could change once Turkmenistan's
authorities have collectively had more of a chance to
consider the issues at stake. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) During a September 29 meeting with Minister of Oil
and Gas Baymyrat Hojamuhamedov, Vice Admiral Cosgriff noted
that the U.S. Navy works with friends on the Arabian
Peninsula, where there have been two attacks and at least one
foiled attack, to protect the security of their hydrocarbon
infrastructure. While the same situation does not exist in
the Caspian Sea region, it could, and Cosgriff said that one
thing that the United States Navy and others are learning in
the Arabian Peninsula is that all parties must cooperate and
work together to protect hydrocarbon infrastructure. For
this reason, the Vice Admiral had asked to meet with Minister
Hojamuhamedov, and he wanted to listen to the minister's
concerns about hydrocarbon security.
3. (SBU) Hojamuhamedov responded that most of his
discussions are about oil and gas, and this was the first
time this subject had been raised with him. That said, the
minister has no concerns about the security of Turkmenistan's
factories or infrastructure, an assessment that foreign
companies active in Turkmenistan will agree with.
Turkmenistan is neutral, and has not had any security
problems since it received its independence in 1991. If,
however, the Vice Admiral really wants to discuss this issue,
he should do so with Turkmenistan's law enforcement organs,
rather than with the Ministry of Oil and Gas. Cosgriff noted
that, in the U.S. Navy's experience, if any problems develop,
the Ministry of Oil and Gas will probably become involved.
4. (SBU) The Vice Admiral pointed out threats to security do
not always involved attacks. They can include emergencies
caused by oil platform explosions or oil spills, which could
cause severe problems. He pointed out that in dealing with
oil spills time counts. And the damage from a catastrophic
oil spill can close down water desalinization plants and
cross borders. It is easier to deal quickly and efficiently
with oil spills than to have to figure out how to provide
millions of gallons of potable water to a city whose water
supply is impacted by an oil spill. Cosgriff offered
cooperation in sharpening the skills of emergency responders
to these or other security threats.
5. (SBU) Hojamuhamedov stated that, while the Ministry of
Oil and Gas always welcomes training, but already has a
number of courses for dealing with oil field emergencies, and
Turkmenistan's emergency response personnel can deal
effectively with crises. For example, he claimed, in the
case of an oilfield blow-out, Turkmenistan had called in
Chinese and American companies to help put deal with the
emergency, but nobody was able to do so. In the end,
Turkmenistan was able to contain the blow-out on its own.
(NOTE: If Hojamuhamedov was referring to the blow-out in
Turkmenistan's South Yoloton field last year, it was caused
by a Chinese drilling team. After months of trying to get
the blow-out under control, Turkmenistan called in a U.S.
firm, Cudd Pressure Control, which was finally able to
extinguish the fire. This is the only such incident we are
aware of involving both Chinese and U.S. companies. END
NOTE.) As for the capacity of the Caspian littoral countries
ASHGABAT 00001054 002 OF 002
to deal with cross-border emergencies, while he did not know
what arrangements existed elsewhere, Turkmenistan is always
ready to lend a hand. The minister concluded by promising to
consider Vice Admiral Cosgriff's offer of cooperation in
dealing with hydrocarbon emergencies. The Government of
Turkmenistan will let NAVCENT know if it decides to go
forward with cooperation in this area.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: Hojamuhamedov, whose background is more
technical than policy-oriented, clearly was unprepared to
discuss these issues -- and, quite probably, never has had to
consider the possibility of dealing with a largescale
hydrocarbon disaster. That said, if Turkmenistan really is
planning on the significant expansion of its hydrocarbon
sector that it seems to be offering up, the possibility of
hydrocarbon-related crises increases substantially. The
interest of other government sectors -- most notably, among
law enforcement and military personnel -- in learning more
about disaster management demonstrates both a growing
recognition of how weak Turkmenistan's capabilities are in
this particular area and an increased understanding of the
need to be able to cope with the unexpected. While
Hojamuhamedov's first response may have been a reflexive "we
don't need this, thank you very much," post believes that
this answer could change once the authorities have
collectively had more opportunity to consider the issues at
stake. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND