SUDAN TO PROVIDE FUEL TO ERITREA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000314 SIPDIS LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2018 TAGS: ENRG EPET PREL ER SU SUBJECT: SUDAN TO PROVIDE FUEL TO ERITREA REF: ASMARA 300 Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C) Sudan will provide fuel-starved Eritrea with substantial quantities of refined product "probably within the next two weeks," according to Sudan's ambassador in Asmara, Salah El-Hassen. ¶2. (C) El-Hassen commented June 11 to the ambassador that Sudanese refineries at Port Sudan and near Khartoum are "now fully back on line," enabling Sudan to proceed with plans to send diesel and other refined petroleum products to Eritrea. El-Hassen did not say whether the fuel shipment will be on commercial or concessional terms. ¶3. (C) If the Sudanese fuel actually materializes as planned, it will come just in the nick of time to stave off an economic crisis in Eritrea that could have serious social and political consequences (REF). Meanwhile, a foreign airline manager has been advised that aviation fuel will continue to be unavailable at Asmara International Airport "through July 7, renewable." If the Sudanese fuel arrives in July, it could also preclude a shut-down of UN projects and programs, which now have enough diesel to operate until August 5. MCMULLEN