(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 18.Jul.2013) – PDVSA’s and Venezuela’s Oil Minister President Rafael Ramirez spoke with journalist in Cumana, Venezuela.
What follows are excerpts from the discussion.
Rafael Ramirez on Mariscal Sucre:
Ramirez: PDVSA plans to send additional gas production from offshore (Mariscal Sucre) to thermoelectric plants in a move to reduce the use of diesel.
Plans to substitute diesel (40,000 bbls) with gas during 2010-2019 will save Venezuela $37.4 bln.
We will initiate our first gas test on 25.Jun.2013 and four in all with average production of 70-75 MMcf/d to take place monthly through year end 2013. As a result, PDVSA will add production of 280-300 MMcf/d by the end of 2013.
Gas from Mariscal Sucre in eastern Venezuela will be used to supply western Venezuela where there is a gas deficit.
It should be remembered that Mariscal Sucre is the old Cristobal Colon project.
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