1 oct 2010

Region Andina: Lo destacado del día 01/10/2010

Chile
CDE ratifica decisión de seremi que permitió destrabar trámites para central a carbón
El Consejo de Defensa del Estado (CDE) dice que el ex seremi de Salud actuó conforme al marco jurídico que le es aplicable.
A casi una semana de presentada, se conocieron detalles de la apelación que el Consejo de Defensa del Estado (CDE) presentó ante la Corte Suprema para tratar de revertir el fallo que declaró ilegal la actuación del ex seremi de Salud, Raúl Martínez, relativa a la calificación de la central Castilla, ligada al magnate brasileño Eike Batista.
El organismo, que encabeza Carlos Mackenney, asumió la defensa del renunciado Secretario Regional Ministerial (Seremi) de Salud que, en julio, cambió de "contaminante" a "molesta" la calificación de la unidad proyectada en la Región de Atacama, modificando así el criterio que expresó su antecesora Pilar Merino. Esta modificación permitió destrabar el trámite ambiental de la unidad termoeléctrica a carbón.
Entre los argumentos del CDE figura que tanto el recurso de protección que los detractores del proyecto presentaron ante la Corte de Apelaciones de Copiapó, como el fallo de este tribunal "alteran la institucionalidad ambiental".
"El fallo a pesar de declarar que no entrará en consideraciones técnicas del proyecto, lo califica ambientalmente como contaminante sin que aún la Corema, que es la autoridad competente, emita pronunciamiento alguno", dice la apelación a la que tuvo acceso "El Mercurio".
Junto con indicar que el renunciado seremi de Salud no cometió ilegalidad, pues la modificación figura entre las atribuciones que le son aplicables, el texto -presentado por el procurador fiscal del CDE en Copiapó, Adolfo Rivera- añade que el rótulo de contaminante que recibió Castilla fue producto de la aplicación de un método errado en el cálculo del dióxido de nitrógeno generado por el proyecto Castilla.
El organismo explica también que en lo referido al proceso administrativo tampoco habría habido ilegalidad.

Catorce proyectos energéticos estarían en conflicto con zonas protegidas
La XII Región concentra el mayor número de áreas resguardadas, con un 50,5% de su territorio, pero es lugar apto para la generación de energía. Por ello, se evalúa una redefinición de los límites para no frenar las inversiones.
Para evitar conflictos como el de la termoeléctrica Barrancones, que finalmente, tras solicitud del propio Presidente Sebastián Piñera, se decidió no instalar en las cercanías de la Reserva del Pingüino de Humboldt (IV Región), y entregarle tranquilidad a los inversionistas, el Gobierno pidió acelerar un catastro de las zonas con los puntos protegidos de todo el país, el cual ya venía trabajando el Ministerio de Bienes Nacionales sobre las propiedades fiscales. En respuesta al requerimiento, se estableció el Sistema Nacional de Áreas Silvestres Protegidas del Estado (SNASPE), un mapa que incluye reservas, parques y monumentos, cuya suma llega a 90 puntos. De ese total, 14 proyectos energéticos están en conflicto, por ubicarse en las cercanías de esas zonas.
La superficie total del SNASPE es de 14.364.654 hectáreas, correspondiente al 18,8% del territorio nacional. En tanto, las dos regiones que concentran mayor cantidad de puntos protegidos son la XI y XII, con un 48,6% y 50,5% de su territorio, respectivamente. Situación compleja, puesto que es una zona apta para la generación de energía, afirmó un analista del sector.
Dentro de ese escenario, se evaluaría una redefinición de las zonas protegidas, como adecuar los límites de los parques para que exista compatibilidad entre las áreas resguardadas y el desarrollo de proyectos energéticos.
Potencialidades
Tras un análisis que lleva a cabo esa cartera de Estado, se han establecido las distintas potencialidades existentes en cada una de las zonas del país. Además, puntualizar los espacios del territorio nacional que cuenten con las características geológicas y ambientales necesarias para llevar a cabo inversiones que permitan instalar centrales energéticas o puertos, con el fin de desarrollar las industrias más pesadas y, de esta manera, no afectar la vida de las personas ni los recursos naturales. Junto con ello, proteger las zonas para las futuras generaciones.
Pese a lo anterior, fuentes del gobierno sostienen que Chile ha descuidado la protección de áreas en el centro del país, ya que allí hay pocas, convirtiéndose en una tarea, al igual que las zonas marinas. Por ello, la actual idea de la autoridad es que todos los puntos protegidos estén a disposición pública, para que cuando se creen proyectos, los consideren, y así evitar el freno a las inversiones.


