Harvest Withdraws Venezuelan Arbitration Request

(Harvest Natural Resources, 29.Jan.2015) – Harvest Natural Resources, Inc. announced that its affiliates, HNR Finance B.V. (Harvest BV) and Harvest Vinccler S.C.A. (HVSCA), have withdrawn without prejudice a Request for Arbitration (the Arbitration Request) against the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela before the International Centre for Settlement of […]

Harvest Files Arbitration Request Against Venezuela

(Harvest Natural Resources, 16.Jan.2015) – Harvest Natural Resources, Inc. announced that its affiliates, HNR Finance B.V. (Harvest BV) and Harvest Vinccler S.C.A. (HVSCA), submitted a Request for Arbitration against the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) regarding Harvest BV’s […]

Harvest Terminates Venezuelan Deal

(Harvest Natural Resources, 2.Jan.2015) – Harvest Natural Resources, Inc. announced that the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) between Petroandina Resources Corporation N.V. (Petroandina), Pluspetrol Resources Corporation B.V. (Pluspetrol), Harvest and HNR Energia B.V., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harvest, for the purchase of Harvest’s remaining interests in Venezuela for a purchase price […]

PDVSA Incorporates New Tankers into Fleet

(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 25.Oct.2013) – PDVSA President Rafael Ramirez speaks to reporters in Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela about introduction of news tankers into fleet. Highlights of the discussion follow: PDVSA incorporates VLCC Ayacucho and Suezmax Rio Arauca tankers, both built in China, into its fleet. The new PDVSA […]

Ramirez Moving Forward with Energy Policy

(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 10.Oct.2013) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro seems to be allowing Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez to take charge of moving forward with the country’s energy policy, which could be a good move since investor may have more confidence in Ramirez or it could be a bad […]

1St Venezuela-India Round-table in Caracas

(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 7.Oct.2013) – The 1st Business Round-table meetings between Venezuelan and Indian companies took place in Caracas from October 7-9, 2013. Highlights from the round-table follow: Venezuelan Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez addressed opening ceremony: Venezuelan-India create working tables to collaborate on development of the six topics/areas: […]

Rafael Ramirez Speech in Caracas

(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 7.Oct.2013) – PDVSA President Rafael Ramirez spoke with journalist in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. What follows are excerpts from the discussion. Rafael Ramirez regarding shipments to China: Ramirez: We are currently exporting 640,000 b/d to China and 430,000 b/d to India. We are supplying oil […]

Rafael Ramirez Speech in Puerto La Cruz

(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 4.Oct.2013) – Venezuela’s Oil Minister President Rafael Ramirez spoke with journalist in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. What follows are excerpts from the discussion. Rafael Ramirez on the economic sector: Ramirez: We have bonds that we are using to bring in food stuffs to guarantee supply […]

Petronas Exits Carabobo Project in Venezuela

(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 11.Sep.2013) – Malaysia’s Petronas will exit the Petrocarabobo project in Venezuela’s Orinoco Heavy Oil Belt or Faja, according to Venezuela’s Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez. The Petrocarabobo project, which requires an investment of $20 bln, will last for 25 years and includes construction of a 200,000 […]

PetroPar Debt Will Not Be Forgiven

(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 10.Sep.2013) – PDVSA President Rafael Ramirez, who also serves as Venezuela’s Oil Minister, said that the debt owed to PDVSA by Petroleos de Paraguay (Petropar) must be repaid. Petropar’s outstanding debt to PDVSA is around $265 mln to $270 mln, according to reports on the […]

Q&A with PDVSA Refining Director Jesus Luongo

(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 9.Sep.2013) – PDVSA Refining Director Jesus Luongo spoke briefly with Energy Analytics Institute on the sideline of a press conference in Caracas, Venezuela. What follows are excerpts from the brief interview. EAI: What is the processing capacity at Amuay? Luongo: Amuay is processing 445,000 b/d. […]

Ramirez Talks PDVSA on ‘Jose Vicente Hoy’

(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 8.Sep.2013) – Venezuelan Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez comments on the oil worker’s strike in 2002-2003 against PDVSA. “Venezuelan opposition has spent 10-years saying PDVSA would go bankrupt and today the company is one of the largest companies in the world. PDVSA is the only state […]

Eni CEO comments on Perla

(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 28.Aug.2013) – Eni Chief Executive Officer Paolo Scaroni comments during a special event at PDVSA’s headquarters in Caracas, Venezuela about his company’s participation in activities in Venezuela: “Venezuela will be the most important country for Eni once the offshore Perla discovery reaches maximum production and […]

PDVSA President Comments on Citgo

(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 25.Aug.2013) – During a trip with reporters in Guiria, PDVSA President Rafael Ramirez commented about the company’s CITGO Corporation refineries in the USA: “PDVSA’s USA refining circuit has certain problems due to its geographic distribution and the fact that they receive little Venezuelan crudes.” ***

Oil Analyst Speak at IESA Energy Forum

(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 20.Aug.2013) – Energy sector analyst from Medley to Harvard Kennedy spoke at an energy forum at IESA in Caracas. Quote highlights from the forum follow: Comments from Luisa Palacios Director for Latin America, Medley Global Adviser regarding Mexico’s energy reform: “We expect to see positive […]

Rosneft and PDVSA Evaluate Gas Projects

(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 15.Aug.2013) – Rosneft and PDVSA are reviewing plans to extract gas in Sucre state and in the Gulf of Venezuela, according to a PDVSA official. “We are looking at areas with gas and condensate reserves,” PDVSA President Rafael Ramirez told Energy Analytics Institute. ***

