EMBASSY BISHKEK COVERAGE OF ENERGY ISSUES

UNCLAS BISHKEK 000275

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GEHRENBECK),EEB/ESC/IEC (GRIFFIN)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG SENV APER ABUD KG
SUBJECT: EMBASSY BISHKEK COVERAGE OF ENERGY ISSUES

REF: STATE 10743


1. Embassy Bishkek is providing answers to reftel questions
(repeated below) regarding coverage of energy issues:


A. Which section or sections of the Embassy handle energy
matters? What is the total number of staff in this section
or sections? The Embassy's Political/Economic Section covers
energy matters. Of nine positions normally in this section,
only seven are currently filled.


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. One economic officer
dedicates 10% of his time to energy issues, and one FSN
spends 10% of his time on this subject.


C. Please provide a brief narrative description of the
positions of employees that work on energy matters, the kinds
of work they do and any special information about their
qualifications. The economic officer, with the support of
the FSN, focuses on the status of hydroelectric stations, the
potential export of electricity to Afghanistan and Pakistan
as well as the flow of natural gas supplies. The economic
officer also coordinates U.S. Trade and Development Agency
feasibility studies involving the Kyrgyz national electric
grid company. Work by these State Department personnel
complement the programs and staffing the Agency for
International Development (AID) has allotted to energy
initiatives in Central Asia. AID activities include the
Regional Energy Market Assistance Program, which seeks to
develop a transparent, competitive energy market through
increased trade in electricity, and providing advisory
assistance in the drafting of Kyrgyz energy sector
legislation. The economic officer has attended the Petroleum
Officers Course.


D. Budget: Please provide the amounts of State Department
funds, including salary costs, spent by your post in FY 2007
on energy-related activities in two categories: personnel and
programs. Salary costs for the two State Department
employees primarily engaged with energy issues amounted to
$8,381 in FY 2007. There were no energy-related State
Department programmatic activities in the Kyrgyz Republic in
FY 2007.


2. Post point of contact for this report is Deputy Pol-Econ
Chief Gregory Winstead.
YOVANOVITCH