Cablegate: Colombia Bullish On Wirec 2008, Requests Spot On
VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBO #7581 2922221
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 192221Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9676
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7806
RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA 2300
RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 1559
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 5539
RUEHMU/AMEMBASSY MANAGUA 2068
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 8023
RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 0205
RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE 4604
RUEHSN/AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR 1780
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 2358
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 1989
UNCLAS BOGOTA 007581
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
OES FOR WIREC ACTION GROUP LEADER STAN SPECHT AND SPECIAL
ASSISTANT CAMILLE HILL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG EAID EPET SENV SOCI TRGY KPAO KSCA EAGR
CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA BULLISH ON WIREC 2008, REQUESTS SPOT ON
AGENDA
REF: STATE 138428
1. This is an action cable. See para. 4.
2. Post delivered reftel demarche on the Washington
International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC) separately
to Minister of Mines and Energy Hernan Martinez, Ministry of
External Relations (MRE) Director for Multilateral Economic,
Social, and Environmental Issues Maria Alban Duran, and
Ministry of Environment Director for International Relations
Ana Maria Hernandez. Post also presented WIREC 2008
information to officials at the Ministry of Agriculture.
3. Minister Martinez, Director Alban and Director Hernandez
all enthusiastically welcomed the initiative and expressed
strong GOC interest in participating. Minister Martinez said
he would be interested personally in attending, and requested
a speaking slot at the conference to address Colombia's
experience in sustainable biofuels. Director Alban said the
GOC would coordinate internally on identifying a Colombian
delegation, and suggested that it would include the Ministers
of Energy, Agriculture, and Environment or their designates.
She emphasized that all three ministries as well as the MRE
were giving renewable energy issues, particularly biofuels,
high priority. Alban promised to advise Post as soon as a
more detailed response was available.
4. Action Request: Post requests a response to GOC interest
in placing Minister Martinez on the WIREC agenda in order to
present Colombia's biofuels initiative. Colombia has an
aggressive policy of expanded biofuels use that includes
mandated inclusion of sugarcane ethanol and palm oil
biodiesel in its fuel mix. Post supports GOC efforts to be
included on the agenda of the conference. End Action
Request.
Brownfield