Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DOHA660
2008-09-14 12:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Doha
Cable title:
VENEZUELA PRESSURING QATAR TO IMMEDIATELY SIGN GAS
how-toVZCZCXRO2426 PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHDO #0660 2581248 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 141248Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY DOHA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8216 INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0010 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000660
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2018
TAGS: EPET ENRG ECON QA VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA PRESSURING QATAR TO IMMEDIATELY SIGN GAS
AGREEMENT
Classified By: Amb. Joseph LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000660
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2018
TAGS: EPET ENRG ECON QA VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA PRESSURING QATAR TO IMMEDIATELY SIGN GAS
AGREEMENT
Classified By: Amb. Joseph LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Caracas is pushing Doha hard to sign immediately a
recently received Heads-of-Agreement on an off-shore
Venezuelan reservoir, according to Minister of State for
Energy and Industry, Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada.
2. (C) Al-Sada told Ambassador September 14th that Qatar was
surprised by the urgency, especially since talks with
Venezuela about the joint investment in a liquefied natural
gas (LNG) project had been going on sporadically for six
years.
3. (C) Under the terms of the agreement, Qatar would take a
10 per cent stake, Al-Sada said. He commented that Qatar
still knew very little about the reservoir, including its
size and hydrocarbon characteristics. Moreover, Qatar lacked
key details such as specifics on industry partners in the
project.
4. (C) Al-Sada expressed concern that Venezuela was pushing
so hard, noting that they were saying Qatar must sign "now or
never." Asked by the Ambassador about other countries that
might partner with Venezuela, Al-Sada noted that Venezuela
might "strategically" look to Iran, but it would be a bad
practical move, as Tehran has "no LNG experience" to draw
from.
5. (C) Al-Sada was well aware of the recent escalation of
tension between Venezuela and the United States, and thought
that this would be a particularly bad time for Qatar to agree
to the Heads-of-Agreement. Ambassador agreed, recommending
that Qatar think twice -- and twice again -- before getting
further involved with Venezuela.
LeBaron
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2018
TAGS: EPET ENRG ECON QA VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA PRESSURING QATAR TO IMMEDIATELY SIGN GAS
AGREEMENT
Classified By: Amb. Joseph LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Caracas is pushing Doha hard to sign immediately a
recently received Heads-of-Agreement on an off-shore
Venezuelan reservoir, according to Minister of State for
Energy and Industry, Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada.
2. (C) Al-Sada told Ambassador September 14th that Qatar was
surprised by the urgency, especially since talks with
Venezuela about the joint investment in a liquefied natural
gas (LNG) project had been going on sporadically for six
years.
3. (C) Under the terms of the agreement, Qatar would take a
10 per cent stake, Al-Sada said. He commented that Qatar
still knew very little about the reservoir, including its
size and hydrocarbon characteristics. Moreover, Qatar lacked
key details such as specifics on industry partners in the
project.
4. (C) Al-Sada expressed concern that Venezuela was pushing
so hard, noting that they were saying Qatar must sign "now or
never." Asked by the Ambassador about other countries that
might partner with Venezuela, Al-Sada noted that Venezuela
might "strategically" look to Iran, but it would be a bad
practical move, as Tehran has "no LNG experience" to draw
from.
5. (C) Al-Sada was well aware of the recent escalation of
tension between Venezuela and the United States, and thought
that this would be a particularly bad time for Qatar to agree
to the Heads-of-Agreement. Ambassador agreed, recommending
that Qatar think twice -- and twice again -- before getting
further involved with Venezuela.
LeBaron