

Currently released so far... 6230 / 251,287
Articles
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Amsterdam
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Browse by tag
ASEC
AF
AE
AR
AORC
AJ
AU
AM
ABLD
AL
AMGT
ASUP
AFIN
APER
ABUD
AVERY
APCS
AEMR
ADCO
APECO
ASIG
AG
AA
AS
AFFAIRS
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AMED
AO
ACOA
AX
AROC
ATFN
ASEAN
AFGHANISTAN
AFU
AER
ALOW
AODE
ATRN
AID
AC
AGMT
CH
CO
CS
CE
CU
CLINTON
CG
CVIS
CMGT
CI
CJAN
CF
COM
CASC
CA
CBW
CM
CDG
CR
COUNTER
CD
CWC
CKGR
CN
CPAS
CJUS
CV
CONS
CT
CY
COUNTERTERRORISM
CIA
CACM
CDB
CAN
COE
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CACS
CONDOLEEZZA
CARSON
CL
CIS
CODEL
CTM
CB
ECON
EFIN
EAIR
EUN
EINV
ENRG
EG
ETRD
EPET
ETTC
ELAB
EU
ER
ET
EAGR
ECPS
ECIN
ELTN
EAID
EMIN
EWWT
EFIS
EIND
EC
ES
EN
EI
ENVR
ENGR
ENIV
EUNCH
ENVI
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ELN
EZ
EXTERNAL
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EINT
EUR
ECINECONCS
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EK
ELECTIONS
ECUN
EINVEFIN
ECIP
EINDETRD
EUC
EREL
ECA
ENERG
ENGY
ETRO
EFTA
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
ECONEFIN
EINVETC
EINN
ESA
ETC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ESENV
ETRDECONWTOCS
IN
IC
IR
IZ
IS
IAEA
IT
ICTY
IO
IA
IWC
ID
ICRC
ILC
INTELSAT
IMO
ISRAELI
IACI
ILO
ITRA
IBRD
IMF
ICJ
ICAO
ITALY
ITALIAN
IRAQI
INTERPOL
IV
IQ
IPR
INRB
ITPHUM
IIP
IL
INR
ITPGOV
IZPREL
IRC
INRA
INRO
IRAJ
IEFIN
IF
KDEM
KCRM
KJUS
KTIA
KWBG
KPAL
KIPR
KTIP
KE
KNNP
KGHG
KICC
KV
KTFN
KU
KCFE
KDRG
KWMN
KSCA
KGIC
KCOR
KFRD
KPKO
KSUM
KPRP
KPAO
KBCT
KIRF
KCFC
KISL
KREC
KSPR
KHIV
KBIO
KMCA
KMPI
KFLU
KSTH
KBTR
KS
KOMC
KOMS
KSEP
KPRV
KFLO
KHLS
KN
KWWMN
KUNR
KLIG
KSTC
KZ
KG
KRAD
KOLY
KTBT
KTDB
KOCI
KAWK
KCIP
KNPP
KWAC
KMDR
KAWC
KIDE
KSAF
KX
KWMNCS
KNEI
KCRS
KVPR
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KACT
KO
KFSC
KR
KPWR
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
KFIN
KGCC
KPIN
KPLS
KIRC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KGIT
KBTS
KERG
KWMM
KRVC
KNSD
KVIR
KNUP
KTER
KDDG
KHSA
KMRS
KHDP
KTLA
KPAK
KNAR
KREL
KPAI
KTEX
KCOM
KNNPMNUC
KPOA
KRFD
KHUM
KDEV
KNUC
MOPS
MARR
MASS
MNUC
MO
MX
MCAP
ML
MTCRE
MR
MP
MY
MU
MIL
MAR
MC
MRCRE
MTRE
MA
MEPI
MV
MPOS
MD
MZ
MEPP
MOPPS
MAPP
MASC
MT
MERCOSUR
MK
MDC
MI
MAPS
MCC
MASSMNUC
MQADHAFI
MUCN
MTCR
MG
OREP
OVIP
OFDP
ODIP
OPDC
OAS
OTRA
OSCE
OECD
OIIP
OEXC
OPCW
OPIC
OPRC
OVP
OSCI
OTR
OSAC
OIC
OFFICIALS
OIE
PHUM
PREL
PGOV
PREF
PTER
PARM
PBTS
PINR
PINS
PHSA
PK
POL
PM
PINT
PE
PINF
PEL
PA
PARMS
PO
PLN
PROP
PALESTINIAN
PAO
PL
POV
PG
POLITICS
PEPR
PSI
PSOE
PU
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PBIO
PECON
PAK
POGOV
PINL
PKFK
PMIL
PY
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PRAM
PMAR
PGOVLO
PUNE
PORG
PHUMPREL
PF
POLINT
PHUS
PGOC
PNR
PGGV
PNAT
PGOVE
PRGOV
PRL
PROV
PTERE
PGOF
PHUMBA
SENV
SY
SZ
SOCI
SO
SR
SNAR
SA
SP
SW
SMIG
SU
SCUL
SC
SAN
SN
SL
SG
SYR
SEVN
SF
SI
STEINBERG
SIPRS
SH
SNARCS
SOFA
SANC
SHUM
SK
ST
TRGY
TU
TBIO
TH
TS
TSPL
TT
TPHY
TSPA
TI
TK
TIP
TERRORISM
TZ
TX
TW
TD
TP
TC
TO
TNGD
TINT
TRSY
TR
TFIN
TURKEY
UK
UNGA
UN
UNHRC
UNMIK
UNO
UZ
UNSC
UP
UG
UNHCR
UNDC
US
UNAUS
USTR
UV
UNEP
UY
UNESCO
USUN
UAE
USEU
UNDP
UNCHS
UNVIE
UNCHC
UE
UNDESCO
USAID
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09DJIBOUTI655, DJIBOUTI: MIXED PROGRESS TOWARD RENEWABLE SOLUTIONS FOR
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09DJIBOUTI655.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09DJIBOUTI655 | 2009-06-09 13:01 | 2011-01-13 05:05 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Djibouti |
VZCZCXRO4219
RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHDJ #0655/01 1601300
