Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT873
2008-07-11 10:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: DESPITE PRESS REPORT, KOREANS NOT
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UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000873
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EPET TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: DESPITE PRESS REPORT, KOREANS NOT
JUMPING AT THE CHANCE TO WORK THE CASPIAN
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000873
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EPET TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: DESPITE PRESS REPORT, KOREANS NOT
JUMPING AT THE CHANCE TO WORK THE CASPIAN
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (U) The Turkmenistan.ru website reported that South
Korean Minister of Knowledge Economy, Lee Youn-ho, had told
President Berdimuhamedov during a July 6 meeting in Astana
that the Republic of Korea is setting up a special consortium
of the country's leading companies for developing oil and gas
deposits on the Turkmen shelf of the Caspian Sea. Lee also
said a business delegation, composed of companies interested
in the project, would visit Ashgabat in August. The article
further states that Berdimuhamedov proposed that the South
Koreans work three promising blocks in the Caspian.
3. (SBU) According to South Korean Ambassador Kim Chong-yul,
the Turkmen did express a strong interest in having Korean
companies work in the Caspian, but Lee was coy. The one
Korean company that wants to start a project in Turkmenistan,
Hyundai, is not having much luck, so it is unlikely that
other companies will jump at the chance to pursue work here.
Hyundai would like to work on refurbishing the port of
Turkmenbashy, but does not have a contract. Despite several
visits and much negotiation, Hyundai does not feel it is much
closer to a contract than when it first started the process.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: It's unclear whether the Turkmen horribly
misread Lee or want to plump possible future Korean
involvement in the Caspian for another reason. Turkmenistan
may be trying to put some pressure on ConocoPhilips to
finalize its negotiations, since the "three promising blocks"
very easily could refer to blocks, 19, 20 and 21. In any
case, the Koreans are learning the same lesson the other
foreigners who want to do business here must learn - working
with the Turkmen requires a lot of patience. Getting to the
deal can be a long, long process.
HOAGLAND
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EPET TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: DESPITE PRESS REPORT, KOREANS NOT
JUMPING AT THE CHANCE TO WORK THE CASPIAN
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (U) The Turkmenistan.ru website reported that South
Korean Minister of Knowledge Economy, Lee Youn-ho, had told
President Berdimuhamedov during a July 6 meeting in Astana
that the Republic of Korea is setting up a special consortium
of the country's leading companies for developing oil and gas
deposits on the Turkmen shelf of the Caspian Sea. Lee also
said a business delegation, composed of companies interested
in the project, would visit Ashgabat in August. The article
further states that Berdimuhamedov proposed that the South
Koreans work three promising blocks in the Caspian.
3. (SBU) According to South Korean Ambassador Kim Chong-yul,
the Turkmen did express a strong interest in having Korean
companies work in the Caspian, but Lee was coy. The one
Korean company that wants to start a project in Turkmenistan,
Hyundai, is not having much luck, so it is unlikely that
other companies will jump at the chance to pursue work here.
Hyundai would like to work on refurbishing the port of
Turkmenbashy, but does not have a contract. Despite several
visits and much negotiation, Hyundai does not feel it is much
closer to a contract than when it first started the process.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: It's unclear whether the Turkmen horribly
misread Lee or want to plump possible future Korean
involvement in the Caspian for another reason. Turkmenistan
may be trying to put some pressure on ConocoPhilips to
finalize its negotiations, since the "three promising blocks"
very easily could refer to blocks, 19, 20 and 21. In any
case, the Koreans are learning the same lesson the other
foreigners who want to do business here must learn - working
with the Turkmen requires a lot of patience. Getting to the
deal can be a long, long process.
HOAGLAND