Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07STATE153799
2007-11-07 22:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

EU-EGYPT ENERGY FORUM AND ARAB GAS PIPELINE

Tags:  EPET EUN XF XG 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHC #3799 3112237
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R 072220Z NOV 07
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TO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0000
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 0000
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0000
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0000
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0000
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0000
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
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RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA 0000
RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT 0000
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C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 153799 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/10/2016
TAGS: EPET EUN XF XG
SUBJECT: EU-EGYPT ENERGY FORUM AND ARAB GAS PIPELINE

REF: A. DAMASCUS 931


B. BAGHDAD 3254

Classified By: EEB/ESC Acting DAS Stephen Gallogly

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 153799

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/10/2016
TAGS: EPET EUN XF XG
SUBJECT: EU-EGYPT ENERGY FORUM AND ARAB GAS PIPELINE

REF: A. DAMASCUS 931


B. BAGHDAD 3254

Classified By: EEB/ESC Acting DAS Stephen Gallogly


1. (C) Summary and Action Request: Department requests
information on the recent EU-Africa-Middle East Energy
Conference that took place on November 1 in Sharm el Sheik,
Egypt, and on the status of construction and operation of the
Arab Gas Pipeline, including possible links to Iraq. See
paragraph 6 for action request details. End Summary.

EU - Egypt Energy Forum
--------------


2. (U) The EU and Egypt sponsored an energy forum in Sharm
el-Sheik November 1 for countries from the EU, the Middle
East, and Africa. Over 60 countries were expected to be
represented. EC Commissioners Benita-Ferrero Waldner and
Andres Piebalgs attended. Egyptian Ministers Ahmed Aboul
Gheit, Sameh Fahmi, Hassan Ahmed Younes, and other high-level
participants were expected.

Arab Gas Pipeline
--------------


3. (U) EU Commissioners Ferrero Waldner and Piebalgs were
also reported to have held a separate meeting with the Energy
Ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq to discuss the
Arab Gas Pipeline. There were reports that the EU had agreed
to finance the construction of the pipeline through Syria to
Turkey and that construction of the Syria-Turkey link would
begin in November 2007.


4. (U) The Arab Gas Pipeline is intended to link Egypt,
Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey to provide gas for the
region and, eventually, for export to Europe. The first and
second sections of the pipeline bringing gas from Egypt to
Jordan are reportedly complete. Section 3 is planned to
connect with the Deir Al power station in Syria. According to
media reports in September, Egypt's Minister Fahmi said that
the Governments of Egypt, Syria, and Turkey had agreed to set
up a trilateral company to build the pipeline through Syria
to Turkey.

The Syrian Connection
--------------


5. (C) Embassy Damascus has reported that the SARG has
entered into contracts with a Russian company, Stroytransgas,
to build the Arab Gas Pipeline from the Jordanian border
through central Syria and on to the Turkish border (Ref A).
The GOI has said it plans to build a short pipeline from the
Akkas field in western Anbar province to Syria, which could
then be linked to the Arab Gas Pipeline (Ref B).


6. (C) Action Requests:

For USEU Brussels, Amman, Ankara, Baghdad, Cairo, Damascus:

Department requests information on:

- EU-Egypt Energy Forum November 1 in Sharm el Sheikh:
participation, presentations, conclusions, and impact;

- Meetings on the margins of the forum that included
discussion of the Arab Gas Pipeline and other energy issues,
especially the EU meeting with Arab Ministers noted above.

- The status of financing, construction, and operation of the
Arab Gas Pipeline and links to Iraq and other countries.

For Embassy Moscow: Please provide information on
Stroytransgas and its reported contract with the SARG.


7. (U) Department greatly appreciates Posts' assistance.
RICE