US energy officials enquire about Venezuelan gasoline exports

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, April 03, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

Officials from the US State Department's Office for International Energy, Matthew McManus and Pedro Gustavo Erviti have held discussions with Venezuelan Minister Counselor of Energy Affairs Fadi Kabboul and embassy Energy Affairs Attache Ramon Key to enquire about the current situation of Venezuela's petroleum industry ... in particular its ability to export gasoline.

The two Venezuelans officials presented a detailed analysis of the current state of play at Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and its production levels of 2.95 million barrels per day, as well as the company's restructuring plans, which they said would bring it for flexibility and make it more competitive than it currently is.

The US energy officials were told that Venezuela is currently exporting 843,000 barrels of crude per day to the US, along with 247,000 barrels of associated products.  As for gasoline, the Venezuelans said they would provide the State Department with their export forecasts over the coming few days.