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DE RUEHAH #1054/01 2740737
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P 010737Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001054 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/CARC, EUR/RUS, EEB 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR EPET MARR TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN:  NAVCENT COMMANDER OFFERS 
HYDROCARBON SECURITY COOPERATION -- BUT TURKMENISTAN NOT 
READY TO BITE 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY.  During a September 29 meeting, the U.S. 
Navy Commander of the Combined Maritime Forces (NAVCENT), 
Vice Admiral Kevin Cosgriff, offered Minister of Oil and Gas 
Baymyrat Hojamuhamedov assistance with improving 
Turkmenistan's capacity to deal with a variety of security 
threats to its hydrocarbon sector.  The minister, a 
technocrat who clearly had never previously considered 
security issues, was largely dismissive, though he agreed to 
consider NAVCENT's offer.  Notwithstanding his 
less-than-enthusiastic reception of NAVCENT's offer, we 
believe that the answer could change once Turkmenistan's 
authorities have collectively had more of a chance to 
consider the issues at stake.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) During a September 29 meeting with Minister of Oil 
and Gas Baymyrat Hojamuhamedov, Vice Admiral Cosgriff noted 
that the U.S. Navy works with friends on the Arabian 
Peninsula, where there have been two attacks and at least one 
foiled attack, to protect the security of their hydrocarbon 
infrastructure.  While the same situation does not exist in 
the Caspian Sea region, it could, and Cosgriff said that one 
thing that the United States Navy and others are learning in 
the Arabian Peninsula is that all parties must cooperate and 
work together to protect hydrocarbon infrastructure.  For 
this reason, the Vice Admiral had asked to meet with Minister 
Hojamuhamedov, and he wanted to listen to the minister's 
concerns about hydrocarbon security. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Hojamuhamedov responded that most of his 
discussions are about oil and gas, and this was the first 
time this subject had been raised with him.  That said, the 
minister has no concerns about the security of Turkmenistan's 
factories or infrastructure, an assessment that foreign 
companies active in Turkmenistan will agree with. 
Turkmenistan is neutral, and has not had any security 
problems since it received its independence in 1991.  If, 
however, the Vice Admiral really wants to discuss this issue, 
he should do so with Turkmenistan's law enforcement organs, 
rather than with the Ministry of Oil and Gas.  Cosgriff noted 
that, in the U.S. Navy's experience, if any problems develop, 
the Ministry of Oil and Gas will probably become involved. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The Vice Admiral pointed out threats to security do 
not always involved attacks.  They can include emergencies 
caused by oil platform explosions or oil spills, which could 
cause severe problems.  He pointed out that in dealing with 
oil spills time counts.  And the damage from a catastrophic 
oil spill can close down water desalinization plants and 
cross borders.  It is easier to deal quickly and efficiently 
with oil spills than to have to figure out how to provide 
millions of gallons of potable water to a city whose water 
supply is impacted by an oil spill.  Cosgriff offered 
cooperation in sharpening the skills of emergency responders 
to these or other security threats. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Hojamuhamedov stated that, while the Ministry of 
Oil and Gas always welcomes training, but already has a 
number of courses for dealing with oil field emergencies, and 
Turkmenistan's emergency response personnel can deal 
effectively with crises.  For example, he claimed, in the 
case of an oilfield blow-out, Turkmenistan had called in 
Chinese and American companies to help put deal with the 
emergency, but nobody was able to do so.  In the end, 
Turkmenistan was able to contain the blow-out on its own. 
(NOTE:  If Hojamuhamedov was referring to the blow-out in 
Turkmenistan's South Yoloton field last year, it was caused 
by a Chinese drilling team.  After months of trying to get 
the blow-out under control, Turkmenistan called in a U.S. 
firm, Cudd Pressure Control, which was finally able to 
extinguish the fire.  This is the only such incident we are 
aware of involving both Chinese and U.S. companies.  END 
NOTE.)  As for the capacity of the Caspian littoral countries 
 
ASHGABAT 00001054  002 OF 002 
 
 
to deal with cross-border emergencies, while he did not know 
what arrangements existed elsewhere, Turkmenistan is always 
ready to lend a hand.  The minister concluded by promising to 
consider Vice Admiral Cosgriff's offer of cooperation in 
dealing with hydrocarbon emergencies.  The Government of 
Turkmenistan will let NAVCENT know if it decides to go 
forward with cooperation in this area. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) COMMENT:  Hojamuhamedov, whose background is more 
technical than policy-oriented, clearly was unprepared to 
discuss these issues -- and, quite probably, never has had to 
consider the possibility of dealing with a largescale 
hydrocarbon disaster.  That said, if Turkmenistan really is 
planning on the significant expansion of its hydrocarbon 
sector that it seems to be offering up, the possibility of 
hydrocarbon-related crises increases substantially.  The 
interest of other government sectors -- most notably, among 
law enforcement and military personnel -- in learning more 
about disaster management demonstrates both a growing 
recognition of how weak Turkmenistan's capabilities are in 
this particular area and an increased understanding of the 
need to be able to cope with the unexpected.  While 
Hojamuhamedov's first response may have been a reflexive "we 
don't need this, thank you very much," post believes that 
this answer could change once the authorities have 
collectively had more opportunity to consider the issues at 
stake.  END COMMENT. 
HOAGLAND