Enap podría aliarse con Petrobras en Argentina, Ecuador y Africa
Según el presidente del Sindicato de Enap Sipetrol, “en el pasado Enap y Petrobras fuimos socios en un proyecto en Colombia, donde ellos operaban (Caguán-Rio ceibas). Por tanto, proyectos de tamaño pequeño como ese podrían darse”.
La empresa Enap Sipetrol, sería la opción de expansión internacional de Enap. El geólogo y presidente del Sindicato de Enap Sipetrol, Alejandro Pérez, indicó que “lo que puede darse es que Petrobras debería focalizarse en desarrollar las ingentes reservas descubiertas en su país y dejar algunos proyectos menores que pueda tener en el mundo”.
Esta situación haría factible el aumento de la participación de Enap, tanto de manera individual como a través de una alianza junto a Petrobras, a países de la costa occidental de Africa (como Nigeria) y aumentar su participación en Argentina y Ecuador.
Según especialistas, los grandes yacimientos encontrados en Brasil harían que estas concesiones dejen de tener gran importancia para Petrobras, dado que son de un tamaño pequeño en relación a los nuevos encontrados, sin embargo, su magnitud es considerable para Enap.
A juicio del dirigente, “en el pasado Enap y Petrobras fuimos socios en un proyecto en Colombia, donde ellos operaban (Caguán-Rio ceibas). Por tanto, proyectos de tamaño pequeño como ese podrían darse”.
Y plantea además que “si Enap decide tener una empresa integrada, que es la forma como se plantean las petroleras exitosas, privadas y estatales, es a través de Enap-Sipetrol, donde esto se puede lograr, en cuanto a crudo se refiere”. Sin embargo, aclara que estas sinergias con el mundo privado no debieran afectar de manera importante a la propiedad de la misma, ya que el país no necesariamente necesita una Enap privada.

Endesa y Colbún han invertido más de US$ 200 millones en estudios de HidroAysén
El alto ejecutivo dijo también que estiman que podrían obtener una calificación ambiental entre marzo y enero de 2011.
El desarrollo del megaproyecto hidroeléctrico HidroAysén ha demandado a sus impulsores, Endesa y Colbún, inversiones por más de US$ 200 millones.
Esta cifra, que fue revelada ayer por el vicepresidente ejecutivo de la sociedad, Daniel Fernández, representa del orden de 7% de la inversión de US$ 3.200 millones, estimada para construir las cinco centrales que contempla el complejo que se ubicaría en la Región de Aysén.
En el marco de una visita a la zona de Cochrane, en cuyos alrededores estará emplazado HidroAysén, el ejecutivo explicó que este monto se destinó a la elaboración del estudio de Impacto Ambiental que está siendo evaluado por las autoridades y también a mediciones que se han desarrollado para responder las observaciones y preguntas efectuadas por los organismos que participan en la evaluación.
En esta inversión, que contrasta, por ejemplo, con los US$ 15 millones que GDF Suez destinó en el cancelado proyecto termoeléctrico Barrancones, Fernández incluyó los cerca de nueve mil metros de sondajes, tendientes a determinar la calidad de la roca que está en los sectores donde se ubicarán las centrales. El costo de estas perforaciones ronda las 30 UF a 40 UF por metro, explicaron ejecutivos de la firma.
Entrega de Adenda
Daniel Fernández ratificó que el próximo 29 de octubre HidroAysén entregará las respuestas (Adenda) al segundo grupo de observaciones que recibieron de parte de las autoridades que intervienen en la calificación de esta iniciativa.
Sin embargo, precisó que existe la posibilidad de que algunas de las 1.114 preguntas que recibieron en enero de este año pudieran quedar pendientes.
El ex presidente ejecutivo de TVN, que en mayo asumió el mando de esta iniciativa, agregó que de acuerdo con los procesos de evaluación y respuestas que podrían restar en la evaluación del proceso, la estimación del equipo de HidroAysén es que la calificación ambiental se concrete entre los meses de enero y marzo de 2011.
En el marco de una visita a la zona donde se proyecta emplazar el complejo, cuya capacidad instalada alcanza los 2.750 megawatts (MW), Daniel Fernández explicó que este aporte de generación elevaría el peso de la hidroelectricidad en la matriz de generación del Sistema Interconectado Central (SIC) desde el 37,1% actual a 52% en 2030.

