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