EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: JSC DIGAZ,

UNCLAS MOSCOW 000111 SIPDIS USDOC FOR 532/OEA/MHAMES/LRITTA USDOC FOR 3150/USFCS/OIO/CEENIS/MCOSTA USDOC FOR 532/OEE/MO'BRIEN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BEXP ETRD ETTC RS SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: JSC DIGAZ, MOSCOW, RUSSIA, LICENSE NO. D368208 REFTEL: USDOC 06727 ¶1. Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided below is prohibited by Section 12C of the Export Administration Act. ¶2. Reftel requested a Pre-license check to determine the legitimacy and reliability of the end-user, JSC Digaz, Moscow, Russia. The company is listed on BIS license application D368208 as the ultimate consignee of a thermal imager, model: 1100. These items are controlled for national security, nuclear non- proliferation reasons under ECCN 6A003. The licensee is Mikron Infrared, Inc., 16 Thornton Road, Oakland, NJ 07436. ¶3. On December 22, 2006, Export Control Attache Donald Pearce and FSN Natalya Shipitsina conducted the requested pre-license check at the offices of JSC Digaz, 125, Profsouznaya St., Moscow, Russia. The export control team met with Sergey Grom, Deputy General Director. ¶4. Digaz was founded in 2002 as an independent service company providing expert diagnostic and survey services to the oil and gas transport industry in Russia. The company is principally contracted to provide diagnostic services for pipelines owned by Gazprom, the Russian Federation owned natural gas company. Digaz employs around 100 and has its offices in the regional Customs Service building in Southwest Moscow. Currently Digaz only works within Russia, but is hoping to expand operations to Kazakhstan and other CIS countries where Gazprom has pipeline facilities or connections. ¶5. The commodity in reftel will be used for heat loss surveys in pump houses and other structures along the pipelines and at refineries. Temperature control is an essential part of pumping operations in arctic climates, and thermal imagery is a very effective tool. No more than ten specialists will be authorized to utilize the camera. The camera will be stored in a vault in the security storage area, and authorized technicians will have to sign a logbook prior to security officers issuing the camera. Security at the building is provided by a contract guard service, which is on premesis 24 hours a day. ¶6. Recommendations: Post recommends JSC Digaz, Moscow, Russia, as reliable recipients of sensitive U.S. origin commodities. It is requested that post be notified of final disposition of the application, and of any shipments for this organization in order to conduct appropriate FCS follow-up and statistical reporting. (FCS MOSCOW/SBOZEK/DPEARCE) BURNS