Currently released so far... 5267 / 251,287
Articles
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Amsterdam
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Browse by tag
AF
ASEC
AR
AORC
AJ
AM
AMGT
AE
AU
AGMT
AG
AS
AFIN
APER
ABUD
ATRN
AL
AEMR
ACOA
AO
AX
AMED
ADCO
AODE
AFFAIRS
AC
ASIG
ABLD
AA
AFU
ASUP
AROC
ATFN
AVERY
APCS
AER
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AEC
APECO
CU
CO
CH
CDG
CIA
CACM
CDB
CI
CS
CVIS
CA
CBW
CASC
CD
CV
CMGT
CLINTON
CE
CJAN
CG
CF
CN
CAN
COUNTER
CIS
CM
CONDOLEEZZA
COE
CR
CY
CTM
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CPAS
CWC
CT
CKGR
CB
CACS
COM
CJUS
CARSON
CL
COUNTERTERRORISM
EG
ECON
ETTC
EFIN
EZ
ETRD
EUN
ELAB
EU
EINV
EAID
EMIN
ENRG
ECPS
EN
ER
ET
ES
EPET
EUC
EI
EAIR
EAGR
EIND
EWWT
ELTN
EREL
ECIN
EFIS
EINT
EC
ECONEFIN
ENVR
ECA
ELN
EFTA
EXTERNAL
EINVETC
ENIV
EINN
ENGR
EUR
ESA
ENERG
EK
ENGY
ETRO
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ENVI
ESENV
ELECTIONS
ECUN
EINVEFIN
ECIP
EINDETRD
IV
IR
IS
IZ
IAEA
IN
IT
ICTY
IQ
ICAO
INTERPOL
IPR
INRB
IRAJ
INRA
INRO
IO
IC
ID
IIP
ITPHUM
IWC
ISRAELI
IRAQI
ICRC
IMO
IF
ILC
IEFIN
INTELSAT
IL
IA
IBRD
IMF
INR
IRC
ITALY
ITALIAN
KGIC
KDEM
KTIP
KOMC
KNNP
KWBG
KU
KPAL
KGHG
KAWK
KISL
KPAO
KHLS
KSUM
KSPR
KJUS
KCRM
KGCC
KPIN
KDRG
KTFN
KG
KBIO
KHIV
KSCA
KN
KS
KCOR
KZ
KE
KFRD
KIPR
KPKO
KNUC
KMDR
KPLS
KOLY
KUNR
KIRF
KIRC
KACT
KRAD
KCOM
KMCA
KV
KHDP
KVPR
KDEV
KWMN
KMPI
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCFC
KTIA
KPRP
KAWC
KCIP
KCFE
KOCI
KTDB
KMRS
KLIG
KBCT
KICC
KGIT
KSTC
KPAK
KNEI
KSEP
KPOA
KFLU
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KO
KTER
KHUM
KRFD
KBTR
KDDG
KWWMN
KFLO
KSAF
KBTS
KPRV
KNPP
KNAR
KWMM
KERG
KFIN
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KTBT
KCRS
KRVC
KSTH
KREL
KNSD
KTEX
KPAI
KHSA
KR
KPWR
KWAC
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
MOPS
MARR
MNUC
MX
MASS
MCAP
MO
MIL
MTCRE
ML
MR
MZ
MPOS
MOPPS
MTCR
MAPP
MU
MY
MA
MG
MASC
MCC
MEPP
MK
MTRE
MP
MDC
MAR
MEPI
MRCRE
MI
MT
MQADHAFI
MD
MAPS
MUCN
MASSMNUC
MERCOSUR
MC
OVIP
OPDC
OPRC
OIIP
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OAS
OEXC
ODIP
OREP
OFDP
OTRA
OSCE
OPIC
OECD
OPCW
OSCI
OIE
OIC
OTR
OVP
PARM
PREL
PTER
PHUM
PGOV
PINR
PINS
PREF
PK
PE
PBTS
POGOV
PROP
PINL
PL
POL
PBIO
PSOE
PHSA
PKFK
PO
PGOF
PA
PARMS
PORG
PM
PMIL
PTERE
PF
PALESTINIAN
PY
PGGV
PNR
POV
PAK
PAO
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PRGOV
PNAT
PROV
PEL
PINF
PGOVE
POLINT
PRL
PRAM
PMAR
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PHUS
PHUMPREL
POLITICS
PEPR
PSI
PINT
PU
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PECON
SOCI
SY
SENV
SA
SP
SNAR
SG
SCUL
SR
STEINBERG
SF
SW
SU
SL
SMIG
SO
SN
SHUM
SZ
SYR
ST
SANC
SC
SAN
SIPRS
SK
SH
SI
TS
TU
TX
TBIO
TW
TSPA
TH
TIP
TI
TRGY
TC
TR
TT
TERRORISM
TO
TFIN
TD
TSPL
TZ
TPHY
TK
TNGD
TINT
TRSY
TP
UK
UN
US
UNGA
UNSC
UNO
UNMIK
UV
UY
UP
UG
USEU
USUN
UZ
UNESCO
UE
UAE
UNEP
USTR
UNHCR
UNDP
UNHRC
USAID
UNCHS
UNAUS
UNCHC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 06SANJOSE2259, RESPONSE TO ACTION REQUEST REGARDING
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.
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. #06SANJOSE2259.
