OMAN RESPONSE TO ENERGY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000128 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EEB/ESC/IEC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EPET ECON MU SUBJECT: OMAN RESPONSE TO ENERGY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS REF: STATE 10743 The following responses are keyed to reftel request. ¶A. The Political-Economic Section handles energy affairs for the Embassy. There are three FSOs and three FSNs in this section. ¶B. The Economic/Commercial Officer is responsible for reporting on energy issues. This officer spends 5% of his time on covering energy. A Political Assistant covers energy issues in the course of reviewing daily news reporting, and a Commercial Assistant provides commercial services, such as international company profiles, to U.S. energy companies interested in expanding their commercial presence in Oman. ¶C. The Economic/Commercial Officer maintains contact with officials at the Ministry of Oil and Gas, as well as Oman's two main oil producing companies, Petroleum Development Oman and Occidental Oman. He also keeps in contact with oilfield services contractors (including Halliburton and Exterran), gas producers, and Oman LNG. Given the importance of oil to Oman's government revenues and GDP, the Economic/Commercial Officer closely follows oil production figures to enhance general economic reporting. ¶D. In terms of costs, the Embassy spent approximately $3334.45 over FY 2007 on personnel expenses in covering Oman energy developments. GRAPPO