APPLICATION FOR PE 127 - OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY -

UNCLAS LA PAZ 000161 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EB/ESC/IEC/ENR/JWECKER STATE FOR M/FSI/SPAS/ECON/LFOX STATE FOR HR/CDA/EL/EWOLFSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AFSI APER ENRG EPET ECON BL SUBJECT: APPLICATION FOR PE 127 - OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY - MICHAEL STEWART REF: STATE 6460 ¶1. Michael Stewart's Application for PE 127 - Oil and Gas Industry: Michael Stewart will be working as a consular officer in Sao Paulo, Brazil until May 2007. He will report for a two-year tour as an economic officer in La Paz, Bolivia in August ¶2007. As economic officer in La Paz, he will cover energy issues, with a focus on Bolivia's natural gas industry, as a large part of his portfolio. ¶2. Bolivia holds South America's second largest natural gas reserves, after Venezuela. Natural gas accounted for approximately one third of total exports in 2005 and about one-third of government tax revenues in 2006. Management of gas resources has been a point of political contention for the past several years and led to the ousting of two presidents in 2003 and 2005. A new hydrocarbons law was passed in May 2005, a "nationalization" decree issued in May 2006, and new operating contracts signed with production companies in October 2006. The government is still in the process of implementing its plans to revitalize the state-owned oil company and gain majority ownership of five key gas firms. Hydrocarbons issues will continue to be an important component of the economic officer portfolio. The Oil and Gas Industry Course, and a better understanding of this critical sector, would be extremely useful for Michael Stewart in his next assignment. ¶3. Michael Stewart's transfer schedule: - May 2007: depart Sao Paulo - May/June 2007: home leave - June 25-29 2007: consultations - July 2-20 2007: Pol/Econ Tradecraft - July 23-27 2007: Oil and Gas Industry - July 30-August 1: annual leave - August 2: depart for La Paz ¶4. Michael Stewart's contact information: - Phone: (55 11) 5186-7195 - Fax: (55 11) 5186-7199 - Email: StewartMP@state.gov URS