VZCZCXRO9155
RR RUEHBI RUEHCD RUEHDE RUEHGD RUEHGH RUEHHM RUEHJO RUEHLN RUEHMA
DE RUEHSJ #2259/01 2861959
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131959Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6319
INFO RUCNOSA/OVERSEAS SECURITY ADVISORY COLLECTIVE
RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SAN JOSE 002259
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PREL PGOV XK XL XM
SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO ACTION REQUEST REGARDING
LATIN-AMERICA-CARIBBEAN BIOFUELS INITIATIVE
REF: STATE 164558
¶1. Summary. Energy production and distribution in Costa Rica are
controlled by two parastatal entities. If the U.S.- Central
America-DR Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) is ratified and comes
into force before the March 2008 deadline, CAFTA-DR will require
opening of some sectors of the economy, but the treaty requires no
market opening in the energy sector. Except for an on-going pilot
project, Costa Rica has little experience with biofuels. The
privately owned sugar industry is currently in a sound financial
condition. End Summary.
------------------
ELECTRICITY SECTOR
------------------
¶2. The electricity-telecommunications monopoly, Instituto
Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) controls all electricity
production and distribution in Costa Rica. Ninety-five percent of
electricity is produced from renewable non-fossil fuel sources,
primarily hydroelectric generation with small amounts of wind,
geothermal and solar production. In the past ICE has purchased
small amounts of electricity from co-generators, however, recent
press reports indicate ICE is not interested in renewing these
contracts once they expire. Some sugar mills use bagasse for
electric power generation and the larger mills sell excess power to
ICE.
-----------------------------
PETROLEUM, DIESEL AND ETHANOL
-----------------------------
¶3. Refinadora Costa Rica de Petroleo, RECOPE, is the parastatal
entity that controls fossil fuel supplies in Costa Rica. No oil or
gas is produced domestically, but is purchased by RECOPE from
foreign suppliers including Venezuela. RECOPE operates the
country's only refinery and also controls all distribution of oil,
gas and diesel supplies, although individual gasoline service
stations are independently owned and operated. The Government of
Mexico has discussed the possibility of establishing a regional
petroleum refinery but no decision has yet been made on where it
might be located.
¶4. RECOPE is operating an ethanol pilot project scheduled to run
from February 2006 to February 2007. The pilot project involves 62
gas stations along Costa Rica's Pacific coast that are selling a
92.5% gasoline/7.5% alcohol mixture. Ethanol is being sold at the
same price as regular gasoline even though the product costs RECOPE
more to produce and the energy content is slightly less. If the
pilot program is successful RECOPE has expressed interest in
investing in increasing production and distribution capacity.
Currently there are two ethanol production plants and one
dehydration/alcohol upgrading plant in Costa Rica. At least one of
the plants is currently increasing capacity and investing in newer
equipment. However, during the short to medium term ethanol
production from these plants is programmed for export, not for the
domestic market. The European demand for ethanol is high and Costa
Rica has never exported even half its allowable quota under the
Caribbean Basin Iniciative (CBI). The local press has reported that
by the end of 2006 RECOPE will request bids for purchase of
bio-diesel.
¶5. The Arias administration has recently proposed creation of a
National Commission on Biofuels involving the Ministry of Production
(MIPRO), the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE), RECOPE, the
Chemical Engineers Guild, oil palm growers representatives, the
Chamber of Agriculture, the Sugar Cane Producers Chamber, ICE and
the governmental entity that regulates prices for fuels, ARESEP.
The purpose of the commission is to propose short, medium and long
term strategies for use of ethanol and bio-diesel, including needed
legal reforms. Among the strategies to be considered is a tax
benefit to lower costs and encourage use of biofuels. In addition
to sugar cane, the commission will also study the possible use of
yucca and sorghum to produce biofuel.
--------------
SUGAR INDUSTRY
--------------
¶6. Costa Rica's sugar industry is privately owned. Approximately
53,000 hectares are planted in sugar cane. Average yield during the
2004/2005 crop year was 77.3 kg/hectare. At the industrial level
one cubic meter of water is required to process one metric ton of
cane. At the farm level, sugar cane requires an average minimum of
1,500 millimeters of water per hectare during the season, with
location of the farm being an important variable. In Costa Rica
sugar cane is planted at altitudes that range from sea level to
1,700 meters.
¶7. Sugarcane harvesting methods in Costa Rica include burning in the
field, which is regulated by a decree issued by the Ministry of
SAN JOSE 00002259 002 OF 002
Health in l996. Legal actions have been initiated by environmental
groups against some of the larger mills which provides a further
incentive for mechanizing operations.
¶8. Industry profitability depends on the international price
situation as well as the allocation of the U.S. and domestic sugar
market quotas. With higher world prices during the last marketing
year the industry is generally in a sound financial position. Large
producers are increasingly mechanizing operations, partly motivated
by a serious labor shortage. The potential for ethanol expansion
will depend upon the price of complements (denatured alchol from
Brazil), substitutes (petroleum and ethanol produced elsewhere) and
the relative costs of production in countries with preferential
access to the U.S. market under CAFTA or CBI.
¶9. President Arias's family owns one of the largest sugar producers
in Costa Rica.
--------------------------
CURRENT INVESTMENT CLIMATE
--------------------------
¶10. Because CAFTA-DR has not yet been ratified, many investors are
currently cautious. Some are already beginning to make investments
elsewhere in the region to hedge their bets in the event that
CAFTA-DR is either not ratified or that the implementing legislation
necessary to bring the agreement into force will not be passed
before the February 29, 2008 deadline.
-------
COMMENT
-------
¶11. The moment seems ripe for biofuels in Costa Rica. Biofuels help
polish the country's "green" image, provide new opportunities for
farmers and lessen Costa Rica's 100% dependence on foreign sources
of petroleum. The single biggest boost to the nascent biofuels
industry likely would be for the GOCR to mandate use of a certain
percentage blend so that the industry could use that guaranteed
domestic market to justify ramping up capacity.
LANGDALE