

Currently released so far... 12900 / 251,287
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
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
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 Belmopan
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
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
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 Suva
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 St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
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 Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AE
ASEC
AS
AR
AMGT
AFIN
AORC
AU
AG
AF
APER
ABLD
ADCO
ABUD
AM
AID
AJ
AEMR
AMED
AL
ASUP
AN
AIT
ACOA
ANET
ASIG
AA
AGMT
AINF
AFFAIRS
ADANA
AY
AADP
ARF
ACS
AGR
AMCHAMS
AECL
AUC
APEC
APECO
AFGHANISTAN
ACAO
ASEAN
ADM
AGAO
AND
ADPM
ATRN
ALOW
AROC
APCS
AORG
AO
AODE
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AZ
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
ASCH
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
BR
BO
BA
BM
BL
BH
BK
BEXP
BILAT
BTIO
BF
BU
BD
BY
BE
BG
BB
BBSR
BT
BRUSSELS
BP
BX
BC
BIDEN
BMGT
BWC
BN
BTIU
CA
CS
CO
CD
CR
CPAS
CDG
CI
CDC
CBW
CU
CVIS
CE
CONS
CH
CMGT
CASC
CY
CW
CG
CJAN
CIDA
CODEL
CWC
CIA
CBSA
CEUDA
CFED
CLINTON
CAC
CL
CACS
CIC
CHR
CAPC
CM
CT
CTR
COM
CROS
CN
COPUOS
CV
CF
CARSON
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
CYPRUS
COUNTER
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CARICOM
CB
CSW
CITT
CACM
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
CNARC
CIS
EFIN
ECON
ETRD
EAID
EC
EU
EUN
EINV
EG
ETTC
EIND
ELAB
EAGR
ECIN
EINT
ENRG
EFIS
ELTN
EAIR
EPET
EZ
ET
ENERG
ECPS
EWWT
EI
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ER
ES
EN
EMIN
ESENV
ENNP
ENGR
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENVI
ECINECONCS
ELN
EFTA
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EXTERNAL
ENIV
ESA
EPA
ETRO
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUR
ECUN
EXIM
EK
EUREM
ECONOMY
EUMEM
ERNG
EFINECONCS
EAIDS
ECA
ETRC
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
EAIG
EUC
ERD
IQ
IR
IS
IN
IA
IC
IZ
ICRC
ID
IDA
IT
IO
IAEA
ICJ
ICAO
IV
IBRD
IMF
IAHRC
IWC
ILO
ISLAMISTS
IGAD
ILC
ITU
ITF
INRA
INRO
ICTY
INRB
ITALY
IBET
IL
INTELSAT
ISRAELI
IMO
IDP
ICTR
ITRA
IRC
IRAQI
IEFIN
IPR
IIP
INMARSAT
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
IRS
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
ISRAEL
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
IACI
INDO
KPAO
KMDR
KCOR
KNNP
KJUS
KCRM
KDEM
KVPR
KTFN
KPRP
KTIP
KSCA
KSUM
KTEX
KIDE
KIRF
KV
KTIA
KN
KG
KFRD
KWMN
KUNR
KISL
KU
KGHG
KPKO
KOMS
KPAL
KIPR
KMCA
KOMC
KRVC
KSEP
KAWC
KOLY
KWBG
KACT
KFLO
KHIV
KZ
KGIC
KBCT
KDRG
KBTR
KCFE
KE
KHLS
KMPI
KAWK
KPWR
KIRC
KRAD
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFLU
KPLS
KRIM
KSTH
KDDG
KPRV
KICC
KS
KSAF
KBIO
KREC
KCGC
KCIP
KTDB
KWAC
KPAI
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFSC
KSTC
KMFO
KID
KNAR
KMIG
KVRP
KNEI
KGIT
KNSD
KHDP
KSAC
KWMM
KR
KCOM
KAID
KENV
KVIR
KHSA
KO
KCRS
KPOA
KTER
KFIN
KSPR
KTBT
KX
KCMR
KMOC
KCRCM
KBTS
KSEO
KOCI
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KSCI
KTLA
KCSY
KTRD
KMRS
KNPP
KJUST
KRCM
KCFC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KLIG
KDEMAF
KGCC
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KPIR
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KRGY
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
MARR
MOPS
MUCN
MCAP
MNUC
MEPP
MTCRE
MASS
MO
MIL
MX
MAS
MEDIA
MAR
MI
MQADHAFI
MPOS
MTCR
MK
MG
MA
MY
MU
ML
MPS
MW
MD
MARAD
MC
MR
MT
MTRE
MASC
MRCRE
MAPP
MZ
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPN
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