Mapa de zonas incluirá áreas para desarrollo de energía nuclear
No sólo áreas donde no se podrán instalar centrales eléctricas incluirá el mapa de zonas protegidas que prepara el gobierno, sino que también contemplará, a solicitud del presidente Sebastián Piñera, los terrenos donde, eventualmente, se podría instalar una central nuclear.
De acuerdo a fuentes del gobierno, la instrucción de hacer un mapa fue dada días antes que se desencadenara la polémica por la central Barrancones de Suez Energy -la cual estaría ubicada en las inmediaciones de la Reserva Nacional Pingüino de Humboldt-, pero tomó más fuerza tras dicha situación.
El Ministerio de Bienes Nacionales recibió la indicación de realizar la zonificación para determinar qué potencialidades tiene cada zona del país y se incluyó delimitar las "zonas que podrían utilizarse para el desarrollo de energía nuclear y analizar sus características", indicó una fuente.
El análisis incluirá las zonas de reservas, parques, monumentos y bienes nacionales protegidos, además de los lugares propicios para la instalación de puertos, centrales energéticas, desarrollo turístico, entre otras opciones.
Listo en marzo
Actualmente, Bienes Nacionales trabaja en la realización de un estudio comparado de ordenamiento territorial.
En noviembre se iniciará el trabajo con las intendencias regionales, a fin de incluir a las autoridades locales en la elaboración.
Se espera que durante marzo esté terminado el mapa y que su elaboración no sea limitante para el desarrollo industrial. Ocurrido esto, el Ejecutivo decidirá si es envía el proyecto al Congreso.
La ministra de Bienes Nacionales, Catalina Parot, iniciará el 12 de octubre una gira por Canadá donde se reunirá con autoridades para analizar, entre otros temas, el sistema de zonificación con que cuenta ese país.

Cambios en el mercado podrían afectar venta de activos de Shell
La distribuidora de combustibles Shell, junto con enviar su opinión al Tribunal de Defensa de la Libre Competencia (TDLC) sobre la mantención o adquisición por parte de Copec de los activos de Terpel Chile, acudió a la Fiscalía Nacional Económica (FNE) para que se analice la venta directa de combustibles realizada por ENAP a Copec.
Ambas acciones de la compañía anglo-holandesa tendrían relación con el proceso de valorización y venta de sus activos, el que se podría ver afectado de forma indirecta.
La abogada experta en Libre Competencia de la U. Andrés Bello, Carmen García, sostiene que la política de venta directa a las industrias por parte de la petrolera estatal, "cambia radicalmente la estructura de este mercado, y como consecuencia, eventualmente puede incidir en el valor de los activos de los demás competidores".
Por su parte el director ejecutivo de la Asociación de Distribuidores de Combustibles de Chile (Adico), Sydney Houston, plantea que el "que Shell esté a la venta va a ser una muy buena competencia para la venta de los activos de Terpel. Copec no tiene ninguna intención de ser monopolio".
García agrega que el actuar de Shell en relación a los cambios que se están gestando en el mercado chileno de los combustibles líquidos en el país, "puede ser calificado como una legítima reacción de un competidor involucrado frente a una posible concentración y abuso de posición dominante".

