VZCZCXYZ0009
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLO #0219/01 0261419
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261419Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1174
INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 2699
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 2795
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 3354
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 3806
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1212
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 1217
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 2805
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS LONDON 000219 
 
SIPDIS 
 
BRUSSELS FOR USEU 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG ECON EINV UK
SUBJECT: ITALY PRESENTS ENERGY PRIORITIES FOR ITS G8 
PRESIDENCY, DISCUSSION ON MARGINS OF LONDON ENERGY 
MINISTERIAL 
 
¶1. (SBU) On the margins of the UK-hosted December Energy 
Ministerial, on December 18, the Government of Italy 
discussed with other G8 governments its energy policy 
priorities for its upcoming 2009 G8 Presidency.  Sergio 
Garriba, Advisor to the Minister of Economic Development, 
outlined the main themes: investments for energy security and 
sustainable development, energy strategies to respond to 
global climate change, and a program of action to address 
energy poverty, with a focus on Africa.  Several delegations, 
including the U.S. and Japan, raised questions about the 
breadth of these themes, and urged a more narrow focus. Italy 
will host the G8 Ministerial on May 24-25 in Rome. End Summary 
 
¶2. (SBU) The GOI envisions three separate sessions. The first 
will look at investments for energy security and sustainable 
development, and will include a discussion of the 
international energy markets and the effects of the economic 
crisis.  This session will include discussion of how to 
promote energy investments, and the role of the energy 
producers and consumers dialogue.  Jonathan Shrier, Acting 
Assistant Secretary, Department of Energy, questioned how 
this discussion will dovetail with the work being undertaken 
by the International Energy Forum, and whether the GOI 
intends to build upon the discussion that was anticipated for 
the December 19, UK-hosted ministerial. Garriba replied that 
the focus of the Italian meeting would be consistent with 
both. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The second session would be a discussion of energy 
strategies to respond to global climate change, including the 
harmonization of national energy policies toward greenhouse 
gas reduction, the role of energy efficiency and technology 
innovation, and government-industry participation.  Several 
delegations argued that the May Energy Ministerial did not 
become a climate change meeting, especially since climate 
change would likely loom large on the agenda of G8 
environment ministers.  The GOI responded that such work 
would need to be coordinated with environment ministries, 
noting that there would be a joint preparatory meeting in the 
early spring for both ministerials.  Several  delegations 
urged a focus on clean energy technology. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The third session would be devoted to addressing 
energy poverty, with a specific emphasis on Africa, and would 
include discussion of energy access for economic development, 
energy networks and market integration in Africa, and 
investment in the sub-Saharan region.  Several meeting 
participants, including Japan and the UK, questioned whether 
the G8 was the proper mechanism for discussion of such a 
theme, especially if the GOI were to push for a defined 
program of action.  International Financial Institutions were 
better positioned to address this work area, said Yasuo 
Tanabe, Deputy Director General, Economic Affairs Bureau, 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan. 
 
¶5. (SBU) In addition to the G8 governments, the GOI also is 
considering whether to expand the meeting to include the 
International Energy Agency, OPEC, the World Bank, and 
selected countries, including China, South Africa, Brazil and 
India.  The Japanese strongly advocated for the inclusion of 
South Korea if an expanded meeting were to be held.  The U.S. 
and UK delegations cautioned about expanding too broadly the 
meeting, which would both undermine the G8 process and make 
consensus more difficult to achieve.  Questions were also 
raised about the participation of African energy ministers, 
who might have less interest in the first two proposed topics 
for the ministerial and who might come expecting some new aid 
program.  Italy said it was thinking of including Nigeria and 
Algeria, along with South Africa. Garriba stated that the 
next preparatory meeting would remain limited to G8 
governments, pending a consensus on whom else to include in 
the ministerial. 
 
¶6. (U) DOE cleared this cable on January 22. 
 
Visit London's Classified Website: 
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom 
 
 
 
TUTTLE