ROMANIA/ENERGY: INPUT FOR REQUIRED REPORTS TO CONGRESS

UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000143

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR - AJENSEN, EEB/ESC/IEC - GGRIFFEN

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG SENV APER ABUD RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIA/ENERGY: INPUT FOR REQUIRED REPORTS TO CONGRESS

REF: STATE 10743


1. The following is Embassy Bucharest's response to reftel, which
requests input for two new reports to Congress on aspects of the
Department's work on energy-related matters. Responses to questions
A, B, C and D of reftel follow:


2. QUESTION A: The Economic Section is responsible for energy
matters. The Economic Section is composed of three Foreign Service
Officers, one Eligible Family Member Office Management Specialist
and three Locally Employed Staff (LES).


3. QUESTION B: In addition to the Front Office, Embassy personnel
devote the following percentage of their time to energy issues:

-- Economic Section Chief: 35%
-- Deputy Economic Section Chief: 65%
-- Economic Officer: 20%
-- LES Economic Specialist: 70%
-- LES Economic Specialist: 15%
-- Economic OMS: 5%


3. QUESTION C: The following narratives describe Economic Section
engagement on energy issues:

-- The Economic Section Chief engages senior level host country
officials on domestic and regional energy policy, advancing USG
efforts to promote regional energy diversity. These efforts include
promoting the Nabucco Gas Pipeline Project, a potential LNG terminal
project, alternative energy production, etc. The Economic Section
Chief coordinates efforts of other USG entities not represented at
post, such as USTDA, to advance USG policy and commercial interests.
The Economic Section Chief maintains a high-level dialogue with
commercial entities present on the Romanian energy market and
advances USG energy policy in public fora and through the press.

-- The Deputy Economic Section Chief is Post's primary energy
officer. The officer reports all developments in the Romanian
energy sector, with the exception of alternative energy, and
maintains contacts with energy-related government and private sector
officials. Areas of primary focus include the oil and gas,
electricity and nuclear energy sectors. The officer also advocates
on behalf of US companies active in the energy sector and
coordinates efforts of USG entities not represented at Post,
including the Department of Energy's nuclear fuel return programs.

-- The Rotational Economic Officer is Post's Environment, Science
and Technology officer and has primary responsibility for climate
change and alternative energy.

-- The LES Economic Specialist researches, analyzes and prepares
reports on the oil, gas, coal and electricity sectors, as well as
the alternative energy sector. The Specialist closely follows and
reports developments related to oil and gas projects in Romania,
including the Nabucco Gas Pipeline, the Pan European Oil Pipeline,
and a proposed LNG terminal at the Port of Constanta. The
Specialist follows Romania's energy policies, market operations, the
impact of EU's directives and regulations on the Romanian energy
sector, and Romania's interaction with oil and gas producing
countries including Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and
Kazakhstan. The Specialist translates and analyzes legislation
affecting the Romanian energy sector. The Specialist facilitates
meetings with the Romanian government, frequently serving as
interpreter for visiting USG officials and businessmen.

-- The LES Economic Specialist researches, analyzes and prepares
reports on climate change and nuclear energy. The Specialist
closely follows the expansion of Romania's nuclear energy program,
including the proposed construction of two additional nuclear
reactors. The Specialist translates and analyzes legislation
affecting Romanian climate change policy and the nuclear energy
sector. The Specialist facilitates meetings with the Romanian
government, frequently serving as interpreter for visiting USG
officials and businessmen.


4. Question D: Post expenditure on energy-related activities in 2007
were:

-- Personnel: $143,090
-- Programs: $ 2,686


5. For additional information, please contact Deputy Economic
Section Chief Ben Rockwell at rockwellba@state.gov.

TAUBMAN