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 091302Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0491
INFO IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI
RUEHRK/AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK 0001
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DJIBOUTI 000655
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E AND OES
ADDIS ABABA FOR REO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG ECON PREL SENV SOCI IC ET DJ
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI: MIXED PROGRESS TOWARD RENEWABLE SOLUTIONS FOR
INCREASING ENERGY NEEDS
REF: 08 DJIBOUTI 859; 09 DJIBOUTI 337; 09 DJIBOUTI 164
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Djibouti continues to struggle with a widening
gap between electricity demand from consumers, and a constrained
supply of expensive, diesel-generated electricity provided by the
national electricity company. Realizing that improved supplies of
lower-cost energy are imperative to maintain economic momentum and
meet the basic needs of ordinary Djiboutians, the GODJ has
partnered with a variety of bilateral and corporate partners
(including at least one U.S. company) to begin developing
Djibouti's considerable renewable energy resources. Senior GODJ
energy officials recently expressed optimism about Djibouti's
future potential as an energy producer, but some frustration about
possible financing gaps and bilateral misunderstandings impacting
the largest renewable project currently on tap: a planned 50-100
megawatt Djibouti-Iceland geothermal plant at Lac Assal. END
SUMMARY.
--------------------------------------------- ----------------------
--------
SUMMER SHORTAGES CONTINUE; OVERALL DEMAND GROWS
--------------------------------------------- ----------------------
--------
¶2. (SBU) In a May 27 meeting with Ambassador, Minister of Energy
Moussa Bouh Odowa and his Secretary-General Farah Ali Ainan
stressed the urgency of finding solutions to Djibouti's current and
projected energy shortfalls. Djibouti's parastatal electricity
monopoly EDD (Electricity of Djibouti) has an installed capacity of
100 megawatts (MW), Secretary-General Ainan said. However, EDD's
realistic production capacity is much lower-closer to 47 MW. EDD
is capable of sustaining a short-term "surge" in production to
60-70 MW, but not for prolonged periods. Current summertime demand
(when Djibouti's hot season leads to greater air conditioner use
and a peak in energy demand) is now at 87 MW, leaving a significant
gap between production and consumption needs. Furthermore, Ainan
underlined, the Ministry of Energy projects that by 2010,
Djibouti's energy needs will reach 125 MW--or even higher if
Djibouti continues to attract large-scale foreign direct investment
projects.
¶3. (SBU) Before tackling these large, long-term projected needs,
Ainan said, the Ministry first needed to address Djibouti's
immediate shortfall, which he estimated at 25 MW. (NOTE. For
several weeks in late May, Djibouti City experienced multiple,
prolonged power cuts of up to 9 hours a day. EDD had announced the
unusually severe cuts in advance, after one of its main generators
failed. By the end of May, one faulty generator had reportedly
been repaired, and power supply improved throughout the city.
However, as in every summer, Djiboutians still grapple with
frequent power cuts. END NOTE.) While Djibouti had been hoping
that the planned Djibouti-Ethiopia electricity interconnection (ref
A) would be part of the solution to Djibouti's energy woes,
Minister Odowa said that recent delays in the project construction,
along with reports of drought-related power shortages in Ethiopia,
were worrisome to Djibouti.