Rodrigo Azócar, gerente general de Enap: "Es insólito que Shell recurra a la FNE porque vendemos combustibles a industriales”
"Enap abastece de combustibles a clientes industriales desde la década del 90, entre ellos a Codelco, SQM, CMPC y Lan".
Bastante sorprendido quedó el gerente general de la Enap, Rodrigo Azócar, por las consultas que realizó el principal ejecutivo de Shell Chile, Rodrigo Infante, ante la Fiscalía Nacional Económica (FNE), respecto de que si la petrolera puede vender a clientes industriales. Azócar afirma que Infante conoce el negocio y sabe que desde la década del 90, Enap realiza ventas directas a empresas. Como ejemplo menciona que desde 1998 y hasta abril pasado tenía un contrato en conjunto con Shell para abastecer de combustibles a Codelco.
¿Qué opina de la consulta de Shell a la FNE?
Yo hablé hoy (ayer) con Rodrigo Infante, el country manager de Shell. Me dice que hicieron esta consulta, que a mi juicio es como una denuncia ante la FNE, lo que es absolutamente insólito, porque se trata del ejecutivo número uno de uno de mis principales clientes, que conoce la política comercial de Enap. En la aplicación de esta política, Enap vende diésel termoeléctrico a Colbún, porque esa empresa nos solicita el combustible y porque además el país lo necesita. Nosotros le vendemos a un precio spot, que es más alto y que es consistente con la política comercial de Enap.
¿En qué consiste esa política?
Cuando los clientes programan con anticipación los volúmenes anuales comprometidos, Enap no usa ningún factor de costo interno, sino de paridad de importación. Les hacemos un descuento, porque traspasamos la mayor eficiencia por el uso de la logística y de la programación. Eso lo hacemos con todos los clientes que cumplen con esta programación. Si aparece Colbún y nos solicita combustible y cumple las condiciones, no veo ningún motivo para no aplicar la misma política, pero en vez de cobrarle un precio con descuento, le cobró el spot, que es más alto, porque no me avisa con 45 días de anticipación. Me dice: mañana necesito en Nehuenco tal volumen de diésel. Por eso, puedo demostrar que no estoy discriminando. Es el mismo valor al que le vendo a un cliente cualquiera que tiene la misma condición y que me pide volúmenes para mañana. Quiero aclarar que Enap no discrimina, trata a todos sus clientes con la misma política, con la misma vara.
Entonces, ¿no están vendiendo a los industriales a un precio más bajo?
No es que estemos vendiendo a los industriales a un valor más bajo de lo que le vendemos a Copec. Eso lo aseguro fehacientemente.
¿Enap se puede negar a vender combustible a industriales?
No me puedo negar a venderle a un cliente, porque me puede acusar de discriminación. Con esto, Enap ha contribuido a crear un mercado más competitivo. El mercado de los grandes clientes industriales es el 75% del consumo de combustible del país y frente a un requerimiento, estamos respondiendo con una oferta acorde con la política comercial. Siempre lo hemos hecho.
¿No es que estén ingresando hoy al negocio industrial?
Enap abastece directamente de combustible a clientes industriales desde la década del 90, entre ellos, a SQM, Codelco, CPMC y Lan. Es más, en conjunto con la misma Shell Chile, teníamos un contrato desde 1998 para abastecer a Codelco, que estuvo vigente hasta abril de 2010. Shell no puede hacer como que no lo conoce. Claramente, Infante perdió la brújula. Esto ha sido parte de la estrategia comercial de Enap y tiene que ver con darle mayor rentabilidad a la empresa y más competitividad al mercado.
¿A qué responde esta acción de los distribuidores?
La verdad no puedo entender la acción de Shell y su lógica, qué está haciendo el señor Rodrigo Infante y me gustaría saber qué opinan en Londres de lo que él hace en Chile.
¿Les genera algún perjuicio?
Esto genera ruido en el mercado y ahora estoy tratando de explicar algo que es bastante obvio, que Enap hace negocios. Si no hacemos esto, le causamos un perjuicio patrimonial a la Enap.
Legalmente, Enap está absolutamente capacitada para hacer esto. Si no tuviera las competencias legales, el directorio le tendría que pedir la renuncia al gerente general. Con esto estamos contribuyendo a crear un mercado más competitivo.
De repente al resto de las distribuidoras no le gusta competir en el mercado. Esto es bien simple, los clientes industriales buscan más alternativas para abastecerse y escogen a quién les ofrece el mejor servicio. Tiene que ver con la estrategia de diversificación de los industriales, de no dependencia. El producto es el mismo, pero la diferencia está en quién presta el mejor servicio.

