AVIATION FUEL STATUS IN ERITREA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000330 NOFORN DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, AF/E, LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2028 TAGS: ENRG ECON MOPS ASEC ER SUBJECT: AVIATION FUEL STATUS IN ERITREA Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C/NF) RSO met with UNMEE Source who provided information on the current low levels of aviation fuel in Asmara. This source by virtue of his position at UNMEE has been able to inspect the fuel tanks at the Asmara International Airport and regularly receives updates on aviation fuel in Asmara and Assab. Through his contacts he has been also able to get information on fuel levels in Neffasit as well. ¶2. (C/NF) UNMEE Source stated there are four 546,000 gallon capacity above ground fuel tanks at the Asmara International Airport. Two of the tanks are used for Avgas and the other two are used for Jet A-1 fuel. The source explained the Avgas is a high octane gas used primarily for smaller propeller driven planes. The two Avgas tanks at Asmara International Airport are virtually empty and have not been refilled in the recent past. The two tanks used for Jet A-1 fuel only contain approximately 39,000 gallons as of 06/17/08. Jet A-1 fuel is used for commercial and military jets. UNMEE has four flights to Ethiopia via Djibouti per week: two passenger and two cargo. Since late May, UNMEE has been unable to refuel in Asmara and has been forced to refuel in Assab en-route to/from Addis Ababa. Eritrean government officials told this source that they will be able to resume fueling at Asmara International Airport on 07/07/08 as they will be receiving fuel from a ship that will arrive in Massawa in early July. This source stated the fuel ships that arrive in Massawa generally can carry approximately 1,560,000 gallons of fuel. Typically they deliver approximately 1,040,000 gallons of Jet A-1 fuel and approximately 520,000 gallons of kerosene. UNMEE Source did not know exactly who was supplying the fuel, but surmised it was a gift from either Saudi Arabia, Oman, or Libya. According to his records the tanks were last inspected on 07/26/06 and last cleaned in 08/01. ¶3. (C/NF) He also stated the airport in Assab has two 65,000 gallon above-ground fuel tanks that house Jet A-1 fuel. As of June, 2008, they have approximately 32,500 gallons of Jet A-1 at Assab. He stated UNMEE buys approximately 780 gallons of Jet A-1 per stop in Assab. The Eritrean government has continued to sell/provide Jet A-1 fuel for UNMEE flights. This source also confirmed that the Eritrean strategic reserve in Nefassit, located approximately 20 miles east of Asmara has a 5,200,000 gallon fuel capacity. The Eritrean government currently has approximately 1,040,000 gallons of Jet A-1 fuel at Neffasit as well as unknown quantities of kerosene, diesel and petrol that they have not distributed. ¶4. (C/NF) UNMEE Source also stated the shortage of fuel has hindered the Eritrean Air Force from flying its Mig-29s. He stated each sortie uses approximately 4680 - 5200 gallons of fuel and with a short reserve in Asmara, the Eritrean Air Force has stopped its daily flights. NOTE: Post has noticed a decrease in the flights of Eritrean Mig-29s in Asmara during the last two weeks. END NOTE. Source also stated he usually only sees two Mig-29s at Asmara International Airport and has never seen more than four of them at any one time at this airport. Source commented despite the international increase in aviation fuel prices, the Eritrean government has not increased the price at which it sells aviation fuel to UNMEE since 2005. ¶5. (SBU) Point of contact is RSO Sean McClanahan, IVG: 596-2778. MCMULLEN