PORTUGAL SUPPORTS THE INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE

UNCLAS LISBON 000032 SIPDIS STATE DEPARTMENT FOR EEB/ESC:DMONOSSON, OES/EGC:GTHOMPSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KGHG SENV ENRG PGOV EUN GM PO SUBJECT: PORTUGAL SUPPORTS THE INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY REF: 08 STATE 134385 ¶1. (U) Portugal plans to sign on as a founding member of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) at its launch in Bonn on January 26 and 27. Portugal's delegation will include Jose Manuel Perdigoto, head of the Directorate of Energy and Geology (DGEG),DGEG deputy Bento Morais Sarmento, and Christina Muniz of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ¶2. (U) Muniz said renewable energy is key to Portugal's economic development plans and Economy Minister Pinho, who leads GOP energy policy, was convinced Portugal must participate, despite IRENA's overlap with the International Energy Agency. Portugal would have preferred there be more definition of member cooperation in the new agency, but with the founding meeting scheduled in January the GOP determined it is critical to participate in the important discussions at the organization's launch. STEPHENSON