Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07VIENTIANE351, PRESSING THE AES HYDROPOWER BID WITH SENIOR LAO

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07VIENTIANE351.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07VIENTIANE351 2007-04-30 08:54 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Vientiane
VZCZCXRO0886
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHVN #0351/01 1200854
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 300854Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1168
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2162
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 VIENTIANE 000351 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS (BESTIC) 
STATE FOR EEB/ESC 
STATE PASS USTR FOR DAVID BISBEE 
STATE PASS TO USED WORLD BANK 
MANILA FOR USED ADB 
COMMERCE FOR H.P. PHO 
COMMERCE FOR ADVOCACY CENTER 
PACOM FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ENRG ETRD EWWT LA PHUM PREL SENV EINV
SUBJECT: PRESSING THE AES HYDROPOWER BID WITH SENIOR LAO 
OFFICIAL 
 
REF: A. VIENTIANE 0312 
 
     B. VIENTIANE 0167 
     C. VIENTIANE 0300 
     D. VIENTIANE 0341 
     E. VIENTIANE 0259 
 
This cable is SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED: please handle 
accordingly. 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: The Ambassador met with Committee for 
Planning and Investment (CPI) President Soulivong Daravong 
April 30 to continue her personal support for the bid by AES 
on the first run-of-the-river hydropower project on the 
Mekong River in Laos.  Soulivong was clear that CPI had not 
made its own recommendation but had only reported to the 
Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on the three bidders, listing 
each by strong points.  He added that the weakness of the AES 
proposal, however, was the lack of a marketing program 
element.  The Ambassador took advantage of the meeting to 
raise two other cases involving smaller U.S. companies, 
Natural Products Inc. and Friend of the Upland Farmer.  End 
summary. 
 
AES 
----- 
2. (SBU) The Embassy requested an appointment April 23 with 
the PMO for the Ambassador to personally deliver the letter 
from Secretary of Commerce Gutierrez to Lao Prime Minister 
Bouasone Bouphavanh supporting the AES bid.  The PMO asked 
the Embassy instead to deliver the letter to CPI President 
Soulivong -- a minister-level senior official and former 
Minister of Commerce.  Due to the delay, the Embassy 
delivered copies of Secretary Gutierrez's letter to both the 
PMO and CPI in advance of the Ambassador's April 30 meeting 
with CPI President Soulivong. 
 
3. (SBU) Soulivong was well aware of the competition 
involving AES and had read Secretary Gutierrez's letter by 
the time he met with the Ambassador.  He agreed with the 
Ambassador that a successful bid by a major American investor 
such as AES would send a very positive message about the 
climate for foreign investors in Laos.  The Ambassador also 
made very strong points about AES' experience in the 
hydroelectric and power generating fields and stressed the 
capacity of AES to live up to the increasingly important 
environmental standards set by the debate over constructing 
the Nam Theun 2 dam project.  She pointed out that these 
standards will be raised by NGOs and environmentalists 
because of both the sheer size of this project ($1.5 billion) 
and the fact it will be the first dam project in Laos on the 
Mekong River itself rather than on one of its tributaries. 
 
4. (SBU) The Ambassador also cited the strength of AES, 
because of its size and excellent track record, in accessing 
the capital markets for funding for this project including 
from the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and private 
lenders.  Finally, she pointed out that relying only on one 
company or one country as an investor weakens the position of 
Laos by limiting its ability to generate real competition 
over the terms and conditions of bids.  (Note: the other two 
companies competing with AES for this project are both from 
Thailand.) 
 
5. (SBU) According to Soulivong, CPI had finished its role in 
the process of vetting the bidders on this project.  CPI had 
written a report on the top three bidders which included a 
matrix of the strong points of each bidder.  He specified 
that CPI did not include a recommendation.  It saw its role 
as providing a summary of the bidding companies which was as 
neutral and professional as possible.  Soulivong noted that 
each of the bidding companies was strong in different areas. 
The CPI report had gone to the Prime Minister's Office for 
final selection.  CPI President Soulivong told the Ambassador 
he is not part of the final selection committee. 
 
