KUWAIT NSB RESPONDS FAVORABLY TO ENERGY

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000032 SIPDIS S/CT FOR AVERILL E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2019 TAGS: PTER ENRG ASEC PGOV PINS PREL ECON KCIP KU SUBJECT: KUWAIT NSB RESPONDS FAVORABLY TO ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE DRAFT MOU REF: SECSTATE 126863 Classified By: Economic Counselor Oliver John for reasons 1.4(b) and (d ). ¶1. (C) Kuwait National Security Bureau(NSB) Vice President Shaykh Thamer Ali Sabah Al-Salem Al Sabah told Econoffs on January 12 that Kuwait remained very interested in signing an MOU establishing a joint working group to improve protection of Kuwait's energy infrastructure. Thamer said the agreement would be of great benefit to Kuwait and the U.S. Referring positively to two earlier U.S. assessment missions to Kuwait which issued recommendations on how the GoK should improve its energy infrastructure defenses against possible terrorist attacks, Thamer said the GoK had implemented most of the recommendations of the two assessments. (Note: Thamer appeared unaffected when informed that Kuwait would have to pay for all costs incurred by the USG under the MOU. It is not clear that, as number two in the NSB, Thamer has the authority to agree to commit to the payment term of the MOU. End note.) ¶2. (C) Thamer said the GoK had established a committee to oversee the strengthening of Kuwait's energy infrastructure. He said that many of the remaining recommendations from the earlier two assessments concerned the need for improved coordination between the multiple ministries involved in energy infrastructure security. By way of example, he said that 12 different ministries have roles in the operations of Shuaiba refinery. He noted that the committee, which he chaired, was empowered to direct any of these ministries to take necessary actions to improve energy infrastructure security. ¶3. (C) Thamer said that the GoK intended to send a letter to the USG formally requesting another energy infrastructure protection assessment. Thamer said the NSB would review the draft MOU and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would convey the GoK's response. ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * JONES