Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LAPAZ161
2007-01-23 16:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:  

APPLICATION FOR PE 127 - OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY -

Tags:  AFSI APER ENRG EPET ECON BL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0041
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLP #0161 0231628
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 231628Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2155
INFO RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 2120
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

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