Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT1598
2009-12-10 13:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN HOLDS ELECTRIC POWER EXHIBITION
how-toVZCZCXRO2569 PP RUEHIK DE RUEHAH #1598 3441317 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 101317Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3889 INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5987 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3681 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3540 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 4229 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1306 RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 4168 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001598
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; EEB; NEA/IR
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/BURPOE/COHEN
COMMERCE FOR EHOUSE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG PGOV EINV EIND BEXP BTIO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN HOLDS ELECTRIC POWER EXHIBITION
REF: A) ASHGABAT 1592; B) ASHGABAT 1591
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001598
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; EEB; NEA/IR
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/BURPOE/COHEN
COMMERCE FOR EHOUSE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG PGOV EINV EIND BEXP BTIO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN HOLDS ELECTRIC POWER EXHIBITION
REF: A) ASHGABAT 1592; B) ASHGABAT 1591
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) On December 7-8, the Turkmenistan Ministry of Energy
and Industry, Academy of Sciences, and Chamber of Commerce and
Industry hosted the Second Annual International Electricity
Industry Exhibition. The exhibition included local and
foreign power generation equipment and electricity
transmission systems vendors. The exhibition started with an
elaborate opening ceremony attended by the Cabinet of
Ministers, with remarks from President Berdimuhamedov read by
Deputy Chairmen for Energy and Industry Deryageldi Orazov.
3. (SBU) Most of the local exhibitors represented state-owned
companies involved in electricity production, distribution,
and services for transmission anddistribution lines.
Participation in the exhibition was reportedly obligatory for
state companies. Products exhibited by local private firms
were mostly limited to street lighting equipment and electric
motors. Although the spectrum of products exhibited by local
private firms was quite limited, the existence of private,
Turkmen companies that produce electric equipment is a
positive development in the country.
4. (SBU) The exhibition attracted 52 foreign companies from
18 countries, including the U.S., Japan, Germany, France,
Austria, Belgium, Finland, Turkey, Iran, China, Kazakhstan,
Uzbekistan, Ukraine, and Belarus, with Russian participation
dominating the exhibition. Two U.S. companies, General
Electric and New Jersey-based Belam, participated in the
exhibition. GE has been present in the Turkmen energy
industry market since 2002, supplying gas turbines with the
total capacity of 1,000 MW and other equipment for Turkmen
power plants (ref B). For Belam, it was the company's first
attempt at pursuing contracts in Turkmenistan (ref A).
5. (SBU) Besides large companies producing sophisticated
equipment for power plants, there were many smaller companies
that produce electricity distribution, transmission, and
control devices and appliances for commercial and residential
buildings. For such types of companies, the exhibition was a
good opportunity to showcase their products to local and
foreign construction companies operating in Turkmenistan.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: The exhibition is unlikely to make a
serious economic impact and trigger new contracts and projects
within Turkmenistan's electricity sector. Although the
exhibition attracted participation by several large foreign
companies, in general, it was one of the routine exhibitions
that the ministries supervising key sectors of the national
economy are obliged to arrange. The real objective of such
events seems to be maintaining the impression of an open
market and booming economy, rather than creating necessary
conditions for introducing new technologies and concluding new
business deals. END COMMENT.
CURRAN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; EEB; NEA/IR
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/BURPOE/COHEN
COMMERCE FOR EHOUSE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG PGOV EINV EIND BEXP BTIO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN HOLDS ELECTRIC POWER EXHIBITION
REF: A) ASHGABAT 1592; B) ASHGABAT 1591
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) On December 7-8, the Turkmenistan Ministry of Energy
and Industry, Academy of Sciences, and Chamber of Commerce and
Industry hosted the Second Annual International Electricity
Industry Exhibition. The exhibition included local and
foreign power generation equipment and electricity
transmission systems vendors. The exhibition started with an
elaborate opening ceremony attended by the Cabinet of
Ministers, with remarks from President Berdimuhamedov read by
Deputy Chairmen for Energy and Industry Deryageldi Orazov.
3. (SBU) Most of the local exhibitors represented state-owned
companies involved in electricity production, distribution,
and services for transmission anddistribution lines.
Participation in the exhibition was reportedly obligatory for
state companies. Products exhibited by local private firms
were mostly limited to street lighting equipment and electric
motors. Although the spectrum of products exhibited by local
private firms was quite limited, the existence of private,
Turkmen companies that produce electric equipment is a
positive development in the country.
4. (SBU) The exhibition attracted 52 foreign companies from
18 countries, including the U.S., Japan, Germany, France,
Austria, Belgium, Finland, Turkey, Iran, China, Kazakhstan,
Uzbekistan, Ukraine, and Belarus, with Russian participation
dominating the exhibition. Two U.S. companies, General
Electric and New Jersey-based Belam, participated in the
exhibition. GE has been present in the Turkmen energy
industry market since 2002, supplying gas turbines with the
total capacity of 1,000 MW and other equipment for Turkmen
power plants (ref B). For Belam, it was the company's first
attempt at pursuing contracts in Turkmenistan (ref A).
5. (SBU) Besides large companies producing sophisticated
equipment for power plants, there were many smaller companies
that produce electricity distribution, transmission, and
control devices and appliances for commercial and residential
buildings. For such types of companies, the exhibition was a
good opportunity to showcase their products to local and
foreign construction companies operating in Turkmenistan.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: The exhibition is unlikely to make a
serious economic impact and trigger new contracts and projects
within Turkmenistan's electricity sector. Although the
exhibition attracted participation by several large foreign
companies, in general, it was one of the routine exhibitions
that the ministries supervising key sectors of the national
economy are obliged to arrange. The real objective of such
events seems to be maintaining the impression of an open
market and booming economy, rather than creating necessary
conditions for introducing new technologies and concluding new
business deals. END COMMENT.
CURRAN