WIREC 2008 - AUSTRIA CANNOT YET CONFIRM PARTICIPATION AT

UNCLAS VIENNA 002631

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR OES (STAN SPECHT AND CAMILLE HILL) AND EUR/AGS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ENRG EPET SENV SOCI TRGY KPAO KGHG KSCA AU

SUBJECT: WIREC 2008 - AUSTRIA CANNOT YET CONFIRM PARTICIPATION AT
MINISTERIAL LEVEL

REF: STATE 138428


1. Post contacted Katharina Wieser from the MFA's Department for
Environment and Energy Issues to inquire about Austria's
participation at the Washington International Renewable Energy
Conference (WIREC 2008). After consulting with the Ministry of
Agriculture and Environment and the Ministry of Economics
(responsible for energy issues),Wieser said that the GoA is
interested in participating, but it could not confirm ministerial
level attendance at such an early stage. Wieser noted that, at the
2005 Beijing renewable energy conference, senior officials, but not
ministers, led the Austrian delegation.


2. With regard to private sector participation, Embassy can
recommend the following organizations/enterprises/academia, with
which we have had fruitful discussions on energy issues:

- Austrian Economic Chamber (WKO); lobby group for Austrian
businesses; contact person: Dr. Stephan Schwarzer, WKO, Director,
Department for Environmental and Energy Issues, Wiedner Hauptstrasse
63, A-1045 Vienna, e-mail: stephan.schwarzer@wko.at

- Austrian Energy Agency; non-profit energy research organization;
contact person: Herbert Lechner, Deputy Director, Austrian Energy
Agency, Mariahilfer Strasse 136, A-1150 Vienna, e-mail:
herbert.lechner@eva.ac.at

- AVL Company; private firm that develops advanced powertrain
systems; contact person: Michael Ksela, AVL List, Hans-List-Platz 1,
A-8020 Graz, e-mail: michael.ksela@scoopnextlevel.com

- Dr. Stephan Schleicher, Professor of Economics, adviser to the
Austrian Institute for Economic Research, and energy and climate
change expert; contact: Economics Department, University Graz,
Universitdtsstrasse 15, A-8010 Graz, e-mail:
Stefan.Schleicher@wifo.at.

MCCAW#