Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08VIENNA1673
2008-11-14 16:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:  

OMV SHOWS OPTIMISM ON NABUCCO, UNDERSTANDING ON

Tags:  ENRG PREL ETTC EPET AU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1338
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHVI #1673 3191602
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 141602Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1376
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT PRIORITY 0402
RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU PRIORITY 0352
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 001673 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2018
TAGS: ENRG PREL ETTC EPET AU
SUBJECT: OMV SHOWS OPTIMISM ON NABUCCO, UNDERSTANDING ON
IRAN

REF: VIENNA 1580

Classified By: Ambassador David F Girard-diCarlo, for reasons 1.4 b and
d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 001673

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2018
TAGS: ENRG PREL ETTC EPET AU
SUBJECT: OMV SHOWS OPTIMISM ON NABUCCO, UNDERSTANDING ON
IRAN

REF: VIENNA 1580

Classified By: Ambassador David F Girard-diCarlo, for reasons 1.4 b and
d.


1. (C) In a brief aside at a November 12 event, OMV
CEO Wolfgang Ruttenstorfer told the Ambassador the
company has become guardedly optimistic on Nabucco
and that it understands the USG position on energy
deals with Iran in the current environment.


2. (C) Regarding the planned Nabucco gas pipeline,
Ruttenstorfer evinced optimism from his recent
discussions in Turkmenistan and elsewhere in the
Caspian Basin. Like other observers, the company
is cautiously optimistic that events are moving in
the right direction. Ruttenstorfer said that
financing is already starting to come together
(reftel): the consortium is close to securing 50%
financing for the EUR 8 billion construction cost.


3. (C) On Iran, Ruttenstorfer reiterated his
position that the company understands the need not
to pursue energy deals with Iran in the sensitive
current diplomatic environment. "We will not
embarrass you," he stated clearly. Like his
official GOA colleagues, Ruttenstorfer does seek a
tacit understanding that Europe will need gas from
Iran over the long term, but says the company can
afford to wait until the political situation
improves. Ruttenstorfer also opined that the
current Iranian regime makes waiting easier through
its unpredictable, anti-market behavior.
GIRARD-DICARLO