--------------------------------------------- -------
ICELAND-DJIBOUTI GEOTHERMAL PROJECT
--------------------------------------------- -------
¶4. (SBU) In 2008, the GODJ signed several agreements with Iceland
to begin feasibility studies for Djibouti's most ambitious planned
renewable energy project to date, a projected 50-100 MW geothermal
plant at Lac Assal (ref A). During the financial crisis, Iceland
had reportedly assured Djibouti that the money set aside for the
Lac Assal project had been safely sequestered. Recently, however,
Minister Odowa said that he was not as confident that Iceland had
DJIBOUTI 00000655 002 OF 003
the full USD 25-30 million available to fund the project
feasibility phase. (NOTE. Reykjavik Energy Invest (REI) signed
agreements in 2008 with the International Finance Corporation's
InfraVentures fund, which agreed to cover 35% of the Djibouti
project's exploration costs, up to a contribution ceiling of USD 4
million. END NOTE.)
¶5. (SBU) The GODJ still remains committed to the Lac Assal project,
Minister Odowa told Regional Environmental Officer (REO) during a
June 4 meeting, and would potentially be able to finance any
funding gap for the feasibility phase from its own resources. If
this happened, Odowa said that the GODJ would then want to adjust
the terms of the Iceland-Djibouti agreements accordingly, to
reflect the GODJ's greater initial investment. Beyond questions of
finance, Odowa told Ambassador that Iceland-which currently has no
permanent representation on the ground in Djibouti-had somewhat
irritated the bilateral relationship through a few errors of
protocol and communication. Nevertheless, Odowa said that the
feasibility phase was on track to begin this autumn, with Reykjavik
Energy Invest (REI) working "this week" on the bidding process for
companies competing to drill the three planned test wells.
¶6. (SBU) In addition to its collaboration with Iceland, Odowa said
that Djibouti remained interested in working with a wide variety of
partners. (NOTE. The GODJ recently signed an agreement with the
U.S. firm Maple Indian Ocean Resources (ref B) to develop wind and
solar resources, and is reportedly working with an Indian firm
interested in exploiting geothermal energy at Lac Abbe, on
Djibouti's border with Ethiopia. END NOTE.) Ambassador noted that
other American firms-including Geothermal Development Associates
(GDA), which worked with the U.S. Trade and Development Agency
(USTDA) in 1999 on a geothermal feasibility study at Lac
Assal-might well be interested in geothermal and other energy
projects in Djibouti.
-------------------------------------------
GODJ CITES CAPACITY CHALLENGES
-------------------------------------------
¶7. (SBU) Now that Djibouti has several energy projects on the
horizon, Secretary-General Ainan told REO, the next major challenge
will be developing an effective regulatory framework to respond to
Djibouti's new, diversified energy environment. (NOTE. Post has
previously submitted a proposal to host an Embassy Science Fellow
(ref C) with expertise in energy policy. END NOTE). Minister
Odowa said that now, oil and gas companies interested in Djibouti's
offshore and onshore potential were "pushing" the GODJ to allow
exploration. Before negotiating with such companies, he said, the
GODJ would like to have much better baseline data on Djibouti's
realistic potential, and eventually, assistance in negotiation.
Without proper baseline data, Odowa said that the GODJ feared that
it would not be able to negotiate fair deals, and asked whether the
USG might be able to fund assistance for such data studies.
¶8. (SBU) COMMENT. Djibouti's basic diplomatic strategy leans
toward welcoming all comers and skillfully balancing a range of
friends and allies. It is therefore no surprise that in the field
of renewable energy development, Djibouti has encouraged courtship
from a full range of potential partners. As one long-time GODJ
energy official told EmbOffs, Djibouti wants to "keep a lot of
options on the shelf," ready to implement when the time is right.
Ideally, Djibouti would also like prospective investors to foot
much or most of the bill for costly-and relatively
risky-feasibility studies to evaluate potential projects. As
Djibouti's renewable resources look more and more lucrative, the
GODJ may well succeed in negotiating these kinds of arrangements.
However, as its own energy needs become daily more acute, the GODJ
may also become more willing to put up what capital it
can-alongside its contribution of the raw resource-in order to
assure that projects come to timely fruition. Post will continue
to monitor the status of renewable energy projects in Djibouti,
especially in light of potential opportunities for U.S. business
DJIBOUTI 00000655 003 OF 003
involvement. END COMMENT.
SWAN