NICARGUAN ENERGY MINISTRY EXPRESSES INTEREST IN JOINING

UNCLAS MANAGUA 000052 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CEN AND OES-LHILLESHEIM, DWILUSZ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV TBIO NU SUBJECT: NICARGUAN ENERGY MINISTRY EXPRESSES INTEREST IN JOINING PCIA REF: 07 STATE 144727 ¶1. (U) On December 31, 2007, post received a letter from the Nicaraguan Ministry of Energy and Mines expressing an interest in joining the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air (PCIA). Informal translation of letter follows. Post will forward original letter to Department. ¶2. (SBU) Begin informal translation: I would like to thank you for the kind invitation you made to our government to join the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air (PCIA). We are proud to announce that we accept your invitation to join PCIA. The Ministry of Energy and Mines considers this a great opportunity to enforce and strengthen the different strategies PCIA has been developing to modernize the wood-burning-for-fuel sector, which, in our energy matrix represents over 50% of all energies used. The generation of energy and through burning of wood is and will be a primary resource for low income families for food preparation and small artisan activities. The inefficient use of wood and coal for energy generation is harmful to health, especially for children. It also damages family economies and the environment. For these reasons, we think these initiatives will prove useful to improve quality of life. We appreciate your kind attention. Best regards, Lorena Lanza E Acting Minister End informal translation. ¶3. (U)Post will provide the Ministry with information on how to register to become a partner through the PCIA on-line Web form. TRIVELLI