EUROPE (By Rafael Ramirez, former Venezuelan oil minister and former PDVSA president, 2.Mar.2026, Words: 1,400) — The reform by Venezuela’s National Assembly “violates [Venezuela’s] sovereignty and contravenes Articles 12, 302, 303, and 151 of the still-current Constitution,” writes former energy minister Rafael Ramirez. RELATED: VENEZUELA AND 3 PILLARS TO ENERGY […]
Tag: Rafael Ramirez
![The lifting of sanctions and the oil collapse of Venezuela [PDF download]](https://energy-analytics-institute.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Venezuela-requests-the-extradition-of-former-PDVSA-president-Rafael-Ramirez.jpg)
The lifting of sanctions and the oil collapse of Venezuela [PDF download]
(Rafael Ramírez, 16.Nov.2023) — On 18 Oct., the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)[1] issued Licenses 43 and 44,[2] lifting the sanctions on the Venezuelan oil and mining sector that had been in place since Jan. 2019. The OFAC measure is of a temporary nature, for a period of six months, subject to compliance […]
Could A Controversial Chevron Deal Be A Prelude To Venezuela’s Oil Renaissance?
(Forbes, 2.Dec.2022) — A video that state-owned oil giant Petróleos de Venezuela posted to its Twitter feed this week shows a jovial meeting between Oil Minister Tarek El Aissami and Javier La Rosa, Chevron’s CVX country head. The clip shows La Rosa arriving at what looks to be Aissami’s offices, the two laughing, […]
Italy Top Court: Venezuela’s Ex-oil Czar Can’t be Extradited
(AP, 28.Jan.2022) — Italy’s highest court confirmed Friday that Venezuela’s former oil czar cannot be extradited to face corruption charges at home because of his country’s record in violating human rights, his Italian lawyer said. The Court of Cassation upheld a lower court’s ruling in September which recognized that Rafael […]
NRGBriefs: Barinas Governor Election in Venezuela
(Energy Analytics Institute, 9.Jan.2022) — Energy briefs including results from the 9 Jan. 2022 governor election in Venezuela’s Barinas state; and the Deer Park refinery sale to Pemex surviving a court challenge in a federal court in Houston. LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN Mexico — The Deer Park refinery sale […]
NRGBriefs: ANP Resolution, Ramirez Extradition Request
(Energy Analytics Institute, 23.Sep.2021) — Energy briefs from the LAC region including: Brazil’s ANP approving a resolution to regulate a reduction in royalties, a court in Rome rejects Nicolas Maduro’s request to extradite former PDVSA head Rafael Ramirez, and the BODs of APA Corp. declaring a regular cash dividend. LATIN […]
Rome Court Rejects Extradition Bid For Ex-Oil Czar
(AP, 20.Sep.2021) — A Rome court has rejected a request by Venezuela to extradite its former oil czar to face corruption charges, citing the country’s record in violating human rights, his Italian lawyer said Monday. Rafael Ramirez, the longtime head of Venezuela’s PDVSA state oil company, fled to Italy after […]
Italian Court Accepts Extradition Request For Former Minister Ramirez
(Reuters, 14.Jul.2021) — An Italian court on Wednesday approved an extradition request for Venezuela’s former Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez, who is charged with corruption, Venezuelan state television said. Authorities in the South American country had sought an Interpol red notice – a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and […]
Former PDVSA Executive Ortega Gets Two Year Prison Sentence
(AP, 5.May.2021) — A former Venezuelan oil executive was sentenced to more than two years in prison for taking at least $12 million in bribes from businessmen who allegedly raided the coffers of the state-run oil company. Abraham Ortega is the first former Venezuelan official to be sentenced as part […]
Former PDVSA Head Criticizes Anti-Blockade Law
(Energy Analytics Institute, 11.Oct.2020) — The former president of Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), Rafael Ramírez, criticized Venezuela’s Anti-Blockade Law, which was approved by the country’s National Constituent Assembly. “For more than five years I’ve been denouncing the direction this government is going in terms the delivery of our oil, reversal […]
Rafael Ramirez: Venezuela Can Fix Its Own Oil Industry
(Argus, 8.Sep.2020) — Rafael Ramirez served as Venezuela’s oil minister from 2002-2013 and concurrent chief executive of state-owned PdV from 2004-2013, a tumultuous period marked by an oil strike and nationalizations under the late president Hugo Chavez. In this interview, edited for length and clarity, Ramirez, now in exile in […]
PDVSA Cedes Oilfield Operations To Foreign Firms
(Reuters, 3.Jan.2020) — Venezuelan state company PDVSA is letting some joint venture partners take over the day-to-day operation of oilfields as its own capacity dwindles due to sanctions and a lack of cash and staff, according to a former oil minister, an opposition lawmaker and industry sources. Crude production by […]
Chevron Stayed In Venezuela Long After Rivals Quit
(Wall Street Journal, Kejal Vyas and Bradley Olson, 8.Nov.2018) — For nearly a century, Chevron Corp. has weathered dictatorships, coups and nationalization drives to keep pumping oil in Venezuela. But recently, executives at the last U.S. oil major in the country have debated whether it may be time to get out, […]
Ex-Venezuela Oil Official Pleads Guilty In Graft Probe
