POLAND INPUT FOR ENERGY REPORT TO CONGRESS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 WARSAW 000244 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NCE LLOCHMAN, BPUTNEY, EEB/ESC/IEC (BGGRIFFIN) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG SENV APER ABUD PL SUBJECT: POLAND INPUT FOR ENERGY REPORT TO CONGRESS REF: STATE 10743 WARSAW 00000244 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. Poland produces limited quantities of oil and gas for domestic consumption and serves as a transit route for Russian gas pipelines to Western Europe. Poland has significant coal reserves which are used to produce 90% of its electricity. In response to reftel request, post is pleased to provide the following information. ¶2. A. The Economic Section and Commercial Service sections handle energy matters. The total number of staff in these offices dealing with energy matters is 3 FSOs and 2 LES. The Ambassador and DCM also engage in matters related to energy. ¶3. B. Individuals and percentage of their time spent working on energy related issues: Ambassador and DCM, 5% each Economic Counselor, 10% Deputy Economic Counselor, 50% ESTH Officer, 20% ESTH LES, 40% Economic LES, 30% Senior Commercial Officer, 5% Commercial Officer, 5% Commercial LES, 40% Political Counselor 2% Deputy Political Counselor - Internal 2% Pol/Mil Officer - 2% ¶4. C. Description of energy-related duties and qualifications including rank Ambassador and DCM regularly engage Polish government officials and energy company officials on energy issues. Energy security is the only economic issue which is regularly discussed in the U.S.-Poland Strategic Dialogue and in high-level meetings. Economic Counselor - FS 1. The Economic Counselor has general oversight responsibilities for mission activities related to energy issues. Incumbent has no energy training. Deputy Economic Counselor - Position is FS2, Incumbent is FS ¶1. The Deputy Econ Counselor has the lead on Mission efforts on all energy issues, especially supporting Poland's key economic priority to promote its energy security through diversification of supply. The Deputy has the lead in sharing information and raising awareness of U.S. energy priorities and policies within the Polish government. Manages energy-themed visits by USG officials. Serves as a point of contact for US and Polish energy companies. Major energy issues in Poland have been privatization of the energy sector, construction of the Odessa-Brody-Plock-Gdansk oil pipeline, construction of a gas pipeline from Norway to Poland, construction of an LNG port, use of Poland's coal resources, Poland's desire to participate in the construction of the Ignalina nuclear power plant, construction of an electric energy bridge between Poland and Lithuania, and new EU CO2 emissions restrictions. Supervises work of ESTH Officer on climate change and renewables issues. Incumbent is an electrical engineer with electric and nuclear energy industry experience, previous experience as the Caspian Region Energy Officer, and energy training sponsored by DOE and State including the Houston Energy Officers course and the Pittsburgh coal course. ESTH Officer - FS 4 (rotational officer). Incumbent works on climate change issues with the government, including Poland's position on recent EU CO2 emission proposals. Reports on renewable energy research and implementation, and nuclear energy research. Assists Deputy in managing energy-themed visits by USG officials. Officer will coordinate post support for USG delegation to upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poznan. Incumbent was previously employed at DOE for 13 years and has training in crude oil processing. ESTH LES - FSN 10 - Incumbent researches events, legislation and privatization in the energy industry. She also researches climate change issues and maintains information on the key decision makers in government and industry on both issues. Senior Commercial Officer - MC - Incumbent maintains contacts with energy companies in the U.S. and Poland and advocates on behalf of U.S. firms with the government of Poland. Keeps Department of Commerce informed of issues affecting the energy sector. WARSAW 00000244 002.2 OF 002 Deputy Commercial Officer - FS-1 - Most of incumbent's time on energy issues is in support of partnership post Lithuania where key issues are the construction of a new nuclear power plant to replace the Ignalina facility and the electric energy bridge between Lithuania and Poland. Commercial LES - Incumbent advocates on behalf of U.S. companies with government officials, maintains contacts with government decision makers in the energy sector, and supports trade missions and other energy related visits. Political Counselor - FS 1, Deputy Political Counselor - FS 2, Pol/Mil Officer - FS-3 - All regularly discuss energy security issues with their contacts. Energy Security is a key GOP goal which all Polish government officials want to discuss with the U.S. None have energy training. ¶D. Budget: Salary costs based on time distribution included in B above are estimated to be $226,179. Last year post spent $1743 on training on energy issues and spent approximately $257 or 7% of the Economic Section representation budget on energy issues. ¶5. Embassy POC is Deputy Economic Counselor Laura Griesmer, Griesmerla@state.gov CURTIN