TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN CONVENTIONAL ENERGY (PROJECT PAPER)

A contractor will implement the project with help from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under supervision of A.I.D."s Office of Energy (DS/EY). For project purposes, CE will be defined to include all geological energy resources except uranium; that is, fossil fuels (especially oil, natural gas, and coal) that are extractable with proven and available technologies, as well as geothermal energy and other resources (such as oil shale and tar sands) that may be extractable with technologies now being developed. Countries will be selected according to interest (as reported by Missions) in receiving assistance; current knowledge of CE potential; degree of energy dependence; ability to explore and develop CE resources; relation of project activity to other in-country U.S. energy activities; and availability of other donor assistance and of public and private investment for CE development. USGS will rank the CE needs of all non-OPEC A.I.D. recipient countries according to these criteria and will develop a list of manageable CE activities. LDC"s will be assisted in four areas. Phase one assistance will focus on reviewing and summarizing current CE information; evaluating manpower and institutional resources and needs; and developing a national exploration strategy. Phase two assistance will focus on improving the geological data base and on providing energy management and technical training to government personnel. In phase three, assistance will be given in interpreting existing geophysical data; in acquiring new data through remote sensing studies or field studies using magnetic, gravity, or seismic techniques, and, for coal, appraisal drilling and sample analysis; and in interpreting new data. In a fourth phase, the economic feasibility of exploratory drilling, field development, and CE production and marketing will be determined, and proposals for exploration financing will be prepared and submitted to multilateral lending institutions. For further information, search the DOCUMENT data base under this project number.