Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT286
2008-02-29 05:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: MINISTER OF OIL AND GAS
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000286
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/RUS, EAP/K, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID EPET TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MINISTER OF OIL AND GAS
ENTHUSIASTICALLY WELCOMES USTDA PROGRAMS
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000286
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/RUS, EAP/K, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID EPET TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MINISTER OF OIL AND GAS
ENTHUSIASTICALLY WELCOMES USTDA PROGRAMS
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a meeting with U.S. Trade and
Development Agency (USTDA) Regional Director Dan Stein,
Minister of Oil and Gas Baymurad Hojamuhamedov
enthusiastically welcomed possible USTDA assistance. He
expressed particular interest in U.S. government and/or
commercial assistance in developing an oil and gas training
center and welcomed a possible USTDA grant to help develop
Turkmenistan's "weak" petrochemical sector. A USTDA
contractor will visit in the next two weeks to further
explore the possibilities for USTDA involvement, but the
initial prospects look excellent. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) During a February 28 meeting with USTDA Regional
Director for Europe and Eurasia Dan Stein, Oil and Gas
Minister Hojamuhamedov enthusiastically welcomed the
possibility of cooperation with USTDA. Hojamuhamedov
reported that his ministry has signed bilateral memoranda of
understanding with the United Kingdom's Ministry of Energy
and the Ministry of Trade and Commerce in South Korea. The
ministry also signed agreements with some Indian companies,
including with the Gas Authority of India, Limited (GAIL).
Within the scope of these agreements, the Minister visited
South Korea, where he made a presentation on Turkmenistan's
oil and gas prospects, and South Korean companies have been
visiting Turkmenistan frequently over the last two to three
months. The Ministry also agreed with a recent German trade
delegation to form working groups/task forces to discuss
development of Turkmenistan's chemical sector. However,
Hojamuhamedov added, he would also like to see U.S. companies
more engaged in Turkmenistan.
4. (SBU) Noting that oil and gas sector training had been
phased out during the "transition time," Hojamuhamedov said
that his Ministry is now working to establish a training
center with the most advanced equipment. For that purpose,
his staff went to India, where they talked with oil and gas
companies, including GAIL. On March 3, some of his staff
will travel to Russia, where they will look at Gazprom's and
Transneft's training facilities and curriculum. However, he
added, he would be very interested if USTDA could identify or
organize a visit to a U.S. oil and gas training center -- one
with a particularly well-developed curriculum -- or help to
arrange for center personnel to visit Turkmenistan. Such
travel, though, would need to take place very soon.
5. (SBU) Hojamuhamedov said that the Ministry's training
center will be broadly focused in all areas -- the upstream,
mid-stream and downstream, as well as oil processing.
Training would be for mid-level staff and managers. The
Cabinet of Ministers has already approved the general idea,
and Hojamuhamedov suggested that getting a budget will not be
a problem. However, equipment and technical assistance from
companies would also be welcome.
6. (SBU) Stating that Turkmenistan's petrochemical sector
had been largely neglected in recent years, Hojamuhamedov
said that human capacity in that sector was weak.
Turkmenistan needs to find U.S. companies that want to become
involved, and is willing to consider joint ventures. "This
is what we say to everybody, and it is up to the companies to
decide what they want." Noting that his Ministry is planning
to convert the Seydi refinery (located in northeastern
Turkmenistan, not far from Turkmenabat) into a petrochemical
facility, he said that they will announce an international
tender in the first week of March to design a new plant. The
ASHGABAT 00000286 002 OF 002
tender will be announced on the Ministry's website,
www.oilgas.gov.tm. Hojamuhamedov welcomed a possible USTDA
grant in the petrochemical sector, as well.
7. (SBU) COMMENT: Hojamuhamedov is very familiar with USTDA
programs as a result of the USTDA-sponsored visit by
hydrocarbon officials to the United States last fall and an
ongoing USTDA training program being held at the Hydrocarbon
State Agency, the first phase of which will end February 29,
and it was very clear that he appreciates the expertise that
USTDA can bring to the equation. A USTDA contractor will
visit in the next two weeks to further explore the
possibilities for USTDA involvement, but the initial
prospects, at least, look excellent. END COMMENT.