Rosneft to Use Russian Technology at PetroMonagas

(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 14.Aug.2013) – Rosneft President Igor Sechon said his company would utilize Russian technology at the Petromonagas heavy oil project to increase production to 160,000 b/d from 140,000 b/d. Rosneft and PDVSA participate as partners in the following JVs in Venezuela: Petroperija, Boqueron, Petromonagas, Petrozamora, Petrovictoria […]

Rosneft, PDVSA Agree to Create PetroVictoria

(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 14.Aug.2013) – PDVSA and Russia’s Rosneft signed an agreement to create the JV company Petrovictoria, which will operate Carabobo Block 2 in Anzoategui and Monagas states as well as Carabobo Block 4 in Monagas state. The agreement was signed by Venezuela’s Minister of Energy and […]

Amuay Explosion in 2012 Cost PDVSA $1.8 Bln

(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 13.Aug.2013) – The Energy Orientation Center (COENER) announced the Amuay refinery explosion will cost PDVSA $1.8 billion. The explosion at the Amuay refinery was caused by a gas leak at Block B23 and occurred at 1:10am on 25.Aug.2012 and was the largest tragedy to-date to […]

Q&A with Oil Outlook President Carl Larry

(Energy Analytics Institute, Pietro D. Pitts, 9.Aug.2013) – Oil Outlook President Carl Larry spoke with Energy Analytics Institute in a brief interview from Houston, Texas. What follows are excerpts from the brief interview. EAI: Are US refiners benefiting from PDVSA’s refinery problems in Venezuela? Larry: We have seen production in […]

Q&A with Chevron LatAm’s Susana Brugada

(Energy Analytics Institute, Pietro D. Pitts, 7.Aug.2013) – Chevron Latin America Business Unit Public Affairs and Communications Coordinator Susana Brugada spoke with Energy Analytics Institute in a brief interview from Caracas, Venezuela. What follows are excerpts from the brief interview. EAI: Is Chevron continuing to export gas to Venezuela from […]

Ramirez Comments on Oil, Mining Sectors

(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 27.Jul.2013) – Venezuelan Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez comments on development of the Orinoco Heavy Oil Belt and the Venezuelan mining sector. “The Faja project was a dream of Hugo Chavez and I swear that we will complete the project.” “We have establish order in the […]

Speech by Rafael Ramirez from Puerto Ordaz

(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 27.Jul.2013) – PDVSA’s and Venezuela’s Oil Minister President Rafael Ramirez spoke at the closing of the Sixth National Production Meetings in Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela. What follows are excerpts from the speech. Speech by Rafael Ramirez on Venezuelan petroleum sector: Ramirez: At the closing event for […]

Q&A with Fitch’s Lucas Aristizabal

(Energy Analytics Institute, Pietro D. Pitts, 19.Jul.2013) – Fitch’s Latin America Corporates Group Director Lucas Aristizabal spoke with Energy Analytics Institute in a brief interview from New York City, New York. What follows are excerpts from the brief interview. Regarding PDVSA’s strategy to focus more attention on China: EAI: PDVSA […]

Rafael Ramirez Speech in from Cumana

(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 […]

Q&A with Brookshire’s Gianna Bern

(Energy Analytics Institute, Pietro D. Pitts, 19.Jul.2013) – Brookshire Advisory and Research President Gianna Bern spoke with Energy Analytics Institute in a brief interview from Chicago, IL. What follows are excerpts from the brief interview. EAI: Do you think PDVSA will move to increase rates on Petrocaribe member countries that […]

Sinovensa Signs $4 Bln Financing Agreement

(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 12.Jul.2013) – Sinovensa President Erwin Hernandez and China’s Development Bank Vice President Wang Yongshen signed a financing agreement in Beijing for $4 million for the expansion of production at the company which is comprised of PDVSA and China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC). ***

Japan, Venezuela Sign Energy MOU

(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 10.Jul.2013) – Venezuela’s Energy and Petroleum Minister Rafael Ramirez and his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi meet in Tokyo to review advances under a MOU signed by Venezuela and Japan in 2007. Ramirez also met with the Jogmec President Hirobumi Kawanon and Inpex President Toshiaki Kitamura […]

Paraguana Refining Center Running at 717 Mb/d

(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 6.Jul.2013) – With the five distillation plants at Amuay Refinery operating, average processing levels at the Paraguana Refining Center (CRP) were 717,000 b/d in June 2013, announced PDVSA Refining Director Jesus Luongo. The refinery was expected to be processing 736,000 b/d in July 2013. CRP […]

PDVSA Says Paraguana Wind Park Advances

(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 3.Jul.2013) – PDVSA initiated wind studies in 2007 and by December 2012 the company had 23 turbines in place with a processing capacity of 33 MW. Venezuela’s wind park in Paraguana currently consists of 76 wind turbines that produce 100 MW of clean energy and […]

Venezuela Seizes Helmerich & Payne Rigs

(TulsaWorld, Rod Walton, 2.Jul.2010) – The action comes amid a payment dispute in which the company left the equipment idle. Helmerich & Payne’s 52-year business relationship with Venezuela came to at least a temporary end Thursday as President Hugo Chavez’s government seized 11 rigs owned by the Tulsa contract drilling […]

Petro-Canada Joins Venezuelan Oil Exodus

(Reuters, 26.Jun.2007) — Petro-Canada has pulled out of Venezuela by rejecting new nationalistic terms for oil projects and passing its stake in one discovery to President Hugo Chavez’s government, it said on Tuesday. “We have decided not to migrate to the new commercial structure, so our working interest passes to […]