Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT564
2009-05-04 12:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: OIL AND GAS SECTOR OFFICIALS SHOW
how-toVZCZCXRO7096 PP RUEHNEH DE RUEHAH #0564/01 1241209 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 041209Z MAY 09 ZDF FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2761 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 5154 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 2898 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2763 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 3398 RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
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
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
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