Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT186
2008-02-06 10:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:  

TURKMENISTAN: MIDLAND OIL MOVES FORWARD

Tags:  PGOV PREL EPET EINV ETRD EIND KS TX 
pdf how-to read a cable
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P 061003Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0217
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RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 3343
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RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 2188
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000186 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HEUPER
USAID/W FOR EE/AA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL EPET EINV ETRD EIND KS TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MIDLAND OIL MOVES FORWARD

REF: ASHGABAT 0169

Classified By: CHARGE RICHARD E. HOAGLAND, 1.4 (B),(D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000186

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HEUPER
USAID/W FOR EE/AA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL EPET EINV ETRD EIND KS TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MIDLAND OIL MOVES FORWARD

REF: ASHGABAT 0169

Classified By: CHARGE RICHARD E. HOAGLAND, 1.4 (B),(D)


1. (C) Chairman of the Board and President of the U.S.-based
Midland Oil and Gas Company Robert Murphy telephoned the
Charge on February 6 to provide a rushed brief on the results
of his consortium delegation's visit to Ashgabat that began
on January 29 (reftel). He said his overall consortium
includes 27 international companies.


2. (C) In former Soviet parlance, Midland "over-fulfilled
the plan" by a whopping margin. Murphy said Midland is in
"pre-qualification status," approved by Deputy Chairman
Tachberdi Tagiyev and blessed by President Berdimuhamedov,
for a very large business package. He said Midland plans to
mobilize within 30 days to send teams back to Ashgabat to
conduct detailed contract negotiations for the following:

-- three off-shore hydrocarbon blocks (23, 30, 31),and a
nation-wide on-shore oil and gas service contract for
drilling intensification and improvement of existing wells;

-- a nation-wide high-speed wireless Internet system;

-- a nation-wide cell-phone system (that would compete with
Moscow's MTS that currently dominates market share);

-- an electronic exchange system for the commodity exchange
and for an eventual stock market;

-- a cement plant with an initial annual capacity of two
million tons (with a possible increase to five million);

-- a major role in the Turkmenbashy International Seaport
modernization and expansion, including provision of new
ferries and cargo vessels; and

-- permission to open a joint-venture bank, likely with one
of the three Korean banks that form part of Midland's current
consortium.


3. (SBU) Murphy said he would stay in close touch with the
Embassy.
HOAGLAND