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 08TOKYO3072, ACADEMICS QUESTION VIABILITY OF METHANE HYDRATE RESEARCH

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. #08TOKYO3072.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08TOKYO3072 2008-11-04 22:34 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Tokyo
VZCZCXRO3149
RR RUEHAST RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHTM
DE RUEHKO #3072/01 3092234
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 042234Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8519
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 4549
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 1339
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6187
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2183
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 003072 
 
ENERGY FOR EDITH ALLISON 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG SENV JA
SUBJECT: ACADEMICS QUESTION VIABILITY OF METHANE HYDRATE RESEARCH 
PROGRAM 
 
TOKYO 00003072  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY. 
 
REF: TOKYO 2426 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: While Japan's research and development of methane 
hydrate extraction has gained momentum and is drawing high-profile 
political support, academics and industry figures question its 
commercial viability and are urging a more thorough examination of 
the GOJ's methane hydrate program.  Scientific skeptics base 
concerns on the inferior quality of methane hydrate relative to 
conventional fossil fuels, potentially negative environmental 
impacts, and the limited scale of reserves in the targeted research 
area as the basis for their concerns. END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (U) The most recent meeting of the Agency for Natural Resources 
and Energy (ANRE) Oil and Gas Subcommittee revealed strong 
skepticism about the GOJ's methane hydrate research and development 
strategy (reftel) among academics and some industry figures.  The 
standing advisory body convened at the request of Economy, Trade and 
Industry (METI) Minister Nikai, who had tasked the committee (an 
advisory group consisting of experts from government, industry and 
academia) with discussing biofuel quality control as well as the 
GOJ's methane hydrate research and development plan. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
METHANE HYDRATE IS A LOW-QUALITY HIGH COST FUEL 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
3. (U) Waseda University Professor Nobuo Morita, an expert in 
petroleum engineering, said the GOJ should seriously examine the 
program before devoting more resources to methane hydrate 
development.  Morita said methane hydrate remains extremely 
difficult to extract, and several technological breakthroughs will 
be required before commercially-viable extraction can occur. 
Additionally, the quality of methane hydrate is lower than 
conventional fossil fuels, which makes it a less efficient energy 
source.  Morita explained that the quality of energy sources may be 
ranked on a scales of 1 to 5: the most efficient fuels are grade 1, 
oil, natural gas and coal; grade 2 is heavy oil; grade 3 is 
hydro-soluble gas or oil sand; grade 4 is deep oil sand; and grade 5 
is the deep oil shale; methane hydrate is a grade 5 energy source. 
 
 
4. (U) Morita also questioned the efficiency of extracting methane 
from methane hydrate (a sherbet-like compound of methane molecules 
trapped in frozen water), noting liquefaction requires significant 
ground heat generation, which diminishes net energy efficiency and 
could also damage the surrounding ground soil.  Morita also said the 
quantity of gas produced from the targeted methane hydrate field is 
only about one fifth of the existing Iwaki offshore gas field 
production near Fukushima prefecture, which weakens its commercial 
value compared to existing resources.  Finally, Morita mentioned 
methane hydrate could be environmentally damaging if methane, a 
greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, escapes during 
the extraction process 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
"DREAM COME TRUE" FOR RESOURCE DEPENDENT JAPAN? 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
5. (U) Katsuhiko Suetsugu, Secretary General of Asia Pacific Energy 
Forum, described methane hydrate as a potential "dream come true" 
for a country without any natural resources, and forecasted public 
support for a methane hydrate research and development program. 
However, Suetsugu urged the GOJ to be strategic in targeting 
potential locations for methane hydrate extraction.  He praised the 
methane hydrate research consortium's focus on the Nankai Trough 
(Southeast of Japan) as well as its cooperation with the U.S. and 
Canada on methane development.  However, the Liancourt Rocks dispute 
with Korea, competing claims with China in the East China Sea as 
well as unresolved border issues with Russia will mean Japan has to 
consider possible jurisdictional disputes on extracting methane 
hydrates, Suetsugu said.  Suetsugu also welcomed the 
quasi-governmental Japan Oil, Gas and Metals Exploration 
Corporation's (JOGMEC) leadership of the research consortium, but 
called for more incentives for private companies to participate in 
the project. 
 
------------------------------------- 
ENERGY AND FISHING INDUSTRIES AT ODDS 
------------------------------------- 
 
6. (U) Speaking on behalf of industry, a representative of the Japan 
 
TOKYO 00003072  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Gas Association said industry would welcome development of domestic 
natural gas resources and also called on the GOJ to fund research 
and development of coal gasification to extract methane. 
 
7. (U) Meanwhile, a representative of the National Federation of 
Fisheries Cooperative Associations, said he was glad to hear 
Professor Morita's presentation describing the challenges of methane 
hydrate development.  Emphasizing the importance of aquatic 
resources in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone, in which 300,000 
fishing boats operate daily, Yoshida called for emphasizing the 
importance of the ocean environment as well as the national 
interest.  A committee member from the Japan Petroleum Development 
Association also noted that some of the technologies being 
considered for methane hydrate extraction, including high-pressure 
water injection, may require additional regulation, i.e., a 
curtailment of fishing rights, of the fisheries industry. 
 
8. (SBU) COMMENT: Several committee members said Morita's skeptical 
remarks were particularly eye-opening.  While the vigorous panel 
discussion reflects the high profile attention methane hydrate has 
received, the divergent opinions on the feasibility of methane 
hydrate extraction illustrate a consensus has not yet emerged on the 
scope and direction of the GOJ's research and development program. 
Energy security, particularly development of methane hydrate within 
Japan's exclusive economic zone, rather than economics appears to be 
driving the GOJ's interest at this stage. END COMMENT.