VZCZCXRO4855
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHWR #0244/01 0531444
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221444Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY WARSAW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6006
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHKW/AMCONSUL KRAKOW 2001

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 WARSAW 000244 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/NCE LLOCHMAN, BPUTNEY, EEB/ESC/IEC (BGGRIFFIN) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG SENV APER ABUD PL
SUBJECT: POLAND INPUT FOR ENERGY REPORT TO CONGRESS 
 
REF: STATE 10743 
 
WARSAW 00000244  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
 ¶1.  Poland produces limited quantities of oil and gas for 
domestic consumption and serves as a transit route for 
Russian gas pipelines to Western Europe.  Poland has 
significant coal reserves which are used to produce 90% of 
its electricity.  In response to reftel request, post is 
pleased to provide the following information. 
 
¶2.  A.  The Economic Section and Commercial Service sections 
handle energy matters.  The total number of staff in these 
offices dealing with energy matters is 3 FSOs and 2 LES.  The 
Ambassador and DCM also engage in matters related to energy. 
 
¶3.  B.  Individuals and percentage of their time spent 
working on energy related issues: 
 
Ambassador and DCM, 5% each 
Economic Counselor, 10% 
Deputy Economic Counselor, 50% 
ESTH Officer, 20% 
ESTH LES, 40% 
Economic LES, 30% 
Senior Commercial Officer, 5% 
Commercial Officer, 5% 
Commercial LES, 40% 
Political Counselor 2% 
Deputy Political Counselor - Internal 2% 
Pol/Mil Officer - 2% 
 
¶4.  C.  Description of energy-related duties and 
qualifications including rank 
 
Ambassador and DCM regularly engage Polish government 
officials and energy company officials on energy issues. 
Energy security is the only economic issue which is regularly 
discussed in the U.S.-Poland Strategic Dialogue and in 
high-level meetings. 
 
Economic Counselor - FS 1.  The Economic Counselor has 
general oversight responsibilities for mission activities 
related to energy issues.  Incumbent has no energy training. 
 
Deputy Economic Counselor - Position is FS2, Incumbent is FS 
¶1.  The Deputy Econ Counselor has the lead on Mission efforts 
on all energy issues, especially supporting Poland's key 
economic priority to promote its energy security through 
diversification of supply.  The Deputy has the lead in 
sharing information and raising awareness of U.S. energy 
priorities and policies within the Polish government. 
Manages energy-themed visits by USG officials.  Serves as a 
point of contact for US and Polish energy companies.  Major 
energy issues in Poland have been privatization of the energy 
sector, construction of the Odessa-Brody-Plock-Gdansk oil 
pipeline, construction of a gas pipeline from Norway to 
Poland, construction of an LNG port, use of Poland's coal 
resources, Poland's desire to participate in the construction 
of the Ignalina nuclear power plant, construction of an 
electric energy bridge between Poland and Lithuania, and new 
EU CO2 emissions restrictions.  Supervises work of ESTH 
Officer on climate change and renewables issues.  Incumbent 
is an electrical engineer with electric and nuclear energy 
industry experience, previous experience as the Caspian 
Region Energy Officer, and energy training sponsored by DOE 
and State including the Houston Energy Officers course and 
the Pittsburgh coal course. 
 
ESTH Officer - FS 4 (rotational officer).  Incumbent works on 
climate change issues with the government, including Poland's 
position on recent EU CO2 emission proposals.  Reports on 
renewable energy research and implementation, and nuclear 
energy research.  Assists Deputy in managing energy-themed 
visits by USG officials.  Officer will coordinate post 
support for USG delegation to upcoming United Nations Climate 
Change Conference in Poznan.  Incumbent was previously 
employed at DOE for 13 years and has training in crude oil 
processing. 
 
ESTH LES -  FSN 10 - Incumbent researches events, legislation 
and privatization in the energy industry.  She also 
researches climate change issues and maintains information on 
the key decision makers in government and industry on both 
issues. 
 
Senior Commercial Officer - MC - Incumbent maintains contacts 
with energy companies in the U.S. and Poland and advocates on 
behalf of U.S. firms with the government of Poland.  Keeps 
Department of Commerce informed of issues affecting the 
energy sector. 
 
WARSAW 00000244  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
Deputy Commercial Officer - FS-1 - Most of incumbent's time 
on energy issues is in support of partnership post Lithuania 
where key issues are the construction of a new nuclear power 
plant to replace the Ignalina facility and the electric 
energy bridge between Lithuania and Poland. 
 
Commercial LES - Incumbent advocates on behalf of U.S. 
companies with government officials, maintains contacts with 
government decision makers in the energy sector, and supports 
trade missions and other energy related visits. 
 
Political Counselor - FS 1, Deputy Political Counselor - FS 
2, Pol/Mil Officer - FS-3 - All regularly discuss energy 
security issues with their contacts. Energy Security is a key 
GOP goal which all Polish government officials want to 
discuss with the U.S.  None have energy training. 
 
¶D.  Budget:  Salary costs based on time distribution included 
in B above are estimated to be $226,179.  Last year post 
spent $1743 on training on energy issues and spent 
approximately $257 or 7% of the Economic Section 
representation budget on energy issues. 
 
¶5.  Embassy POC is Deputy Economic Counselor Laura Griesmer, 
Griesmerla@state.gov 
CURTIN