Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BANGKOK1382
2009-06-09 07:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
THAI ENERGY PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE U.S.
how-toVZCZCXRO3913 RR RUEHCHI RUEHFK RUEHHM RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHPB DE RUEHBK #1382 1600733 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 090733Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7232 INFO RUEHZU/ASIAN PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION
UNCLAS BANGKOK 001382
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/EP LHAWLEY
STATE PASS TO EPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECIN ECON ENRG APECO ENRG TH
SUBJECT: THAI ENERGY PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE U.S.
Sensitive But Unclassified. For Official Use Only.
REF: A) STATE 52444
UNCLAS BANGKOK 001382
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/EP LHAWLEY
STATE PASS TO EPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECIN ECON ENRG APECO ENRG TH
SUBJECT: THAI ENERGY PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE U.S.
Sensitive But Unclassified. For Official Use Only.
REF: A) STATE 52444
1. (U) In response to ref A, post has compiled a list of energy
partnerships between the Royal Thai Government (RTG) and the USG or
entities in the U.S. private sector.
USAID partnerships
--------------
2. (SBU) USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID RDMA)
oversees the Environmental Cooperation-Asia (ECO-Asian) Clean
Development and Climate Program (CDCP). CDCP is a USD 10 million
regional cooperative program involving China, India, Indonesia,
Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. The program began in October
2006, is scheduled through September 2009, and is planned for
extension. The CDCP program works to catalyze policy and financial
solutions for clean energy in Asia's largest developing economies
through targeted assistance, training, regional cooperation, and
knowledge sharing. CDCP works with governments and industry in the
following areas: saving energy through efficient lighting; improving
coal-fired power plant efficiency through the adoption of regional
and global best practices; increasing access to financing for clean
energy (including renewable energy and energy efficiency projects
and businesses); research on priorities for promoting responsible
and sustainable biofuels production; and building regional
cooperation and knowledge-sharing on clean energy.
3. (SBU) In addition, USAID RDMA operates energy initiatives
involving China from their regional office in Bangkok, Thailand.
IEA partnerships
--------------
4. (SBU) The RTG and USG participate in the International Energy
Agency Implementing Agreement on Advanced Motor Fuel (IEA-AMF).
Other participating countries include Austria, Canada, China,
Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Thailand, and the United Kingdom. IEA-AMF seeks to develop motor
fuel alternatives. Budget data for individual projects is not
available at this time.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Partnership
--------------
5. (SBU) USEPA is an active participant in the Methane to Markets
International Partnership (M2M) with respect to Thailand, which is a
partner. The program centers on converting swine excrement methane
to power generation. World Bank is funding costs, but USEPA
personnel furnish the expertise. The project name is "Development
Assistance to Reduce Methane from Swine Farms in Thailand," and has
locations in Chonburi and Ratchaburi province. The RTG implementing
agency is the
Livestock Environmental Development Division (LED) in the Ministry
of Agriculture. The project reduces methane emissions (greenhouse
gas); creates renewable energy for electricity, revenue and
fertilizer production; and seeks a reduction of nuisance odor.
Thailand has numerous large scale swine farms in which the excrement
is dumped in open lagoons or reservoirs. This is a pilot project of
twelve farms, with a total of 200,000 swine. USEPA hopes the system
will be replicated on a large scale. USEPA expertise is partnered
with small-scale General Electric generators to generate electricity
from methane gas trapped from the lagoons. USEPA is interested in
ultimately expanding the program to Laos. Partners in the project
are LED private sector Thai consultants, the farmers involved, and
the Global Environment Facility (GEF). (Note: GEF is a global
partnership of 178 countries, international institutions,
non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. GEF focuses
on global environmental issues.)
APEC Energy Working Group
--------------
6. (SBU) The Thai government is also a member of the APEC Energy
Working Group that addresses a wide-range of energy issues,
including renewable energy, biofuels, and the development of
hi-efficiency products.
Private partnerships
--------------
6. (SBU) Post is not aware of private partnerships between U.S. and
Thai companies. However, we will work with the American Chamber of
Commerce and the Foreign Commercial Service to identify such
partnerships. Post will report on results, if any, in septel.
ENTWISTLE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/EP LHAWLEY
STATE PASS TO EPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECIN ECON ENRG APECO ENRG TH
SUBJECT: THAI ENERGY PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE U.S.
Sensitive But Unclassified. For Official Use Only.
REF: A) STATE 52444
1. (U) In response to ref A, post has compiled a list of energy
partnerships between the Royal Thai Government (RTG) and the USG or
entities in the U.S. private sector.
USAID partnerships
--------------
2. (SBU) USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID RDMA)
oversees the Environmental Cooperation-Asia (ECO-Asian) Clean
Development and Climate Program (CDCP). CDCP is a USD 10 million
regional cooperative program involving China, India, Indonesia,
Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. The program began in October
2006, is scheduled through September 2009, and is planned for
extension. The CDCP program works to catalyze policy and financial
solutions for clean energy in Asia's largest developing economies
through targeted assistance, training, regional cooperation, and
knowledge sharing. CDCP works with governments and industry in the
following areas: saving energy through efficient lighting; improving
coal-fired power plant efficiency through the adoption of regional
and global best practices; increasing access to financing for clean
energy (including renewable energy and energy efficiency projects
and businesses); research on priorities for promoting responsible
and sustainable biofuels production; and building regional
cooperation and knowledge-sharing on clean energy.
3. (SBU) In addition, USAID RDMA operates energy initiatives
involving China from their regional office in Bangkok, Thailand.
IEA partnerships
--------------
4. (SBU) The RTG and USG participate in the International Energy
Agency Implementing Agreement on Advanced Motor Fuel (IEA-AMF).
Other participating countries include Austria, Canada, China,
Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Thailand, and the United Kingdom. IEA-AMF seeks to develop motor
fuel alternatives. Budget data for individual projects is not
available at this time.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Partnership
--------------
5. (SBU) USEPA is an active participant in the Methane to Markets
International Partnership (M2M) with respect to Thailand, which is a
partner. The program centers on converting swine excrement methane
to power generation. World Bank is funding costs, but USEPA
personnel furnish the expertise. The project name is "Development
Assistance to Reduce Methane from Swine Farms in Thailand," and has
locations in Chonburi and Ratchaburi province. The RTG implementing
agency is the
Livestock Environmental Development Division (LED) in the Ministry
of Agriculture. The project reduces methane emissions (greenhouse
gas); creates renewable energy for electricity, revenue and
fertilizer production; and seeks a reduction of nuisance odor.
Thailand has numerous large scale swine farms in which the excrement
is dumped in open lagoons or reservoirs. This is a pilot project of
twelve farms, with a total of 200,000 swine. USEPA hopes the system
will be replicated on a large scale. USEPA expertise is partnered
with small-scale General Electric generators to generate electricity
from methane gas trapped from the lagoons. USEPA is interested in
ultimately expanding the program to Laos. Partners in the project
are LED private sector Thai consultants, the farmers involved, and
the Global Environment Facility (GEF). (Note: GEF is a global
partnership of 178 countries, international institutions,
non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. GEF focuses
on global environmental issues.)
APEC Energy Working Group
--------------
6. (SBU) The Thai government is also a member of the APEC Energy
Working Group that addresses a wide-range of energy issues,
including renewable energy, biofuels, and the development of
hi-efficiency products.
Private partnerships
--------------
6. (SBU) Post is not aware of private partnerships between U.S. and
Thai companies. However, we will work with the American Chamber of
Commerce and the Foreign Commercial Service to identify such
partnerships. Post will report on results, if any, in septel.
ENTWISTLE