VZCZCXRO7773
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #0501/01 0830628
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 240628Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5577
INFO RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHEPA/HQ EPA WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0139
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 1759
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0720
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 1009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000501 
 
STATE FOR SPECIAL ENVOY STERN 
STATE FOR OES DAS MIOTKE, OES/EGC, OES/ENV, AF/W, AND EB 
STATE PASS CEQ SUTLEY, USTR AGAMA, USTDA MARIN, AID/AFR/SD 
DOE AND EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL 
BAGHDAD FOR DMCCULLOUGH 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EPET SENV PREL ELAB ECON ENRG EFIN PGOV NI
SUBJECT: OIL CHIEF REQUESTS DIALOGUE ON ENERGY, CLIMATE 
 
REF:  ECONCOUNS/EEB/OES/AF TELECONS AND EMAILS 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - HANDLE ACCORDINGLY. 
 
¶1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST.  PLEASE SEE PARAGRAPH 7. 
 
¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY:  The new Group Managing Director (GMD) of the 
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is requesting that 
USG officials visit Abuja in the near future to commence a dialogue 
on energy and climate policies, including discussing respective 
approaches in the run-up to the Copenhagen talks in December.  GON 
Petroleum Ministry as well as others would be involved in roundtable 
to kickoff discussions.  This request presents an important 
opportunity to engage Nigeria's predominant parastatal and the GON 
on a range of policy issues critical to the development of Nigeria's 
oil and gas resources and opens the possibility of having the GON as 
an ally on climate efforts as well, including the challenge of 
flared gas, the problem of deforestation and sharing of adaptation 
approaches.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3. (SBU) New NNPC GMD Mohammed Barkindo, accompanied by several of 
his senior staff, called on Ambassador at Embassy March 11. 
EconCouns also attended.  This message reports on proposal by 
Barkindo for a dialogue on energy and climate policies.  Septel will 
report his comments on petroleum sector and related security 
issues. 
 
Petroleum Boss Suggests Energy/Climate Roundtable 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶4. (SBU) Barkindo, who has represented Nigeria in climate talks as 
recently as the December COP 14 meeting in Poznan, and who now has 
responsibility for the productivity and profitability of Nigeria's 
key petroleum sector as the recently-appointed head of NNPC, told 
Ambassador that he was keenly interested in receiving USG officials 
in near future to initiate a dialogue on energy and climate 
policies, especially as both are expected to change dramatically 
under the Obama Administration. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Barkindo proposed a roundtable on energy and climate 
policies, including likely impact of USG policies for Nigeria and 
other countries.  He sees the roundtable as kicking off an enhanced 
dialogue between Nigeria and the U.S. on these and related issues, 
to include ongoing exchange on positions toward upcoming climate 
talks.  He would be pleased to have the roundtable address Nigeria's 
own oil and gas policies as well and saw the proposed roundtable as 
including a range of stakeholders:  international companies involved 
in Nigeria's petroleum sector and the ministries of petroleum, 
finance and planning as well.  He recognized that such issues as gas 
to power and financing arrangements were key challenges for NNPC and 
Nigeria.  (NOTE:  In other conversations, Petroleum Minister Lukman 
has expressed his own interest in close communication and 
cooperation with the USG on these issues.  END NOTE).  Barkindo 
projected the hope that U.S. action on climate change going forward 
would in some way benefit Nigeria's efforts to reduce and eventually 
end extensive gas flaring in the Niger Delta. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Ambassador emphasized to Barkindo that the focus of the 
Obama Administration on renewable energy sources should not be 
viewed as a zero sum game by oil and gas producing countries such as 
Nigeria.  As a partner and major energy consumer, the U.S. had an 
interest in Nigeria maintaining its oil and gas production.  We also 
shared the concern about gas flaring and the need to utilize that 
stranded gas, particularly to generate electricity.  And clearly the 
Obama Administration was interested in doing more on global climate 
change and engaging with other countries in the run-up to Copenhagen 
in December.  She stressed that the roundtable and dialogue should 
be driven by clear objectives important to both sides and strive for 
concrete deliverables.  Barkindo agreed, and gave as one 
illustrative example his interest in making full use of an existing 
U.S. Trade Development Agency study on LPG.  He acknowledged U.S. 
interest in broader production issues as well, and confirmed his 
commitment to an open exchange on those.  On climate issues, he 
spoke of the good working relationship he had had with U.S. 
negotiators and said that Nigeria and other oil and gas producers 
wanted to ensure open communication with the U.S. on any post-Kyoto 
 
ABUJA 00000501  002 OF 002 
 
 
agreement. 
 
Action Request 
-------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) The proposal from NNPC GMD Barkindo presents an important 
opportunity to engage Nigeria's predominant parastatal and the GON 
on a range of policy issues critical to the development of Nigeria's 
oil and gas resources.  It also opens the possibility of having the 
GON as an ally on climate efforts, including the challenge of flared 
gas, the problem of deforestation and sharing of adaptation 
approaches.  The key ministries and other participants, including 
U.S. oil and gas and services firms, would also participate in the 
roundtable - providing useful access for our companies.  Post 
understands that Washington officials would want to be closely 
involved in shaping the agenda and format for the roundtable and 
dialogue.  We are confident that Barkindo and GON counterparts will 
be flexible and responsive on the particulars.  Post requests that 
Department identify appropriate official(s) who could travel to 
Abuja at an early date to participate in the above-described 
roundtable and kick off a new energy and climate dialogue with 
Nigeria. 
 
¶8. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos. 
 
SANDERS