Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BANGKOK510
2008-02-15 07:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:  

INPUT FOR NEW REQUIRED REPORTS ON ENERGY

Tags:  ENRG SENV APER ABUD 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0006
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBK #0510 0460714
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 150714Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1843
UNCLAS BANGKOK 000510 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG SENV APER ABUD
SUBJECT: INPUT FOR NEW REQUIRED REPORTS ON ENERGY

REF: SECSTATE 10743

UNCLAS BANGKOK 000510

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG SENV APER ABUD
SUBJECT: INPUT FOR NEW REQUIRED REPORTS ON ENERGY

REF: SECSTATE 10743


1. Post's response to reftel is below.


2. -- A. Which section or sections of the Embassy handle energy
matters? What is the total number of staff in this section or
sections?

State Department Economic Section (ECON),Foreign Commercial Service
(FCS),Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS),and USAID's Regional
Environment Office (REO). Including U.S. and Thai personnel, ECON
has thirteen staff, FCS has nineteen staff, FAS has nine staff and
USAID/REO has seven staff.

-- B. Please identify the positions of employees that work on
energy matters and specify the percentage of time that such
employees devote to energy matters. For example: 1 economic officer:
90 percent of the time; 1 OMS: 30 percent of the time; 1 econ
counselor: 20 percent of the time; 1 FSN: 60 percent of the time.

ECON: Econ counselor 5 percent, 1 econ officer 15 percent, 1
Regional Environmental officer (ECON/REO) 10 percent, 1 Regional
Environmental Assistant 5 percent. 1 FSN: 5 percent, 1 FSN 5
percent.
FCS: 1 FSN 25 percent.
FAS: 1 agriculture attach and three FSNs, total of 10 percent of
one staff year.
USAID/REO: 1 Regional Environment Advisor: 40 percent

-- C. Please provide a brief narrative description of the positions
of employees that work on energy matters (econ officer, EST
counselor, FSN, etc.),the kinds of work they do (for example,
report on oil ministry, contact with oil companies, energy
dialogues, civilian nuclear programs),and any special information
about their qualifications.

ECON: monitor, research and report on developments in the energy
sector in Thailand. Maintain liaison with and advocate interests of
U.S. energy companies. Maintain liaison with the Ministry of
Energy. Represent U.S. interests at energy-themed UN meetings in
Bangkok.

ECON/REO: majority of energy-related work researching and reporting
on hydropower; also spend significant amounts of time on researching
and reporting on renewable energy such as biofuels.

FCS: Promote U.S. business interests, market research, matchmaking
between U.S. suppliers and Thai buyers, assist with due diligence.

FAS: Follow the use of biofuels in Thailand in the context of other
commodity analysis efforts. Publish an annual Global Agriculture
Information Network (GAIN) report on biofuels in Thailand.

USAID/REO: USAID staff is a USPSC who manages a 3-year, $8 million
program titled the Environmental Cooperation-Asia Clean Development
and Climate Program (ECO-Asia CDCP) to promote clean energy
technologies and financing in six Asian developing countries (China,
India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam). The
program is primarily focused on positively addressing global climate
change through stronger enabling policies, market incentives, and
access to financing. Regional Environment Advisor's experience
includes background in climate change programs and technical
support.

-- D. Budget: Please provide the amounts of State Department funds,
including salary costs (prorated as applicable),spent by your post
in FY 2007 on energy-related activities in two categories:

--- personnel: Approximately $85,000

--- programs: USAID: $50,000 from EAP

John