Energy became a more visible part of US foreign policy when Richard L. Morningstar was appointed special envoy for Eurasian energy last April at the US Department of State. He recently looked back at his first few months on the job, outlined emerging trends, and suggested possible responses.
"The key to achieving our strategy is engagement," he said in a Jan. 28 address to the Council on Foreign Relations. "We play a supporting, not leading, role in Europe's energy security and the development of Caspian oil and gas. We need to continue to engage with the private sector, with the [European Union] and with individual European states, with Russia, and with Central Asia.
"Our job is to listen, identify common interests and priorities, and play a facilitating role where we can," Morningstar said. "By doing these things, it is clear we further US interests in raising global oil and gas production, in having secure energy supplies to our allies in Europe, and in supporting sovereignty and independence in Central Asia."
He outlined three main Eurasian strategy components. First, he said, the US encourages development of new oil and gas resources while promoting efficiency and conservation as well as alternative technologies. The US also supports Europe's quest for energy security, and wants to help Caucasus and Central Asian producer countries find new routes to oil and gas markets.
Global security
"When we are talking about new natural gas production in Azerbaijan or Turkmenistan, it is unlikely that one molecule of that gas will reach the US, but it is still important because it would add to international gas supply, increasing global energy security. New supply in one place naturally frees up supply in another," Morningstar observed.
Initiatives to further these goals include support of a southern corridor to bring Caspian basin gas to Europe. Morningstar warned that the concept won't work if countries can't reach "commercially sensible, mutually advantageous" transportation terms.
The US supports the idea of supplies from Iraq (as long as they're sanctioned by the central government) and Turkmenistan in the pipeline, but sees no place there for Iranian gas at this time, he said.
Other supplies
Europe's efforts to bolster its energy security also have strong US backing, according to Morningstar. He noted that the region has other gas supply options, including additional imports from North Africa as well as LNG from Qatar, Nigeria, and elsewhere.
He noted that to further this effort, the US-EU Energy Council was launched in November with US Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as the country's top representatives.
Russia is another important partner as a key energy producer and critical regional player, he continued. "We must engage with Russia and work on areas where we can agree. We want to do so in a way that upholds our principles," Morningstar said.
More Oil & Gas Journal Current Issue Articles
More Oil & Gas Journal Archives Issue Articles
View Oil and Gas Articles on PennEnergy.com
