Wikileaks - CMLXIX

142791 2/25/2008 7:00 08BUCHAREST143 Embassy Bucharest UNCLASSIFIED 08STATE10743 VZCZCXRO6040 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHBM #0143 0560700 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 250700Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7948 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000143

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR - AJENSEN, EEB/ESC/IEC - GGRIFFEN

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG, SENV, APER, ABUD, RO SUBJECT: ROMANIA/ENERGY: INPUT FOR REQUIRED REPORTS TO CONGRESS

REF: STATE 10743

1. The following is Embassy Bucharest's response to reftel, which requests input for two new reports to Congress on aspects of the Department's work on energy-related matters. Responses to questions A, B, C and D of reftel follow:

2. QUESTION A: The Economic Section is responsible for energy matters. The Economic Section is composed of three Foreign Service Officers, one Eligible Family Member Office Management Specialist and three Locally Employed Staff (LES).

3. QUESTION B: In addition to the Front Office, Embassy personnel devote the following percentage of their time to energy issues:

-- Economic Section Chief: 35% -- Deputy Economic Section Chief: 65% -- Economic Officer: 20% -- LES Economic Specialist: 70% -- LES Economic Specialist: 15% -- Economic OMS: 5%

3. QUESTION C: The following narratives describe Economic Section engagement on energy issues:

-- The Economic Section Chief engages senior level host country officials on domestic and regional energy policy, advancing USG efforts to promote regional energy diversity. These efforts include promoting the Nabucco Gas Pipeline Project, a potential LNG terminal project, alternative energy production, etc. The Economic Section Chief coordinates efforts of other USG entities not represented at post, such as USTDA, to advance USG policy and commercial interests. The Economic Section Chief maintains a high-level dialogue with commercial entities present on the Romanian energy market and advances USG energy policy in public fora and through the press.

-- The Deputy Economic Section Chief is Post's primary energy officer. The officer reports all developments in the Romanian energy sector, with the exception of alternative energy, and maintains contacts with energy-related government and private sector officials. Areas of primary focus include the oil and gas, electricity and nuclear energy sectors. The officer also advocates on behalf of US companies active in the energy sector and coordinates efforts of USG entities not represented at Post, including the Department of Energy's nuclear fuel return programs.

-- The Rotational Economic Officer is Post's Environment, Science and Technology officer and has primary responsibility for climate change and alternative energy.

-- The LES Economic Specialist researches, analyzes and prepares reports on the oil, gas, coal and electricity sectors, as well as the alternative energy sector. The Specialist closely follows and reports developments related to oil and gas projects in Romania, including the Nabucco Gas Pipeline, the Pan European Oil Pipeline, and a proposed LNG terminal at the Port of Constanta. The Specialist follows Romania's energy policies, market operations, the impact of EU's directives and regulations on the Romanian energy sector, and Romania's interaction with oil and gas producing countries including Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. The Specialist translates and analyzes legislation affecting the Romanian energy sector. The Specialist facilitates meetings with the Romanian government, frequently serving as interpreter for visiting USG officials and businessmen.

-- The LES Economic Specialist researches, analyzes and prepares reports on climate change and nuclear energy. The Specialist closely follows the expansion of Romania's nuclear energy program, including the proposed construction of two additional nuclear reactors. The Specialist translates and analyzes legislation affecting Romanian climate change policy and the nuclear energy sector. The Specialist facilitates meetings with the Romanian government, frequently serving as interpreter for visiting USG officials and businessmen.

4. Question D: Post expenditure on energy-related activities in 2007 were:

-- Personnel: $143,090 -- Programs: $ 2,686

5. For additional information, please contact Deputy Economic Section Chief Ben Rockwell at rockwellba@state.gov.

TAUBMAN