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Cablegate: Brazil: Sao Paulo Input for New Energy Report

Published: Thu 14 Feb 2008 05:46 PM
VZCZCXRO8599
RR RUEHRG
DE RUEHSO #0065 0451746
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141746Z FEB 08
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7905
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 9056
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 3998
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 8580
UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000065
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/BSC, EEB/ESC/IEC FOR GLEN GRIFFIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ENRG BR
SUBJECT: BRAZIL: SAO PAULO INPUT FOR NEW ENERGY REPORT
REF: SECSTATE 10743
1. (U) Post sends this cable in response to reftel request for
energy-related activities at post. The information below
corresponds to the format requested in reftel.
--A. Energy Work: The Political-Economic Section of Consulate
General Sao Paulo has two economic officers that share coverage of
the energy portfolio. In addition to Department coverage, the
Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agriculture Service has the lead
on biofuels and has one officer and two FSNs that follow biofuels
issues as related to agriculture production. The Department of
Commerce also has three FCS officers and one FSN covering the energy
portfolio.
-- B. The time spent on energy and energy-related issues is
distributed as follows: 1 FS-04 Economic Officer, 40 percent; 1
FS-02 Pol-Econ Section Chief, 10 percent. Foreign Commercial
Service: 3 Commercial Officers: 5 percent each in a supervisory
capacity; 1 Commercial Specialist, 30 percent. Foreign Agricultural
Service: 1 Officer, 10 percent; 2 FSNs, 20 percent each.
-- C. Descriptions: FSO Economic Officer: contact with oil and
natural gas companies, electricity generators and distributors,
trade and industry associations of electricity users, and ethanol
producers groups. Attends meetings on energy dialogues and
conferences. Reports on oil discoveries, natural gas constraints,
energy infrastructure, company updates and opinions, electricity
situation. Econoff has previous professional experience within the
sector in Latin America and has completed coursework at the
University of Texas Petroleum Extension Service.
---Pol-Econ Chief: contact with oil and natural gas companies,
electricity generators and distributors, trade and industry
associations of electricity users, and ethanol producers groups.
Attends meetings on energy dialogues and coordinates biofuels
conferences. Pol-Econ Chief covered various aspects of energy while
serving in Mozambique and most recently as ESTH Hub Officer for
South America.
---1 FCS Officer supervises FSN who follows energy equipment sales
for the Sao Paulo area; 2 FCS officers supervise all of Brazil's
energy issues, including Consulate Rio de Janeiro's contact with
U.S. companies, reporting on energy issues, etc.
---1 FAS officer and 2 FSNs: monitor production, supply, and use of
ethanol focused on ramifications for production of sugar cane and
other major crops. Contact with industry associations. All FAS
personnel hold degrees in agriculture economics.
--D. Funding: U.S. Embassy Brasilia directly funds energy programs
and Consulate General Sao Paulo does not independently fund such
events. Post estimates for FY2007 personnel costs for 2 Department
of State FSOs working on energy issues part time of approximately
USD 31,048 in salary.
2. (U) Post's POC for this activity is Economic Officer Sara
Ainsworth, 55.11.5186.7243, email: AinsworthSJ@state.gov.
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