(AP, 2.Nov.2018) The former finance chief of Venezuela’s state oil company pleaded guilty on Wednesday to participating in an alleged US$1.2-billion embezzlement scheme, a major breakthrough for US prosecutors targeting corruption by people close to President Nicolas Maduro, including his stepsons. Appearing in a Miami federal court, Abraham Ortega promised […]
Ex-Venezuelan Oil Exec Admits Bribes In $1.2 Bln Money-Laundering Scheme
(El Nuevo Herald, Jay Weaver And Antonio Maria Delgado, 31.Oct.2018) — A former top official of Venezuela’s state-owned oil company pleaded guilty Wednesday in Miami federal court to playing a pivotal role in a $1.2 billion money-laundering racket that U.S. authorities say was run by some of the country’s wealthiest […]
Rafael Ramírez Says Maduro Destroyed PDVSA
(Energy Analytics Institute, Jared Yamin, 19.Aug.2018) – Former PDVSA President Rafael Ramírez says Venezuela produced 3 million barrels per day until December 2013. That figure has dropped by 1.8 million, according to his statements. “When we were in the revolutionary government of Comandante Chávez, we had fiscal balance and enough […]
Former PDVSA Director Detained in Argentina
(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 17.Aug.2018) – A former PDVSA director has been detained and accused of money laundering. Luis Abraham Bastidas Ramírez, the cousin of former PDVSA President Rafael Ramírez, was detained in Argentina, wrote reporter Dean Rojas in a tweet on his personal twitter account. Ramírez’s capture was […]
Former Cerro Negro Workers Still Seek Payment
(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 23.Jul.2018) – It has been 11 years and the 7,000 direct and indirect Venezuelan workers of US oil company Exxon Mobil still haven’t received their social benefits or other liquidations. Those payment were assumed by the government of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez when his […]
Ex-Venezuelan Energy Official Pleads Guilty
(AP, 16.Jul.2018) – A former official at a state-run electric company in Caracas, Venezuela, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy relating to an alleged multibillion-dollar graft scheme in the Venezuelan oil industry. Luis Carlos de Leon-Perez, a 42-year-old dual citizen of the United States and Venezuela, admitted his role in […]
Venezuela’s Ex-Oil Czar Sees Economic Collapse Accelerating
(AP, 27.May.2018) – Venezuela’s former oil czar said crude production in the OPEC nation will continue to plummet in the aftermath of President Nicolas Maduro’s re-election, as the embattled socialist leader takes the country down an increasingly authoritarian path that scares off private investment and leads to more international sanctions […]
Venezuela Moving Towards Oil Industry Restructuring
(Energy Analytics Institute, Aaron Simonsky, 4.Jan.2017) – “Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says ‘we’re going towards a restructuring of the (oil) industry’ and names Nelson Martínez, the actual president of Houston-based Citgo Petroleum Corporation, as Venezuela’s Petroleum Minister. Martínez replaces Eulogio Del Pino in this position. Del Pino retains his post […]
LatAmNRG: Heard on the Street 1Q:15
(Energy Analytics Institute, 30.Mar.2015) – Information in this section, provided by Energy Analytics Institute editors and reporters, is hearsay and thus should be treated as such. REGARDING COLOMBIA * A small group of Venezuelans are interested in acquiring an interest in Colombian oil company Pacific Rubiales. REGARDING VENEZUELA * To […]
Venezuela Sees US shale Boom As Bonus
(Reuters, Dmitry Zhdannikov, 16.Jun.2014) — Venezuela wants to increase oil supplies to the United States to regain some of the market share it lost over the past decade as Caracas sees the U.S. boom in light oil from shale as a chance to raise heavy-crude exports, the country’s oil minister […]
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 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 […]
PDVSA initiates production at Dragon gas field
CARACAS, VENEZUELA (By Pietro D. Pitts, Energy Analytics Institute, 25.Aug.2013, Words: 650) – Development of the offshore fields Dragon, Patao, Mejillones and Rio Caribe located in the Northern Paria Peninsula will allow for initial production of 200 MMcf/d of gas and 20 Mb/d of condensates which will be destined initially […]
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.” ***
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. ***
Venezuela Inaugurates Nororiental Gas Pipeline
(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 15.Aug.2013) – Venezuela inaugurated the first part of the Northeastern Gas Pipeline in Jefe Jose Francisco Bermudez. The pipeline extends from Barbacoa in Anzoategui state to Güiria in Sucre state and Margarita Island in Nueva Esparta state. The pipeline spans 731 km and consist of […]
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 […]
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 […]
Journalist round table with PDVSA head Rafael Ramirez about the Faja, FONDEN, and more
CARACAS, VENEZUELA (By Pietro D. Pitts, Energy Analytics Institute, 31.Jul.2013, Words: 1999) – PDVSA President Rafael Ramirez held a small round table with journalist in Caracas, Venezuela. What follows are excerpts from the discussion.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]