TURKMENISTAN: OIL AND GAS SECTOR OFFICIALS SHOW

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000564 SENSITIVE SIPDIS SCA/CEN; EEB PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON/BURPOE/COHEN COMMERCE FOR HUEPER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL EPET TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: OIL AND GAS SECTOR OFFICIALS SHOW UNQUESTIONED INTEREST TO U.S. DOE PIPELINE SEMINAR ASHGABAT 00000564 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) representatives met on April 30 with six top oil and gas officials to answer questions and get government commitment to a two-day seminar on pipeline management. The appearance of the six officials in one meeting and their confirmation that they and their technical experts will participate in the June seminar was a sign that the timing of this meeting -- just weeks after the fallout with Russian authorities over an April 8 pipeline explosion -- was perfect. DOE has clearly gotten their foot in the door at the right time, and Turkmen officials appear ready and willing to initiate a relationship with DOE to help the oil and gas sector with its human capacity issues. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) representatives met with senior officials in Turkmenistan's oil and gas sector on April 30. Although the representatives sought separate meetings with the five relevant oil and gas agencies/ministries to gauge interest in and get commitment to a proposed June 2009 two-day seminar on pipeline management, the Turkmen Government organized a single meeting. Ministry of Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral Resources, Annaguly Deryayev, presided over the meeting, which also included State Agency for the Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources Director, Yagshygeldy Kakayev, Turkmen Gas State Concern Director, Baymurat Hojamuhammedov, Ministry of Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral Resources Deputy Minister, Bayramgeldy Nedirov, Turkmen Oil State Concern Director, Orazdurdy Hajymuradov, and Turkmen State Oil and Gas Construction Concern Director, Atamurat Durdyev. ¶3. (SBU) The DOE representatives reiterated for the group the goals and parameters of the workshop, the details of which had been delivered under diplomatic note in mid-March. They also reiterated a request that a senior Turkmen government official deliver opening remarks at the beginning of the seminar. Oil and Gas Minister Deryayev led the Turkmen side, and confirmed that technical experts from the agencies represented at the meeting would be attending the seminar. He could not confirm who would deliver the opening remarks, but assessed that it would probably be Deputy Minister for Oil and Gas Nedirov. The Turkmen side would notify the U.S. side formally, Deryayev said. ¶4. (SBU) Deryayev asked what other technical training programs were being planned, and indicated that there would be interest in more detailed training opportunities from the DOE. DOE representatives indicated that if the Turkmenistan Government has specific areas where they would like DOE training opportunities to focus upon, a training program could be organized to help. The Turkmen side did not raise any specific areas of need, but indicated it was receptive to further DOE training proposals. Deryayev said the government would notify the U.S. Embassy if there were any questions about the June seminar or other DOE proposals. The DOE representatives also provided Turkmen officials with information on a new program entitled "Methane to Market," a joint DOE-EPA program that teaches national methane reduction strategies and benefit domestically and internationally from cleaner, more efficient energy usage. ¶5. (SBU) COMMENT: Although the meeting was short, it was clear that the Turkmen officials had either determined that this was a valuable opportunity or had been directed to take up the DOE on its seminar offer. Although there were no questions about the content of the seminar, there did not appear to be any doubt that it would be a useful experience, and there was much private chatter among the officials ASHGABAT 00000564 002.2 OF 002 regarding who would speak at the seminar. DOE has clearly gotten their foot in the door at the right time, and Turkmen officials appear ready and willing to initiate a relationship with DOE to help the oil and gas sector with its human capacity issues. Presuming that the June seminar goes well, DOE will certainly have the opportunity to develop further programs of benefit to the Turkmen Government. END COMMENT. MILES