MASSMNUC
NI
NZ
NL
NO
NPT
NATO
NS
NU
NP
NPA
NSFO
NDP
NT
NW
NASA
NSG
NE
NORAD
NAFTA
NG
NATIONAL
NSSP
NV
NSF
NK
NA
NEW
NPG
NR
NGO
NIPP
NZUS
NH
NC
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
NSC
OIIP
OPRC
OTRA
OEXC
OREP
OSCE
OVIP
OPAD
OBSP
OECD
OFFICIALS
OAS
OPDC
ODIP
OPCW
OES
OFDP
OPIC
OCS
OIC
OHUM
OSCI
OVP
ODC
OIE
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OFDA
ON
OCII
PREL
PINR
PGOV
PARM
PE
PTER
PHUM
PO
PINS
PREF
PK
PM
POL
PBTS
PNAT
PHSA
PAS
PA
PL
PGIV
PHUMPREL
POGOV
PAK
PEL
PROP
PP
PINL
PBT
PTBS
PG
PINF
PRL
PALESTINIAN
PSEPC
POSTS
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PGOC
PNR
PREFA
PMIL
POLITICS
POLICY
PROV
PBIO
PREO
PAO
PDOV
PGOF
POV
PCI
PRAM
PSI
POLITICAL
PAIGH
PJUS
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PY
PLN
PHUH
PF
PHUS
PU
PARTIES
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
RU
RS
REGION
REACTION
REPORT
RO
RW
RCMP
RSO
RP
RM
ROOD
RFE
RICE
ROBERT
RSP
RF
RELATIONS
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
SENV
SY
SNAR
SCUL
SP
SF
SW
SOCI
SU
SMIG
SO
SA
SR
SZ
SI
SC
SEVN
SN
STEINBERG
SK
SH
SNARCS
SPCE
SARS
SNARN
SG
SL
SYRIA
SIPRS
SAARC
SNARIZ
SWE
SYR
SEN
SCRS
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SENVKGHG
SANC
SHI
SHUM
TU
TSPA
TBIO
TS
TRGY
TINT
TPHY
TN
TW
TH
TZ
TSPL
TP
TBID
TI
TF
TD
TT
TNGD
TL
TC
THPY
TIP
TX
TV
TK
TERRORISM
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TFIN
TAGS
TR
UK
UNSC
UNGA
UNESCO
UNHRC
UP
UN
USTR
US
UNDC
UY
UNICEF
UNDP
UNMIK
UNAUS
UNCHC
UNCSD
USOAS
UNFCYP
UG
UNIDROIT
UNO
UV
UNHCR
UNEP
USEU
UZ
UNCND
USUN
UNCHR
USNC
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
UNPUOS
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09CARACAS26, VENEZUELAN SCIENTISTS SAY NUCLEAR ENERGY PROGRAM
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. #09CARACAS26.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09CARACAS26 | 2009-01-08 20:24 | 2010-11-30 21:30 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Caracas |
VZCZCXRO2599
PP RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHMT RUEHNG
RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC
DE RUEHCV #0026/01 0082024
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 082024Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2396
INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CARACAS 000026
SIPDIS
HQ SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
TREASURY FOR MMALLOY
COMMERCE FOR 4431/MAC/WH/JLAO
COMMERCE FOR SARAH LOPP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2018
TAGS: ENRG TRGY BEXP BTIO PGOV PREL ETRD ECON PARM
EMIN, EINV, VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELAN SCIENTISTS SAY NUCLEAR ENERGY PROGRAM
POLITICAL HOT AIR
Classified By: Economic Counselor Darnall Steuart for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
¶1. (C) Summary: In late 2008, Chavez once again made
statements regarding his plans to develop a nuclear power
program in Venezuela and went so far as to sign an agreement
with Russia's Rosatom on nuclear energy cooperation. Several
local nuclear physicists are skeptical arguing that nothing
came of the Venezuelan government's interest in nuclear power
in the 70's and nothing will come of it today. The
scientists argued the government has demonstrated little
interest in domestic nuclear research and the result has been
antiquated labs with only a handful of Venezuelan experts in
the field. Nevertheless, they did not discount the Chavez
Government's willingness to purchase a nuclear power plant
lock, stock and barrel from Russia if it could get the
financing, although they believe this unlikely given
Venezuela's looming economic crisis. End Summary.
