GEORGIA: CI/KR RESPONSE FOR S/CT

UNCLAS TBILISI 000508 C O R R E C T E D COPY (CLASS MARKING) SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR S/CT - SHARRI R. CLARK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PGOV ASEC EFIN ENRG KCIP SUBJECT: GEORGIA: CI/KR RESPONSE FOR S/CT REF: SECSTATE 15113 ¶1. (SBU) Based on Reftel action request, Embassy held a meeting with relevant mission sections to discuss the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) and any critical infrastructure and key resources (CI/KR) in Georgia whose loss could impact U.S. homeland security. Noting the inclusion on the list from 2008 of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline (BTC),the discussion began with a review of the continued placement of the BTC pipeline on the list. Given that the pipeline transports approximately 1 million barrels of oil per day, with 10 million barrels inside the pipeline at any given time, disruption to the pipeline would have serious ramifications on the global energy market and resource availability to the homeland. The pipeline also provides a ready source of energy to western markets that does not pass through Russian hands. In addition, the South Caucasus Pipeline, or Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum Pipeline (BTE), carries natural gas in a 42 inch diameter pipeline along the same corridor as the BTC. The pipeline carries up to 7 billion cubic meters of gas, and was built in the same corridor to minimize environmental impact. Post believes that the placement of this pipeline along the same line further increases the importance of BTC for the global economy, as any disruption of BTC could also very likely impact BTE. ¶2. (SBU) For these reasons, post believes that the BTC pipeline should remain on the 2009 CI/KR list for Georgia. There were no additional items for inclusion to the list. TEFFT