8. (U) USTDA Dan Stein cleared this cable.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/RUS, EAP/K, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID EPET TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MINISTER OF OIL AND GAS
ENTHUSIASTICALLY WELCOMES USTDA PROGRAMS
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a meeting with U.S. Trade and
Development Agency (USTDA) Regional Director Dan Stein,
Minister of Oil and Gas Baymurad Hojamuhamedov
enthusiastically welcomed possible USTDA assistance. He
expressed particular interest in U.S. government and/or
commercial assistance in developing an oil and gas training
center and welcomed a possible USTDA grant to help develop
Turkmenistan's "weak" petrochemical sector. A USTDA
contractor will visit in the next two weeks to further
explore the possibilities for USTDA involvement, but the
initial prospects look excellent. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) During a February 28 meeting with USTDA Regional
Director for Europe and Eurasia Dan Stein, Oil and Gas
Minister Hojamuhamedov enthusiastically welcomed the
possibility of cooperation with USTDA. Hojamuhamedov
reported that his ministry has signed bilateral memoranda of
understanding with the United Kingdom's Ministry of Energy
and the Ministry of Trade and Commerce in South Korea. The
ministry also signed agreements with some Indian companies,
including with the Gas Authority of India, Limited (GAIL).
Within the scope of these agreements, the Minister visited
South Korea, where he made a presentation on Turkmenistan's
oil and gas prospects, and South Korean companies have been
visiting Turkmenistan frequently over the last two to three
months. The Ministry also agreed with a recent German trade
delegation to form working groups/task forces to discuss
development of Turkmenistan's chemical sector. However,
Hojamuhamedov added, he would also like to see U.S. companies
more engaged in Turkmenistan.
4. (SBU) Noting that oil and gas sector training had been
phased out during the "transition time," Hojamuhamedov said
that his Ministry is now working to establish a training
center with the most advanced equipment. For that purpose,
his staff went to India, where they talked with oil and gas
companies, including GAIL. On March 3, some of his staff
will travel to Russia, where they will look at Gazprom's and
Transneft's training facilities and curriculum. However, he
added, he would be very interested if USTDA could identify or
organize a visit to a U.S. oil and gas training center -- one
with a particularly well-developed curriculum -- or help to
arrange for center personnel to visit Turkmenistan. Such
travel, though, would need to take place very soon.
5. (SBU) Hojamuhamedov said that the Ministry's training
center will be broadly focused in all areas -- the upstream,
mid-stream and downstream, as well as oil processing.
Training would be for mid-level staff and managers. The
Cabinet of Ministers has already approved the general idea,
and Hojamuhamedov suggested that getting a budget will not be
a problem. However, equipment and technical assistance from
companies would also be welcome.
6. (SBU) Stating that Turkmenistan's petrochemical sector
had been largely neglected in recent years, Hojamuhamedov
said that human capacity in that sector was weak.
Turkmenistan needs to find U.S. companies that want to become
involved, and is willing to consider joint ventures. "This
is what we say to everybody, and it is up to the companies to
decide what they want." Noting that his Ministry is planning
to convert the Seydi refinery (located in northeastern
Turkmenistan, not far from Turkmenabat) into a petrochemical
facility, he said that they will announce an international
tender in the first week of March to design a new plant. The
ASHGABAT 00000286 002 OF 002
tender will be announced on the Ministry's website,
www.oilgas.gov.tm. Hojamuhamedov welcomed a possible USTDA
grant in the petrochemical sector, as well.
7. (SBU) COMMENT: Hojamuhamedov is very familiar with USTDA
programs as a result of the USTDA-sponsored visit by
hydrocarbon officials to the United States last fall and an
ongoing USTDA training program being held at the Hydrocarbon
State Agency, the first phase of which will end February 29,
and it was very clear that he appreciates the expertise that
USTDA can bring to the equation. A USTDA contractor will
visit in the next two weeks to further explore the
possibilities for USTDA involvement, but the initial
prospects, at least, look excellent. END COMMENT.
8. (U) USTDA Dan Stein cleared this cable.
HOAGLAND