OIL MINISTER AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS NEW REFINERY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000606 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS DEPT FOR EB/ESC/IEC, NEA/ARP; ENERGY FOR SELL, WILLIAMSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2017 TAGS: EPET PGOV EINV OVIP KU SUBJECT: OIL MINISTER AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS NEW REFINERY PROJECT, KUWAIT PROJECT, PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT REF: A. KUWAIT 598 ¶B. KUWAIT 430 ¶C. KUWAIT 585 ¶D. KUWAIT 383 ¶E. KUWAIT 164 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C/NF) On 24 April, Ambassador met with Oil Minister Shaykh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah to congratulate him on his reappointment and discuss his priorities for the oil sector. The Minister said Kuwait's oil sector needs restructuring and new managers. Regarding long-delayed plans for the construction of a new refinery next to the Saudi Arabian Chevron compound in the partitioned neutral zone (PNZ), Shaykh Ali indicated that the project would probably not be re-tendered until the controversy over the location is resolved between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. On Project Kuwait, the Minister said there was renewed support from the Amir and a re-emerging security rationale for passing the draft legislation through Parliament (though Post's recent conversations with IOCs and Kuwait Oil Company officials provide little cause for optimism (septel)). The Minister expressed interest in the Ambassador's offer to explore bilateral training and education opportunities with U.S. petroleum companies and universities. He concluded by requesting the Embassy's assistance in scheduling a meeting with Secretary Bodman in Washington in early July and offering to receive Deputy Energy Secretary Sell during his re-scheduled visit to Kuwait in June. They also discussed the recent USG assessment of Kuwait's critical energy infrastructure (Ref A). End Summary. ¶2. (C/NF) On 24 April, Ambassador met with Oil Minister Shaykh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah to congratulate him on his reappointment (Ref B). Shaykh Ali, who served as Minister of Energy prior to the March 2007 Cabinet reshuffle, expressed his pleasure at having electricity and water separated from his portfolio so that he could now devote more attention to restructuring the oil sector and promoting its development. Concerns about anticipated electricity and water shortages in summer 2007 (Ref C) had previously demanded much of the Minister's time and attention. Shaykh Ali explained that Kuwait's oil industry is badly in need of restructuring and an infusion of new management. (Note: Kuwait Petroleum Corporation CEO Hani Hussein will retire on 1 May. His successor has not yet been named but industry insiders suggest that the leading contenders are Petrochemical Industries Company Chairman Saad Al-Shuwaib, Kuwait Oil Company Chairman Farouk Al-Zanki, Kuwait National Petroleum Company Chairman Sami Al-Reshaid, and Kuwait OPEC Governor Siham Al-Razzouqi. Recent reporting in the local press suggests that the post may remain vacant until September.) -------------- -------------- Further Delays Likely for New Refinery in the Neutral Zone -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C/NF) When the Ambassador asked about plans for a proposed mega-refinery adjacent to the Saudi Arabian Chevron compound in the partitioned neutral zone between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia (Ref D),the Minister said that there were still two problems: the cost of the bids and the controversial location. Shaykh Ali said that given the importance of the Saudi-Kuwait relationship, "we can wait" until the rulers of the two countries resolve the disagreement over the location. The Minister indicated that only then would it be appropriate to re-tender the project in search of more affordable bids, perhaps through cost-plus contracts. (Comment: This statement by Shaykh Ali along with a recent conversation with Kuwait Petroleum Corporation Legal Counsel Shaykh Nawaf Saud Al-Sabah seems to indicate that the Kuwaitis consider the question of land management within the Kuwaiti portion of the partitioned neutral zone to be primarily a question of sovereignty that can only be worked out through dialogue between the two governments rather than negotiations between Saudi Arabian Chevron and Kuwait National Petroleum Company. End comment.) The Minister said he hoped Shaykh Sabah and King Abdullah would discuss the issue in the coming months. Repeating statements he made recently to the press, Shaykh Ali said that, if necessary, KNPC could expand and upgrade its existing refineries as an alternative to building a new one. -------------- Mixed Signals on Prospects for Project Kuwait -------------- KUWAIT 00000606 002 OF 002 ¶4. (C/NF) On Project Kuwait (Ref E),the $8.5 billion proposal to invite International Oil Companies (IOCs) to participate in the development of five of Kuwait's difficult northern oil fields, Shaykh Ali said, "We need the Project." The Minister suggested that the security argument for passing Project Kuwait was re-emerging as a compelling rationale. He was referring to the argument, previously put forward in the post-invasion period of the 1990s, that the established presence of IOCs in the North of the country would diminish the external threat to Kuwait's northern border since the Western powers would be committed to protect the IOCs' personnel and investments. As to the economic rationale for the project, Shaykh Ali said he expected final reports from Morgan Stanley and Lazard by the end of May assessing the economic feasibility and possibly recommending amendments to the draft legislation. In response to a question, the Minister added that, in light of plans to seek IOCs' help in developing Kuwait's large non-associated gas discoveries (estimated at 35 tcf),the revised Project Kuwait legislation could possibly include additional provisions for the participation of IOC's in gas production. The Minister described a recent statement by the Amir in support of pushing Project Kuwait through the National Assembly as a very positive development. (Comment: These statements are somewhat surprising given that Post's recent conversations with several high-level Kuwaiti oil contacts and IOC country managers suggest that the Kuwait Project is going nowhere for the time being, and could, in fact, be scrapped in favor of "enhanced" technical service agreements. We will report septel. End note). -------------- Seeking Cooperation in Education and Training -------------- ¶5. (C/NF) The Ambassador offered to support the Minister with training, education, and professional development efforts in the oil sector, since "brain drain" and a scarcity of qualified personnel present significant problems for the state-owned petroleum companies. Shaykh Ali said he was interested in exploring training partnership opportunities with U.S. universities and petroleum companies. -------------- -------------- Minister Eager to Meet with Energy Secretary and Dep Sec -------------- -------------- ¶6. (U) Referring to an invitation from Secretary Bodman delivered in 2006, Shaykh Ali said he was planning to visit the United States in the first week of July for meetings at Harvard and/or MIT and would like to take the opportunity to meet with Secretary Bodman in Washington before traveling on to Houston. The Ambassador also mentioned that Deputy Energy Secretary Sell was planning to visit Kuwait in June. The SIPDIS Minister said he expected to be in Kuwait for the entire month of June and looked forward to meeting the Deputy Secretary. SIPDIS ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * LeBaron