<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, March 27, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Venezuelan business sectors claim that Interior & Justice (MIJ) Minister Diosdado Cabello is mixed up in the purchase of Eveba tuna co bases in Cumana (Sucre).   Eveba deputy president, Majed Khalil denies the charges alleging that the new owners have nothing to do with Cabello and that the purchase was business ... "a business opportunity." 

Rumors have been circulating for several weeks that Minister Cabello and new owner, Arab businessman Khaled Khalil are connected. 

Critics point to the ease with which Khalil received a hefty Banco Industrial de Venezuela (BIV) credit and ... according to media sources ... the Castro family sold Eveba to the Arabs for $30 million, even though its real value is estimated at $10 million. 

The Arabs paid $2 million in cash and the rest was made out through BIV loans.  However,  the BIV gave out $8 million because of liquidity problems but opened a credit line for  the remaining $20 million to be paid in 6 years. 

Khalil denies the loan, saying he paid with" fresh money." Political sectors are now asking the Minister to clarify his and BIV's role in the deal. Eveba is said to have 10-15% of the domestic tuna market.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, March 27, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

5 of 13 Venezuelan merchant navy (PDV-Marina) tankers are out of circulation ... and tankers, "Paria" and "Caura" have already lost their international classification because of lack of maintenance. 

The tanker "Inicairte" has a split in one of its cargo tanks and must be repaired before the next inspection or lose its certificate.

The "Ambrosio" also reports problems in the tanks as well as loading and unloading tubes. 

The "Moruy" has problems in its main engine preventing it from moving anchor and the "Pilin Leon" tanker, which led the merchant navy's revolt against the Venezulan government, has remained anchored for the very same reason.

All in all, it means that only 6 of 13 tankers are in any normal state for carrying cargoes of gasoline and petroleum.

<a href=www.zenit.org> Incredible EUDate: 2003-03-25

MILAN, Italy, MARCH 25, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Church in Italy is promoting simple marriage celebrations that highlight the sacrament with austerity and keep in mind the needy.

The Archdiocese of Milan suggests a number of ideas for so-called solidaristic weddings on its Web page.

Suggestions for austere weddings include renting reception premises from a social cooperative for the prevention of juvenile delinquency, or having a dinner catered by a relatively low-cost agricultural cooperative.

Marginalized persons also can help through a social cooperative with the distribution of wedding invitations and booklets.

The archdiocese suggests the names of wedding-gift stores that, in addition to conducting an ethical business, contribute to the funding of development projects in the Third World.

Instead of buying an expensive wedding dress, brides can rent a dress from the Community and Family Association, which has opened the store From Hand to Hand.

Even the honeymoon can be socially conscious: Recommended travel agencies in Milan conduct "responsible tourism" in Brazil or Venezuela.

The archdiocese explained that its suggestions respond to the need to remember that a wedding can be an ideal occasion to manifest concrete love for the needy.

eastbay.bizjournals.com 2:14 PM PST Friday  Alan Doyle  

Three of the five oil companies with East Bay plants are the top importers of crude from Iraq, according to U.S. Department of Energy statistics for January, the most recent month for which figures are available.

A fourth refiner, San Ramon-based ChevronTexaco Corp. – which operates the East Bay's largest refinery in Richmond – said it is suspending purchases of Iraqi crude for its U.S. refineries. The nation's second-largest oil company said the decision was based on market conditions and uncertain continuing supplies, not because of political fallout as President Bush prepares to wage war on Iraq. ExxonMobil Corp., the nation's largest refiner, also said it had stopped loading Iraqi crude for U.S. refineries.

The three refiners still buying Iraqi crude through middlemen under terms of the embargo imposed by the United Nations in 1991 after the last war with Iraq are Valero Energy Corp., ConocoPhillips and Motiva Enterprises LLC, a joint venture between the Royal Dutch/Shell Group and Saudi Aramco. Valero and ConocoPhillips previously said none of the Iraqi crude was bought for their refineries in Benicia and Rodeo. Motiva doesn't do business in the West.

The Department of Energy reported Valero, the nation's largest independent, was the biggest U.S. purchaser of crude in January, importing 140,000 barrels per day, up from 48,000 in the fourth quarter of 2002. ConocoPhillips imported 101,000 bpd and Motiva was the fifth-largest importer at 65,000 bpd, according to the federal agency.

Total U.S. imports of Iraqi crude rose to 600,000 bpd from 366,000 bpd in December, according to the DOE. Much of that increase was thought to be attempts to offset shortages caused by the oil strike in Venezuela, normally the fifth-largest exporter of crude to the United States.

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Venezuela said has boosted production to 2.1 million bpd since the strike ended last month. Production had dropped as low as 390,000 bpd, forcing refiners to scramble for other sources of crude and persuading other OPEC nations, including Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, to increase production.

Overall, Saudi Arabia remained the top source of U.S. imports in January, with 1.82 million bpd, or 21 percent of the total 8.55 million bpd total, according to the DOE. Production rose from 1.15 million bpd in December.

Canada remained second at 1.62 million bpd, up from 1.49 million bpd in December; Mexico dropped to 1.57 million bpd from 1.73 million bpd. Nigeria remained fourth, at 798,000 bpd, up from 625,000 bpd in December.

Reach Doyle at adoyle@bizjournals.com.

www.business-standard.com

Even as the Bush administration masses troops in the Persian Gulf in preparation for a war to topple Saddam Hussein, US refineries are the biggest buyers of Iraqi oil, according to a report on the website of Bloomberg.

Shipments of Iraqi crude to the US more than tripled from September to January, according to data released by the Commerce Department, the report said. Iraq supplied 17.1 million barrels in January - 6.4% of total US oil imports, the report added.

The jump in imports came as an illegal surcharge that benefited the Iraqi government was dropped and refiners sought alternatives for crude from Venezuela where a strike crippled oil production, the report said.