Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT984
2008-07-30 11:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: BROKEN WATER PUMP LEAVES
how-toVZCZCXRO9358 PP RUEHAG RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHAH #0984 2121155 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 301155Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1259 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 4095 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 1910 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1775 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 2344 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000984
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2018
TAGS: PGOV EPET TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: BROKEN WATER PUMP LEAVES
TURKMENBASHY DRY AND THREATENS DRILLING OPERATIONS
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Sylvia R. Curran for reasons 1.4(B) an
d (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000984
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2018
TAGS: PGOV EPET TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: BROKEN WATER PUMP LEAVES
TURKMENBASHY DRY AND THREATENS DRILLING OPERATIONS
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Sylvia R. Curran for reasons 1.4(B) an
d (D).
1. (C) Most of Balkan Province, including the Caspian port
city of Turkmenbashy, has not had access to fresh water for
at least a week, according to the country manager of
Wintershall, Cal Sandhu (strictly protect). Sandhu claims
that the explanation he has received is that a pump on the
main line that takes water from Ashgabat to Turkmenbashy has
broken down somewhere east of Balkanabat City (Nebitdag).
The authorities do not have replacement parts, with the
result that the entire water line has been closed down at
least since late last week. According to Sandhu, water
levels in storage tanks and reservoirs around the city --
including those belonging to the government, port authority
and private entities -- are all well below emergency levels.
Yet, according to the director of the now-closed American
Corner in Turkmenbashy, to date, there have been no public
announcements telling people what is happening.
2. (C) In Wintershall's case, the Maersk Explorer, which is
conducting exploratory drilling for Wintershall, is down to
seven-day water reserves. On shore, villas that Wintershall
is renting for the duration of the drilling are down to
four-day reserves. Those Turkmenbashy citizens without
access to water storage tanks have not been able to shower
for days, and the only drinking water that is available is
bottled. Authorities appear stumped about how to deal with
the very real state of emergency. In order to keep drilling
operations from falling behind, Sandhu is seeking to bring
water from Baku aboard two large water tankers -- at a cost
of nearly $100,000. Up to now, however, he has been running
into bureaucratic red tape from Turkmen officials unwilling
to process the necessary letters of invitation and customs
forms expeditiously, claiming that they have never been asked
to make such allowances before.
3. (C) COMMENT: Under normal conditions, it is easy to lose
sight of just how unprepared Turkmen officials are to deal
with emergencies. Most officials do not engage in
contingency planning, which is considered here to be an
admission that operations are less than perfect. As a
result, when something happens, they normally do not know how
to begin addressing the problem. Despite the lack of public
acknowledgment of the water problem, we expect the news will
get out sooner, rather than later: Turkmenbashy is the
premier summer vacation destination in Turkmenistan and the
gateway city to Turkmenistan's much-hyped Avaza tourist zone.
In this case, at least a few heads could roll once news of
this fiasco hits the president's office. END COMMENT.
CURRAN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2018
TAGS: PGOV EPET TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: BROKEN WATER PUMP LEAVES
TURKMENBASHY DRY AND THREATENS DRILLING OPERATIONS
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Sylvia R. Curran for reasons 1.4(B) an
d (D).
1. (C) Most of Balkan Province, including the Caspian port
city of Turkmenbashy, has not had access to fresh water for
at least a week, according to the country manager of
Wintershall, Cal Sandhu (strictly protect). Sandhu claims
that the explanation he has received is that a pump on the
main line that takes water from Ashgabat to Turkmenbashy has
broken down somewhere east of Balkanabat City (Nebitdag).
The authorities do not have replacement parts, with the
result that the entire water line has been closed down at
least since late last week. According to Sandhu, water
levels in storage tanks and reservoirs around the city --
including those belonging to the government, port authority
and private entities -- are all well below emergency levels.
Yet, according to the director of the now-closed American
Corner in Turkmenbashy, to date, there have been no public
announcements telling people what is happening.
2. (C) In Wintershall's case, the Maersk Explorer, which is
conducting exploratory drilling for Wintershall, is down to
seven-day water reserves. On shore, villas that Wintershall
is renting for the duration of the drilling are down to
four-day reserves. Those Turkmenbashy citizens without
access to water storage tanks have not been able to shower
for days, and the only drinking water that is available is
bottled. Authorities appear stumped about how to deal with
the very real state of emergency. In order to keep drilling
operations from falling behind, Sandhu is seeking to bring
water from Baku aboard two large water tankers -- at a cost
of nearly $100,000. Up to now, however, he has been running
into bureaucratic red tape from Turkmen officials unwilling
to process the necessary letters of invitation and customs
forms expeditiously, claiming that they have never been asked
to make such allowances before.
3. (C) COMMENT: Under normal conditions, it is easy to lose
sight of just how unprepared Turkmen officials are to deal
with emergencies. Most officials do not engage in
contingency planning, which is considered here to be an
admission that operations are less than perfect. As a
result, when something happens, they normally do not know how
to begin addressing the problem. Despite the lack of public
acknowledgment of the water problem, we expect the news will
get out sooner, rather than later: Turkmenbashy is the
premier summer vacation destination in Turkmenistan and the
gateway city to Turkmenistan's much-hyped Avaza tourist zone.
In this case, at least a few heads could roll once news of
this fiasco hits the president's office. END COMMENT.
CURRAN