VZCZCXRO1914
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ
RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #0921/01 2030521
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 210521Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1187
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4046
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1863
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1730
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2299
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2706

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000921 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB 
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN 
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON 
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL EIND TRGY TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN:  USTDA FINDS SUPREME COUNCIL ON 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INTERESTED IN RENEWABLE ENERGY 
 
REF: ASHGABAT 915 
 
¶1.  (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  During a July 17 meeting with U.S. Trade 
and Development Agency (USTDA) Regional Director for Europe 
and Eurasia Dan Stein, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council 
for Science and Technology Akjeren Allanurova discussed 
Turkmenistan's experience and interest in developing its 
renewable energy industry.  Allanurova said that one project 
was rejected because Turkmenistan thought that it would 
create too much pollution.  Allanurova was interested in 
exploring cooperation with the United States, recognizing 
U.S. work in both solar and wind energy and information 
technology.  Although the Ministry of Communication would be 
the primary organization participating in a 
technology-oriented study tour, if the Supreme Council is 
able to participate, some exposure to market-driven research 
and development might be beneficial during a study tour to 
Silicon Valley.  U.S. excellence in technology is well known, 
and USTDA and the Department of Energy could capitalize on 
this by organizing compelling programs and projects that 
would move the U.S.-Turkmen relationship forward.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
SUPREME COUNCIL:  ACTIVE IN RENEWABLE ENERGY 
 
¶3.  (SBU) USTDA's Dan Stein and U.S. Department of Energy 
(DOE) Director of the Office of Russian and Eurasian Affairs 
Lana Ekimoff met with Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council 
for Science and Technology Akjeren Allanurova on July 17. 
Allanurova said that the Supreme Council works actively to 
develop renewable energy resources such as solar and wind 
energy.  Allanurova said that Turkmenistan's Research 
Institute for Solar Energy reviewed and was impressed by the 
U.S. project "Million Solar Roofs" during the Soviet period. 
She also explained that the first step in a wind-generated 
energy project for a community of 200 families living on an 
isolated island in the Caspian Sea was for scientists to 
develop a map of winds in order to predict project viability. 
 
NOT ALL PROPOSALS ARE ACCEPTED 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The Supreme Council for Science and Technology is 
responsible for reviewing all foreign proposals in the area 
of renewable energy and recommends to the Cabinet of 
Ministers if a project should be accepted or not.  Allanurova 
said that Turkmenistan received proposals to construct two 
solar battery plants, but they were too expensive.  In 
addition, the most polluting phase of production would take 
place in Turkmenistan.  She said that the Supreme Council 
already made progress in the area of transfer of thermal 
energy and therefore is focusing more on electricity 
generation.  However, Turkmenistan is eager for information 
that would assist the country in progressing in construction 
of factories for thermal energy solar batteries. 
Turkmenistan already uses this technology to heat a livestock 
complex and power a water treatment plant. 
 
NEXT STEPS 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Allanurova was interested in Ekimoff's offers to 
share Department of Energy information on renewable energy 
and the possibility of a study on earthquake-resistant 
housing.  Stein said that USTDA will work primarily with the 
Ministry of Communications (reftel) on a study 
tour/orientation trip, but said that USTDA could probably 
include the Supreme Council in some way. 
 
 
ASHGABAT 00000921  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶6.  (SBU) COMMENT:  Allanurova said that Turkmenistan's 
ministries set research priorities based on the Cabinet of 
Minister's economic goals.  Some exposure to case studies on 
market-driven research could be useful during a visit to 
Silicon Valley.  Allanurova acknowledged assistance provided 
by Cisco Systems in organizing a video conference and setting 
up a comprehensive electronic network for institutions in 
secondary education, higher education, and vocational 
schools.  U.S. excellence in these areas is well known, and 
USTDA and the Department of Energy could capitalize on this 
by organizing compelling programs and projects that would 
move the U.S.-Turkmen relationship forward.  END COMMENT. 
CURRAN