TURKMENISTAN: PROSPECTS FOR ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001676 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN; EEB; ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/BURPOE/COHEN COMMERCE FOR EHOUSE/DSTARKS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TRGY ENRG PGOV EINV TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: PROSPECTS FOR ALTERNATIVE ENERGY ASHGABAT 00001676 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Although Turkmenistan possesses substantial hydrocarbon resources, the Turkmen Government has recently started paying more attention to alternative energy sources. President Berdimuhamedov has on numerous occasions stated that Turkmenistan should develop its alternative energy potential. Solar and wind energy are considered to be the most promising sectors in alternative energy development in Turkmenistan, which has a continental climate and about 300 sunny days a year. The Turkmen Solar Scientific Research Institute, or the GUN Institute, which means sun in Turkmen, has the lead in developing solar energy in the country. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) Because of Turkmenistan's desert climate, all regions in the country could develop solar energy, whereas wind energy could be produced only in the country's western region. According to a former Ministry of Energy official, it would be possible to provide for Turkmenistan's entire domestic electricity needs, which reached 13 billion kilowatt- hours in 2009, with one solar power station that would cover less than 100 square kilometers of land. ¶4. (SBU) Serious research in the area of alternative energy started in the mid-80s when the Gun Institute was established. At the time it was the only institute researching solar energy in the former Soviet Union. During the 80s and early 90s, the Institute developed such technologies as a solar facility for drying fruits and vegetables, solar water distillers, devices for disinfection of water with ultraviolet rays, and solar water heaters capable of producing 80 liters of hot water daily. ¶5. (SBU) In a move geared towards suppressing science and education in the country, former President Niyazov lowered the status of the Institute to a research and production association in the mid 90s, significantly limiting budgetary spending on the Institute's activities and almost freezing scientific research there. This change reportedly forced many scientists to either emigrate or find jobs in other sectors. Despite lack of government support, the Institute managed to apply some of its previously developed technologies to achieve the following: two sheep-breeding complexes, which include a combined wind and diesel-driven electricity generating unit; a solar distiller for processing salty underground water; a house equipped with a solar heating system; and a wind-driven electric generator that supplies electricity to a school located at Gyzylsuw Island in the Caspian Sea. ¶6. (SBU) President Berdimuhamedov returned the Gun Institute to its previous status in 2009 and instructed the Institute to intensify scientific research in the area of alternative energy. According to a Gun Institute employee, it will take years before the Institute reaches its previous level of prestige, due to the lack of qualified personnel and the absence of adequate government funding. In order to minimize these deficiencies, the Institute launched a joint program with Bergakademie Freiberg University in Germany, aimed at training Gun Institute personnel. The Turkmen Government will also hold a conference entitled "Challenges of Using Alternative Energy Sources in Turkmenistan" February 24-25, 2010, in Ashgabat. ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: In Turkmenistan, alternative energy is unlikely to spread to areas dominated by traditional hydrocarbon-produced energy any time soon. The Turkmen Government provides hydrocarbon-produced energy to the population at heavily subsidized prices. Use of alternative energy could be economically viable in remote areas, which ASHGABAT 00001676 002.2 OF 002 currently use diesel, delivered by truck, to generate energy. At the same time, it will take government-sponsored programs and subsidies to increase alterative energy technologies, as well as open government support for such programs. END COMMENT. CURRAN