URUGUAY IS ENERGIZED BY PRESIDENT OBAMA'S ENERGY

UNCLAS MONTEVIDEO 000210

SIPDIS

WHA/BSC FOR DASCHBACH
WHA/EPSC FOR FAITH CORNEILLE AND FRANCES COLON
STATE ALSO PASS TO DOE - LINDSEY EINSTEIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ENRG KSUM SENV KGHG UY
SUBJECT: URUGUAY IS ENERGIZED BY PRESIDENT OBAMA'S ENERGY
CLIMATE PARTNERSHIP OF THE AMERICAS

REF: STATE 34126


1. Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Industry and Energy
Officials welcomed reftel points previewing President
Obama,s invitation to join an Economic and Climate
Partnership of the Americas. Econoff met with the Director
General for International Economic Affairs at the MFA,
Ambassador Ricardo Nario, and the Acting Director of Energy
Pablo Mosto on April 15. Nario praised the initiative and
said that in principle Uruguay was interested in all of the
proposed working groups, adding that the Ministry of Industry
and Energy would debate how Uruguay would engage in the
partnership. He praised President Obama for &looking to the
South8 on an issue of fundamental importance to the region,
adding that the voluntary and flexible framework envisioned
would strengthen the initiative.


2. Mosto also welcomed the initiative and highlighted
Uruguayan interest in energy efficiency, renewable energy and
energy poverty issues. NOTE: The GOU specifically sought to
include energy efficiency in the Alternative Energy MOU
signed by A/S Shannon and FM Fernandez in September. END
NOTE. Mosto commented that there were innumerable areas for
discussion within each topic, and agreed that Uruguay could
play an early role in helping shape the conversations.


3. The GOU does not have representatives from the Ministry of
Industry and Energy in its delegation participating in the
Summit, but Mosto agreed that it would be important for the
GOU to be represented at the Americas Energy Symposium in
Lima.
Schandlbauer