Cablegate: Iraq Gas Working Group in Ankara January 11

VZCZCXRO7895
RR RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHAK #6690 3521543
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181543Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0829
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0339
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 7669
RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 1435
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI 3080
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 1445
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1818
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC

UNCLAS ANKARA 006690

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

USDOC FOR 4212/ITA/MAC/CPD/CRUSNAK
DOE FOR CHARLES WASHINGTON
EUR ALSO FOR MATT BRYZA
S/P FOR STEVE HELLMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG EPET PREL TU IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQ GAS WORKING GROUP IN ANKARA JANUARY 11

REF: A. ANKARA 6492
B. ANKARA 6396
C. ANKARA 5896
D. YOUNG-BOYNTON-AMITRANO-TREIBER-CATIPON E-MAILS

1. This is an action cable. See paragraph 2.

2. Summary: We have reconfirmed the date of January 11 for
launching the Iraq gas working group in Ankara. Please
forward as soon as possible the list of USG participants from
Washington and Baghdad. We would appreciate Embassy
Baghdad's assistance in identifying appropriate Government of
Iraq participants. The main objective of the working group
will be start dialogue on geology, politics, planning, and
legislation on Iraqi gas development, including potential for
export via Turkey. The meetings will be chaired by Energy
Undersecretary Sami Demirbilek, but we expect Minister Guler
would make a statement. End Summary.

3. Background: The idea of this working group came from a
long-standing request from Energy Minister Guler to USG
officials to consider Iraq potential as a supplementary
source of gas, along with Caspian sources, for transit to
Europe or other markets. Ambassador and DAS Bryza agreed to
recommend launching a trilateral Iraqi gas working group to
start long time frame discussions, cognizant that hydrocarbon
legislation was in play. The GOT is eager to build on work
done by some Turkish companies in northern Iraq in
pre-sanctions time and also is interested in egress of
potential gas via Turkey either for transit to Europe or
possible processing at Ceyhan.

4. Draft Agenda:
A. Resources
-Iraq experts
-USG experts
-Earlier work by Turkish companies - TPAO and BOTAS
B. Development Plans
-Iraqi national policy and outlook for hydrocarbon law
-Development of new gas fields
-Capture of flared gas
-Domestic consumption versus export
-USG role
C. Export potential - Egress via Turkey
-Turkish plans for regional pipelines and transit
-Turkish domestic grid and potential connection
-Development of Ceyhan for processing
D. Next Steps

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

WILSON

© Scoop Media