SECURITY CHIEF CONTINUES SUPPORT FOR MEGAPORTS IN DJIBOUTI

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000137 SENSITIVE SENSITIVE SBU DELIBERATIVE PROCESS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019-02-19 TAGS: ECON ENRG EWWT MNUC PINS PINR DJ SUBJECT: SECURITY CHIEF CONTINUES SUPPORT FOR MEGAPORTS IN DJIBOUTI REF: a) 08DJIBOUTI925 CLASSIFIED BY: E. Wong, CDA; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (SBU) Following the December 11 signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the GODJ, Djibouti is on track to be the first African port to participate in the DOE's "Megaports Initiative," which aims to detect and deter the illegal transport of special nuclear material through Djibouti's port (reftel). During a February 15-19 site survey in Djibouti, a DOE Megaports team began gathering information on how the Megaports equipment and systems will be installed at Djibouti's brand-new Doraleh Container Terminal. EmbOffs and DOE Megaports team members met both with GODJ officials, and with Dubai Ports World personnel responsible for the operation of the port. The Megaports Initiative has a projected implementation time frame of 18 months. ¶2. (C) CDA, Megaports team leader, and PolOff met February 18 with National Security Service (NSS) Director Hassan Said Khaireh. Although the MOU was signed by the Ministries of Transport and Foreign Affairs on behalf of the GODJ, Khaireh and his staff had been briefed on the program during the initial negotiation stages, and had indicated full support for the initiative. On this visit, Khaireh again expressed his support for the Megaports project, and confirmed that he would like a "mirror station" installed in his offices so that national security personnel can oversee the administration of the system, and be informed of any alarms indicating the possible presence of illegal special nuclear material. Megaports team leader reiterated that DOE was able and ready to install such a terminal. WONG To view the entire SMART message, go to URL http://repository.state.sgov.gov/_layouts/OSS SearchResults.aspx?k=messageid:bb1f2a4f-c72f- 41d5-a974-7620f1a0feda