NIGERIA COMMENTS ON U.S. VIEWS ON THE INTERNATIONAL

UNCLAS ABUJA 001074 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD DEPT PASS TO USTR FOR AGAMA BAGHDAD FOR DUNDAS MCCULLOUGH USDOE FOR GEORGE PERSON TREASURY FOR PETERS, IERONIMO DOC/ITA/OA FOR KBURRESS, OIO FOR ANESA AND DHARRIS E.O. 12598: N/A TAGS: ENRG KGHG SENV NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA COMMENTS ON U.S. VIEWS ON THE INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OUTSIDE OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT REFTEL: STATE 61286 ¶1. (SBU) Per ref instructions, on June 15 Econ Couns presented U.S. views on the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to Prof. ¶A. S. Sambo, Director General, Energy Commission of Nigeria and candidate for position of IRENA Executive Director. Sambo commented that the policies of the Obama Administration were very supportive of renewable and energy efficiency. While he appreciated U.S. reasons for supporting the UAE to host IRENA, he noted that the GON considered Germany to be critical for Sambo's bid to be Executive Director, and would likely support Germany as the hosting country for that reason. In response to query from Sambo, Econ Couns stated that the U.S. had not yet made a decision on which candidate to support. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: Sambo clearly will be pleased if the U.S. joins IRENA and stated his interest in speaking again in the runup to the June 28-30 preparatory meeting. ¶3. (U) This cable has been cleared by Consulate Lagos. SANDERS