An independent U.S. Government foreign assistance agency funded by the U.S. Congress is offering a $378,000 contract to host workshops with members of the Chinese shale gas industry to “help introduce Chinese energy sector officials and project sponsors to U.S. shale gas best practices, policies and technologies.”
The United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) says it is offering the training program funds with the expectation that the presenter will “optimize the potential for U.S. exports.”
But with China’s reputation for industrial and technological espionage, the fact that participants will “come from Chinese government entities and the Chinese firms that have been awarded blocs for shale gas” raises concerns.
Given how lucrative the shale gas industry is proving to be, it’s unclear why the industry can’t fund its own workshops, writes U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor reporter Steve Peacock.
“Considering that U.S. companies already hold that position of world leadership in that industry segment, the document [USTDA project posting] left unclear why U.S. taxpayers will fund its further expansion.”
According to the Statement of Work (SOW), the project is meant to support the U.S. China Shale Gas Resource Initiative, which is led by the U.S. State Department, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s U.S. -China Oil and Gas Forum.
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