6. (SBU) Even though the CPI report did not include weak 
 
VIENTIANE 00000351  002 OF 003 
 
 
points of the bidders, Soulivong made clear the AES bid 
proposal, in contrast to the bids of the two competing 
companies, lacked a specific marketing element.  Both other 
proposals apparently included an element discussing marketing 
to the major logical consumer of the electricity to be 
generated by the project -- the Electrical Generating 
Authority of Thailand (EGAT).  Both apparently had included 
summaries of their discussions with EGAT.  (Note: PolOff 
discussed this with an AES official after the meeting and was 
told that the AES proposal had only included references to 
Thailand and Vietnam as potential consumers of the 
electricity from this project without more specific marketing 
information.) 
 
The Khamsone Case 
----------------- 
7. (SBU) The Ambassador took advantage of the meeting to 
raise the case of Mr. Khamsone Baccam, an employee in 
northern Oudomxay Province of the American-owned company 
Natural Products Inc. (NPI).  Khamsone was taken into custody 
by the Oudomxay Provincial Police on January 18.  However, 
his family has not received any information about his status 
or the charges against him (refs B, C, D).  The Ambassador 
provided Soulivong with a copy of a diplomatic note the 
Embassy sent to the Foreign Ministry about the case on 
February 20. 
 
8. (SBU) Although Khamsone is a Lao citizen, the Ambassador 
pointed out his apparent arrest is significantly disrupting 
NPI's business activities since he was the purchasing agent 
for soybeans from 300-400 farmers in Oudomxay Province for 
NPI, which is located in neighboring Bokeo Province.  NPI 
uses the soybeans for a corn-soy blend for the World Food 
Program.  This disruption of business activity is sending a 
negative message about Laos to other potential American 
investors.  The Ambassador asked CPI President Soulivong to 
help look into the case.  If Khamsone has been involved in 
any wrongdoing, charges should be brought, and the case 
should proceed in a transparent manner. 
 
The FUF Case 
------------ 
9. (SBU) The Ambassador also raised the case of AmCits Peter 
and Ruth Dutton who operate a business called Friend of the 
Upland Farmer (FUF) in northwestern Luang Namtha Province. 
Although CPI gave FUF a license to invest for 15 years in 
1998, FUF has been unable to get its operating licenses 
renewed by central and provincial Agriculture, Commerce, and 
Finance Ministries/Departments since 2005 (ref E).  The 
Duttons had been talking to lower-level officials at CPI, and 
the Ambassador expressed hope CPI President Soulivong might 
be able also to assist resolving this situation. 
 
Comment 
------- 
10. (SBU) The Embassy has been working closely with AES to 
support its bid -- the first major bid by an American 
investor.  Thus we were a bit troubled to hear that AES 
missed what seems to the Embassy to be logical steps in 
bidding on a project of this magnitude in Laos.  To not have 
included in the bid proposal a serious marketing element 
seems like a serious oversight.  AES's competitors, both 
apparently Thai companies, obviously have an edge in dealing 
with EGAT.  However, AES should not have overlooked trying to 
establish its own relationship with EGAT and including that 
in its bid proposal.  Moreover, AES has major energy 
investments in Vietnam and could have used its connections 
with the Vietnamese to help offset any advantages of its Thai 
competitors. 
 
11. (SBU) Moreover, while AES representatives met with a 
range of Lao Government officials, including the Ministers of 
Commerce and Energy in the company of the Ambassador and 
other working-level officials in the company of EconOff (ref 
A), we were surprised to learn that AES representatives have 
apparently failed to meet with the heads of the World Bank 
 
VIENTIANE 00000351  003 OF 003 
 
 
and ADB here in Vientiane and the World Bank regional head in 
Bangkok.  All of these financial sector officials have 
interest in major hydropower projects because of their 
experience with the Nam Theun 2 project and may have been 
able to help provide AES with suggestions to strengthen its 
bid -- especially in regards to the newer environmental 
standards set by the Nam Theun 2 project -- an opportunity 
now no longer available. 
 
12. (SBU) From what President Soulivong told the Ambassador, 
it may already be too late to influence the Prime Minister's 
impending decision -- originally expected by the end of 
April.  AES's only option at this point may be to try to 
combine forces with its Thai competitor to remain in the game. 
HASLACH