Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASHGABAT1167
2007-10-30 07:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:  

TURKMENISTAN: RUSSIAN ENERGY COMPANIES

Tags:  PGOV EINV EPET RS TX 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEHLZ RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #1167/01 3030704
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 300704Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9617
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 2918
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0738
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RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1850
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0614
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001167 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/RUS, EEB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EINV EPET RS TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: RUSSIAN ENERGY COMPANIES
WINDOW-DRESS INDEPENDENCE DAY

REF: ASHGABAT 1164

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001167

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/RUS, EEB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EINV EPET RS TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: RUSSIAN ENERGY COMPANIES
WINDOW-DRESS INDEPENDENCE DAY

REF: ASHGABAT 1164


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On October 25, Turkmenistani government
media reported that a rich gas deposit that will produce 4
bcm per year had been tapped at South Yoloten. On October
26, the eve of Turkmenistan's Independence Day, President
Berdimuhamedov met with mostly Russian oil and gas
delegations that the government of Turkmenistan had
reportedly asked to come to Ashgabat for the Independence Day
events. Little new was reported from the meetings, seeming
to confirm TNK-BP's comment to the Charge that the meetings
were largely ceremonial (reftel). END SUMMARY.


3. (U) On October 26, President Berdimuhamedov hosted an
unusually large number of official delegations interested in
Turkmenistan's hydrocarbon sector. Valery Golubyev, Deputy
Chairman of Gazprom, congratulated Berdimuhamedov on the
natural gas strike at the South Yoloten field southeast of
Mary, which press reports claim will produce 4 bcm per year.
Golubyev and Berdimuhamedov also reportedly held "fresh
discussions" on their 25-year gas delivery arrangement, the
"direction of their strategic partnership," and preparation
of the still-delayed intergovernmental agreements for the
refurbishment and expansion of the Caspian littoral pipeline
to Russia. "There will be no delay on the part of Gazprom",
Golubyev was quoted saying, raising questions about other
unmentioned delays that seem to be slowing the littoral
pipeline's realization. Gazprom is also funding the
construction of the new Russian-Turkmen school in Ashgabat.
According to the press account, when Berdimuhamedov exhorted
that the project move forward without delay, Golubyev tersely
noted Gazprom had already handed over to the government of
Turkmenistan the $20 million promised for the school.


4. (U) Reports on other meetings included:

-- Yuri Shafranik, Soyuzneftegaz chief, came to discuss his
company's interest in developing hydrocarbon deposits on the
Caspian shelf and reinforced his company's technological
superiority in the area of associated gas utilization.
Soyuzneftegaz is providing financial backing for educational
programs that take Turkmen students to Russian universities.

-- Igor Makarov, Chief of Itera, expressed interest in
participating in the development of oil and gas deposits on
the Caspian shelf. Itera has agreed to build a new carbamide
plant in Turkmenbashi and a spa for Itera employees on the
Caspian coast.

-- Robert Dudley, President and CEO of the Russian-British
company TNK-BP-Management, discussed the company's interest
in refurbishing the Seydi Refinery and other large, outdated
production facilities. He also mentioned his company's role
in sponsoring Turkmen students to Russian universities to
develop indigenous oil and gas technocratic expertise.

-- Senior company representatives of the Belgian Company ENEX
and its multinational partners came as well to discuss the
potential construction of a silicon production plant.
Already a player in Turkmenistan, ENEX is racing a
fast-approaching deadline to build a new compressor station
at the Dovletabad-3 gas field in time for Turkmenistan Flag
Day February 18.


5. (SBU) COMMENT: Although the Russian delegations,
especially, received high-profile media coverage, so far as
we can determine little new ground was broken. The meetings
seemed to be largely ceremonial, all part of the carefully

ASHGABAT 00001167 002 OF 002


stage-managed Independence Week events. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND