Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASHGABAT877
2007-08-24 09:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN ENERGY: SENIOR BP OFFICIALS MEET THE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000877
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2017
TAGS: PGOV EPET EINV AJ TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN ENERGY: SENIOR BP OFFICIALS MEET THE
PRESIDENT, WORRY ABOUT STRATEGIC VISION
REF: A. ASHGABAT 0852
B. ASHGABAT 0774
Classified By: CHARGE RICHARD E. HOAGLAND FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000877
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2017
TAGS: PGOV EPET EINV AJ TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN ENERGY: SENIOR BP OFFICIALS MEET THE
PRESIDENT, WORRY ABOUT STRATEGIC VISION
REF: A. ASHGABAT 0852
B. ASHGABAT 0774
Classified By: CHARGE RICHARD E. HOAGLAND FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (SBU) Senior British Petroleum (BP) officials called on
Charge August 23 for a U.S. policy briefing: CEO of BP
Exploration and Production, Group Vice President for
Exploration and New Business Development Michael Daly, and BP
Exploration Operating Co. Ltd. President for Business
Development in Russia and Central Asia John-Paul Stalder.
2. (C) Ingles said earlier in the day he had met with
President Berdimuhamedov and Deputy of the Cabinet of
Ministers for Oil and Gas Tagiyev. Ingles said the
shirt-sleeved president had impressed him as "surprisingly
non-Soviet," and he had left the meeting encouraged. He said
the issue of Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan Caspian delimitation had
come up, but Berdimuhamedov had responded that's "for
governments to resolve" -- he's more interested in doing
business and making the money Turkmenistan needs.
3. (C) In reply to a direct question, Ingles told the Charge
BP is interested in Bloc 19 "and two others," but he declined
to identify the other two. He said as far as BP is aware,
Turkmenistan has not established a time-line for awarding new
off-shore licenses -- it's currently in the process of
hearing out all suitors.
4. (C) Ingles commented he's concerned about Turkmenistan
government officials' "significant lack of sophistication,"
and suggested at a minimum they need to develop clear
strategic goals: who they want to deal with and why.
Otherwise, Ingles noted, Turkmenistan will end up like Libya
which in recent years awarded 40-some new licenses to a
mish-mash of large and small companies, and now wishes it had
had a better strategic plan in place.
5. (U) On August 24, the lead front-page story, with photos,
in the key government newspaper, "Neutral Turkmenistan," was
the Ingles-Berdimuhamedov meeting.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: We recommend the training envisioned in
reftel A include the "strategic vision" element noted in para
four above. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2017
TAGS: PGOV EPET EINV AJ TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN ENERGY: SENIOR BP OFFICIALS MEET THE
PRESIDENT, WORRY ABOUT STRATEGIC VISION
REF: A. ASHGABAT 0852
B. ASHGABAT 0774
Classified By: CHARGE RICHARD E. HOAGLAND FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (SBU) Senior British Petroleum (BP) officials called on
Charge August 23 for a U.S. policy briefing: CEO of BP
Exploration and Production, Group Vice President for
Exploration and New Business Development Michael Daly, and BP
Exploration Operating Co. Ltd. President for Business
Development in Russia and Central Asia John-Paul Stalder.
2. (C) Ingles said earlier in the day he had met with
President Berdimuhamedov and Deputy of the Cabinet of
Ministers for Oil and Gas Tagiyev. Ingles said the
shirt-sleeved president had impressed him as "surprisingly
non-Soviet," and he had left the meeting encouraged. He said
the issue of Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan Caspian delimitation had
come up, but Berdimuhamedov had responded that's "for
governments to resolve" -- he's more interested in doing
business and making the money Turkmenistan needs.
3. (C) In reply to a direct question, Ingles told the Charge
BP is interested in Bloc 19 "and two others," but he declined
to identify the other two. He said as far as BP is aware,
Turkmenistan has not established a time-line for awarding new
off-shore licenses -- it's currently in the process of
hearing out all suitors.
4. (C) Ingles commented he's concerned about Turkmenistan
government officials' "significant lack of sophistication,"
and suggested at a minimum they need to develop clear
strategic goals: who they want to deal with and why.
Otherwise, Ingles noted, Turkmenistan will end up like Libya
which in recent years awarded 40-some new licenses to a
mish-mash of large and small companies, and now wishes it had
had a better strategic plan in place.
5. (U) On August 24, the lead front-page story, with photos,
in the key government newspaper, "Neutral Turkmenistan," was
the Ingles-Berdimuhamedov meeting.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: We recommend the training envisioned in
reftel A include the "strategic vision" element noted in para
four above. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND