Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SOFIA331
2008-05-23 13:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:
SOFIA: STRATEGIC LOCATION FOR DOE ENERGY ATTACHE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0022 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHSF #0331 1441306 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 231306Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA TO RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5073 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
UNCLAS SOFIA 000331
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DOE FOR NICHOLAS CARLSON, KATHARINE FREDRIKSEN
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA AND GARBER, EEB FOR SMANN
USEU FOR SPECIAL ENVOY GREY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG SENV APER BU
SUBJECT: SOFIA: STRATEGIC LOCATION FOR DOE ENERGY ATTACHE
UNCLAS SOFIA 000331
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DOE FOR NICHOLAS CARLSON, KATHARINE FREDRIKSEN
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA AND GARBER, EEB FOR SMANN
USEU FOR SPECIAL ENVOY GREY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG SENV APER BU
SUBJECT: SOFIA: STRATEGIC LOCATION FOR DOE ENERGY ATTACHE
1. (SBU) The Department of Energy's Attache Program is a
resounding success. As DOE considers possible locations for its
next Energy Attache, Embassy Sofia encourages a hard look at the
superior value we offer. An office here would bracket coverage,
analysis, and advocacy in Russia, the Caspian, the Middle East and
Eastern Europe.
The Strategic Case
--------------
2. (SBU) Hydrocarbon-poor, energy inefficient and keen on getting
guaranteed oil and natural gas supply, Bulgaria and its neighbors
have established energy partnerships with Russia that are having a
profound impact on Europe's energy security. A Sofia-based Energy
Attache could cover the developments in a strategic region
encompassing "mid-stream" countries from Turkey to Austria --
pipeline projects, Russian investment and intentions, energy
relations between midstream countries and their upstream and
downstream partners, and EU energy dynamics.
3. (U) Bulgaria is putting itself on the energy map:
-- Hosting one existing gas pipeline and five potential oil and gas
pipelines (Nabucco, South Stream, Burgas-Alexandroupolis, AMBO, and
a Turkey-Greece-Italy Interconnetor hook-up);
-- Reaching out to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Dubai, Egypt and Iraq for
oil, gas and LNG;
-- Building nuclear plants: Atomsroyexport and Siemens/Areva are
building two new VVER-1000 reactors, and Bulgaria is hedging its
bets with talk of building two other reactors (Kozolduy 7 and 8) in
which Westinghouse has expressed very preliminary interest -- all in
the drive to regain its place as a net electricity exporter;
-- Proposing itself as the home of a new, EU Energy Observatory,
part of the EU's proposed energy early warning system;
-- Winning the competition (against London) for international energy
infrastructure firm Worley Parsons, which chose Sofia as its new
"Pipeline Center of Excellence" which will employ several hundred
specialists to handle the firm's oil and gas pipeline consultation
and engineering business for all of Europe and Africa.
The Programmatic Case
--------------
4. (U) The United States has a central piece of nuclear
developments here. In April 2008, the United States and Bulgaria
signed a Nuclear Fuel Return Agreement to allow U.S. and Bulgarian
experts to remove spent nuclear fuel from the ITR-2000 reactor in
Sofia and safely transport the fuel to Russia, its original source.
The agreement will open the door to multi-million dollar upgrades
and refurbishments funded by the U.S., Bulgaria and IAEA to
transform the aging ITR-2000 reactor into a safe, state-of-the-art
200Kw research and training reactor, the most advanced in
southeastern Europe. The whole project will entail substantial DOE
personnel and financial support.
5. (SBU) During PM Stanishev's June visit we will sign a Second
Line of Defense Program MOU with Bulgaria, under which DOE will
provide more than USD 20 million over several years for installation
of and training in radioactivity detectors at all Bulgaria's land
crossings, seaports and airports. A Sofia-based Energy Attache
would spearhead the Washington-based SLD office on the extensive
planning, installation and training the SLD program will require.
The Business Case
--------------
6. (U) Embassy Sofia is an award-winning new chancery complex. We
have great, available space. We boast fabulous, highly educated,
highly skilled and highly motivated employees. Wages are fractions
of west European levels, and we provide superior productivity and
efficiency. Per diem rates are far below central and west European
cities while direct air flights to Moscow and west European capitals
are readily available; airfares to Washington are substantially
cheaper than from other possible hub locations. The Anglo-American
School has its own award winning complex here and supports an IB
program. The Foreign Agriculture Service, FBI, Department of
Justice and U.S. Secret Service have all chosen Sofia as a regional
base.
7. (U) We are convinced we offer a strong combination of
strategic, programmatic and economic factors. We invite DOE's due
diligence, confident we have a compelling case.
KARAGIANNIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DOE FOR NICHOLAS CARLSON, KATHARINE FREDRIKSEN
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA AND GARBER, EEB FOR SMANN
USEU FOR SPECIAL ENVOY GREY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG SENV APER BU
SUBJECT: SOFIA: STRATEGIC LOCATION FOR DOE ENERGY ATTACHE
1. (SBU) The Department of Energy's Attache Program is a
resounding success. As DOE considers possible locations for its
next Energy Attache, Embassy Sofia encourages a hard look at the
superior value we offer. An office here would bracket coverage,
analysis, and advocacy in Russia, the Caspian, the Middle East and
Eastern Europe.
The Strategic Case
--------------
2. (SBU) Hydrocarbon-poor, energy inefficient and keen on getting
guaranteed oil and natural gas supply, Bulgaria and its neighbors
have established energy partnerships with Russia that are having a
profound impact on Europe's energy security. A Sofia-based Energy
Attache could cover the developments in a strategic region
encompassing "mid-stream" countries from Turkey to Austria --
pipeline projects, Russian investment and intentions, energy
relations between midstream countries and their upstream and
downstream partners, and EU energy dynamics.
3. (U) Bulgaria is putting itself on the energy map:
-- Hosting one existing gas pipeline and five potential oil and gas
pipelines (Nabucco, South Stream, Burgas-Alexandroupolis, AMBO, and
a Turkey-Greece-Italy Interconnetor hook-up);
-- Reaching out to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Dubai, Egypt and Iraq for
oil, gas and LNG;
-- Building nuclear plants: Atomsroyexport and Siemens/Areva are
building two new VVER-1000 reactors, and Bulgaria is hedging its
bets with talk of building two other reactors (Kozolduy 7 and 8) in
which Westinghouse has expressed very preliminary interest -- all in
the drive to regain its place as a net electricity exporter;
-- Proposing itself as the home of a new, EU Energy Observatory,
part of the EU's proposed energy early warning system;
-- Winning the competition (against London) for international energy
infrastructure firm Worley Parsons, which chose Sofia as its new
"Pipeline Center of Excellence" which will employ several hundred
specialists to handle the firm's oil and gas pipeline consultation
and engineering business for all of Europe and Africa.
The Programmatic Case
--------------
4. (U) The United States has a central piece of nuclear
developments here. In April 2008, the United States and Bulgaria
signed a Nuclear Fuel Return Agreement to allow U.S. and Bulgarian
experts to remove spent nuclear fuel from the ITR-2000 reactor in
Sofia and safely transport the fuel to Russia, its original source.
The agreement will open the door to multi-million dollar upgrades
and refurbishments funded by the U.S., Bulgaria and IAEA to
transform the aging ITR-2000 reactor into a safe, state-of-the-art
200Kw research and training reactor, the most advanced in
southeastern Europe. The whole project will entail substantial DOE
personnel and financial support.
5. (SBU) During PM Stanishev's June visit we will sign a Second
Line of Defense Program MOU with Bulgaria, under which DOE will
provide more than USD 20 million over several years for installation
of and training in radioactivity detectors at all Bulgaria's land
crossings, seaports and airports. A Sofia-based Energy Attache
would spearhead the Washington-based SLD office on the extensive
planning, installation and training the SLD program will require.
The Business Case
--------------
6. (U) Embassy Sofia is an award-winning new chancery complex. We
have great, available space. We boast fabulous, highly educated,
highly skilled and highly motivated employees. Wages are fractions
of west European levels, and we provide superior productivity and
efficiency. Per diem rates are far below central and west European
cities while direct air flights to Moscow and west European capitals
are readily available; airfares to Washington are substantially
cheaper than from other possible hub locations. The Anglo-American
School has its own award winning complex here and supports an IB
program. The Foreign Agriculture Service, FBI, Department of
Justice and U.S. Secret Service have all chosen Sofia as a regional
base.
7. (U) We are convinced we offer a strong combination of
strategic, programmatic and economic factors. We invite DOE's due
diligence, confident we have a compelling case.
KARAGIANNIS