VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #0482 0371542
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061542Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1226

UNCLAS BOGOTA 000482 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EEB/ESC/IEC FOR GGRIFFIN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG SENC APER ABUD CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA: INPUT FOR CONGRESSIONAL REPORT ON ENERGY 
 
REF: STATE 10743 
 
¶1. The following responses are keyed to requests in reftel. 
 
¶A. A number of agencies at post handle energy issues.  The 
State Department Economic Section primarily handles energy 
reporting and cooperation matters.  Insofar as issues may 
directly involve U.S. companies, the Economic Section and the 
Commerce Department Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) 
coordinate to assist U.S. firms.  The total number of staff 
in the Economic Section is six officers, one Office 
Management Specialist, and two locally engaged staff (LES) 
economic specialists.  The total number of staff in the 
Foreign Commercial Service is two officers, seven LES 
commercial specialists, two administrative staff, and two 
contractors. The Economic Unit in USAID, comprised of one 
officer and three LES staff, is in charge of technical 
assistance to the Colombian government for policy reform in 
the energy sector. 
 
¶B. 1 Deputy Economic Counselor: 25 percent of time.  1 LES 
Economic Specialist: 25 percent of time. 1 Commercial 
Counselor: 10 percent of time.  1 Commercial Deputy 
Counselor: 10 percent of time. 1 LES Commercial Specialist: 
25 percent of time. 1 LES Commercial Specialist: 10 percent 
of time.  1 USAID LES economist: 5 percent of time. 
 
¶C. The Deputy Economic Counselor's portfolio include 
monitoring and reporting on developments in Colombia's energy 
sector, developing contacts in the Colombian government 
agencies related to energy (e.g. Ministry of Mines and 
Energy, National Hydrocarbons Agency, the state-owned oil 
company Ecopetrol) as well as international hydrocarbons 
companies operating in Colombia, and responding to 
energy-related action requests from Washington.  The LES 
Economic Specialist assists the Deputy Economic Counselor in 
these efforts.  The FCS Commercial Counselor and Deputy 
Commercial Counselor also monitor sector developments as well 
as develop contacts in the government and private sector. 
Likewise, they respond to requests from the Trade Development 
Agency and Department of Energy regarding trade promotion 
activities in the energy sector.  The FCS Commercial 
Specialists assist the Commercial Counselor and Deputy with 
any U.S. firms interested in doing business with Colombia's 
energy sector, including advocacy on any disputes that may 
arise.  The USAID LES economist participates in planning, 
developing and implementing programs related to energy 
pricing regulations and anti-monopolistic policies in the 
energy sector. 
 
¶D. State-funded Personnel: 25 percent of FS-02 Deputy 
Economic Counselor position salary.  25 percent of LES 
Economic Specialist position salary (FSN-11 grade). 
State-funded Programs: Post hosted an energy speaker in FY07 
funded by EEB at a cost of $3,300. 
Brownfield