--------------------------------------------- --
RUSSIAN CONSTRUCTION OF NUCLEAR PLANTS UNLIKELY
--------------------------------------------- --
¶2. (C) In November 2008, Chavez trumpeted that he had high
hopes for a nuclear reactor constructed with Russian
technology in the Venezuelan state of Zulia to be called the
"Huberto Fernandez Moran Nuclear Complex". On December 2,
Econoffs met with three scientists from Venezuela's only
fully functional nuclear physics research lab at public
University Simon Bolivar (USB). XXXXXXXXXXXX (strictly
protect throughout,) noted Chavez' recent statements on
nuclear power were reminiscent of those he made in 2005.
XXXXXXXXXXXX speculated that if Russia would offer Venezuela
enough credit for plant construction, Venezuela would be
happy to accept. XXXXXXXXXXXX, who after the
meeting identified himself as a Russian-educated scientist of
Cuban origin, added that the Russians are fully capable of
building adequate plants but they would take five to eight
years to complete and would cost billions of dollars. (Note:
Although the Director General of Rosatom State Nuclear
Energy Corporation signed an agreement to cooperate with
Venezuela on nuclear energy on November 26, international
press reports on December 8 indicated no Russian loans or
credits will be forthcoming for costly nuclear power projects
in part due to Venezuela's uncertain financial future. End
Note.)
--------------------------------------------- --------
VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT NOT SERIOUS ABOUT NUCLEAR POWER
--------------------------------------------- --------
¶3. (C) The second in command at the lab, XXXXXXXXXXXX (strictly protect throughout,) said he has "heard this talk before in the 70's" when the government
was much more serious about developing a nuclear power
program and even went so far as to identify several potential
sites for hypothetical reactors. XXXXXXXXXXXX was adamant that
"nothing came of it then, and nothing will come of it now."
There is only sporadic interest in nuclear power in
Venezuela, which, he noted, is rational given that Venezuela
is a petroleum rich state.
¶4. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX added that behind every nuclear power
project is a team of strong scientists. Unfortunately, he
said, Venezuelan politicians are not talking to the
scientists. He agreed that the current discussion of
developing a domestic nuclear energy program in Venezuela is
only talk, as there are no serious scientists involved and no
project is underway. Even if the government of the
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) were serious, he
said, it would take 10 to 15 years to make substantial
progress towards developing a nuclear energy program using
domestic resources.
¶5. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX asserted that his lab at USB has the most
domestic expertise and would be the most likely talent pool
if the GBRV was in the market for government advisors or
program heads. He added that the GBRV had recently
approached him about serving as a government advisor on
nuclear power, but he had declined citing his workload.
XXXXXXXXXXXX said he hopes the government will tap the USB lab at
CARACAS 00000026 002 OF 003
some point to spearhead nuclear power research, with the
accompanying funding, as he agrees with President Chavez on
Venezuela's need to diversify its energy sources. He noted
that his scientists are currently collaborating with the
National Experimental Politech University of the Bolivarian
Armed Forces, UNEFA, on developing a course, as the military
seems to have a new interest in giving its cadets a nuclear
physics background. (Note: XXXXXXXXXXXX is hopeful this
collaboration might translate into more funding for his lab,
which currently looks more like a museum than a functioning
research center. End Note.)
--------------------------------------------- -
BARRIERS TO DEVELOPING A NUCLEAR POWER PROGRAM
--------------------------------------------- -
¶6. (C) The scientists argued that the GBRV's failure to
support serious nuclear research has resulted in antiquated
labs, restrictive policies that inhibit academic research,
and a dearth of experts in the field. They also noted lack
of uranium as another limiting factor. In May 2005 when
Chavez announced his plans to start a nuclear energy program,
media reports at that time indicated that according to
government research in the 70's, there might be three
substantial uranium deposits in Venezuela. XXXXXXXXXXXX, however,
was firm in his assertion that Venezuela has little uranium.
His friend, respected Venezuelan geologist, often jokes with
him that "yes there is a uranium mine, but no one knows where
it is." XXXXXXXXXXXX added that Venezuela has thorium which can
be mixed with other radioactive materials and might someday
replace uranium in nuclear reactions.
¶7. (C) In addition to a lack of natural resources, XXXXXXXXXXXX said
there is also a severe deficiency in "manpower". He claimed
that all of the scientists in Venezuela capable of running or
even assisting with a nuclear power program were in the room.
(Three scientists were present). He said he knew perhaps
130 former students that had the academic credentials, but
almost all of them were "either selling shoes or building
shopping malls." He said the USB lab is now focusing more on
health diagnostics as there is a commercial interest in such
research.
¶8. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX also implied he was not impressed with the
quality of the government's staff in the sector. XXXXXXXXXXXX is his
former student. XXXXXXXXXXXX. While
the Directorate has its own lab, XXXXXXXXXXXX said he has personally
verified that none of its equipment works. He noted that the
Directorate is a purely bureaucratic operation where
scientists do not conduct research but rather attend numerous
conferences abroad. When work needs done, the Directorate
will occasionally bring in experts and contract out research
projects. As an additional example of the government's
failures in the sector, he cited Venezuela's sole, and now
defunct, reactor at the GBRV's Venezuelan Institute for
Scientific Research (IVIC). USB, he said, carried off pieces
of the 1950's era reactor several years ago for student
experiments.
¶9. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX finished his list of serious challenges facing
the development of a Venezuelan nuclear power program by
complaining about his inability to get permission from the
USG to obtain equipment or even data from the US. He said
the Venezuelan government is even more difficult to work with
as it will not give him licenses to import any radioactive
material. XXXXXXXXXXXX has consequently taken to bringing in
undeclared material in his pocket. He stated he flew in with
a "source" from California in this manner even though the
University warned him he could end up in jail. He ignored
the warning saying the Venezuelan government does not seem to
be particularly interested in the fact that all of the
radioactive material in the USB lab is currently illegal
under Venezuelan law. XXXXXXXXXXXX added that anything students
or professors do with the radioactive material is also
illegal. After 20 years of his best efforts, XXXXXXXXXXXX has yet
to get GBRV approval for radioactive material handling
regulations he wrote himself based on manuals he obtained
from the Imperial College of London and a US university. In
another "illegal" practice, XXXXXXXXXXXX said that his scientists
regularly go scavenging for radium from old Venezuelan
hospitals that they store on the USB campus.
CARACAS 00000026 003 OF 003
-------
COMMENT
-------
¶10. (C) In spite of Chavez' grand public statements, the
academic community believes the GBRV continues to demonstrate
that it is uninterested in, or unable to develop a domestic
nuclear energy program. It has instead hamstrung the efforts
of the handful of its scientists with an interest in the
area. Scientists seem inclined to agree with a member of
Argentina's National Atomic Energy Commission who in 2005 was
quoted as saying "on a scale of zero to five, nuclear power
development within Venezuela does not reach one. It is not
only behind Brazil and Argentina, it is also behind Chile,
Mexico and Peru." Nevertheless, the USB scientists seemed
confident that if Venezuela one day finds a country willing
to sell its technology on credit, however unlikely given
Venezuela's looming financial trouble, the GBRV would be more
than willing to buy. Regardless of whether or not nuclear
power plants make sense in a petroleum rich country, high
profile projects that give the rest of the world cause for
concern hold a certain appeal for Chavez.
GENNATIEMPO