Peru

En riesgo US$ 1,000 millones por postergación de uso del gasohol
Indicaron que la decisión del MEM fue tomada de manera inconsulta y que ahora se niega a reunirse con ellos. Incertidumbre en el sector industrial. Y es que después de la sorpresiva decisión del Ministerio de Energía y Minas (MEM) de postergar el uso de gasohol (gasolina con 7.8% de alcohol carburante) hasta junio del 2011, el sector industrial quedó desconcertado y con la preocupación de que gran parte de los US$ 1,000 millones en inversiones en plantas de etanol se vean afectados.
“Las marchas y contramarchas del gobierno respecto a este tema genera una situación difícil tanto para el productor como para los inversionistas que están trabajando algunos proyectos que ya están avanzados con inversiones realizadas y otros que recién están empezando y se podrían paralizar”, dijo a EXPRESO el presidente del Comité Especial de Biocombustibles de la Sociedad Nacional de Industrias (SNI), Ari Loebl, quien exigió al gobierno aclarar cuál será la política en biocombustible. Como se sabe, el miércoles último el MEM publicó el Decreto Supremo No. 061-2010 postergando la obligatoriedad del uso de gasohol que debería iniciarse mañana 1 de octubre hasta junio del próximo año, en los departamentos en los que aún no se ha iniciado su aplicación. Una de las justificaciones es que los grifos aún no realizan la tarea de limpieza y mantenimiento de los tanques de combustibles líquidos, a la que se comprometieron desde el año 2007, cuando se emitió el Reglamento de Biocombustibles.
“Cómo se explica entonces que las 964 estaciones de servicios del norte del Perú ya lo hicieron y comercializan el gasohol sin ningún problema”, señaló Ari Loebl al precisar que la industria tiene asegurado el abastecimiento de toda la demanda requerida para estas zonas. El decreto también menciona que la producción de etanol no permitirá cubrir los requerimientos del centro y sur del Perú, a lo que los industriales explicaron que a partir del fuerte incremento en el consumo nacional de gasolinas, se ha generado una demanda adicional de etanol a la prevista inicialmente, la que sí sería perfectamente atendida mediante importaciones temporales.
“Se han efectuado alrededor de US$ 450 millones de inversión, hay otros proyectos en ejecución que suman unos US$ 200 millones más, y otros que están en pleno desarrollo o planificación que representan US$ 300 millones adicionales”, afirmó. Existen proyectos importantes para el desarrollo de los biocombustibles que se ejecutarán en los próximos 24 o 36 meses superando los US$ 1,000 millones de inversión en este sector. Entre las inversiones, destacan las de Caña Brava, Maple Etanol, Consorcio Miraflores (Comisa), y Grupo Gloria, además de proyectos de biocombustibles no líquidos como Agroindustrial Paramonga y aquellas que se están efectuando en las plantas de procesamiento y distribuidoras a lo largo de toda la costa de Perú, por ejemplo, la empresa Graña & Montero tiene una serie de inversiones para almacenar y mezclar biocombustibles.
Más inversiones La empresa agroindustrial Laredo, ingenio azucarero del grupo Manuelita de Colombia, prepara inversiones por US$ 20 millones para modernizar su planta en La Libertad, incursionando en la producción de etanol, y en la cogeneración de energía por turbinas tanto a vapor como eólica, informó su jefe de Destilación del Alcohol, Alejandro Sánchez.

En el 2012 funcionarán dos plantas eólicas en la región Piura
En el 2012 funcionarán en Piura dos plantas de energía eólica, así lo dio a conocer el el director general de Electricidad del ministerio de Energía y Minas, ingeniero Ismael Aragón, al resaltar la importancia que el MEM brinda a las energías renovables en la conferencia de prensa que se convocó para anunciar la realización del IV Congreso de Energías Renovables y Biocombustibles (COBER IV) de cuya Comisión Organizadora forma parte junto a los ministerios de Agricultura, del Ambiente y de la Producción.
Aragón dijo que, como resultado de la subasta que se realizó a principios de año en términos de venta de energía, las plantas se instalarán las zonas de Talara-Guadalupe.
A parte de las plantas eolóicas piuranas, el representante del MEM indicó que para ese mismo año también funcionará una tercera en Marcona, esperando producir en conjunto 140 megavatios.
Asimismo, señaló que también para el mismo año operarán cuatro plantas de energía solar en la zona sur del país (Ilo, Arequipa y Tacna) las que producirán más o menos 80 megavatios.
Agregó que el sistema eléctrico comprará la energía producida por esas plantas pagando un precio mayor al de la energía producida con gas (en promedio del orden de 85 dólares por megavatio hora), con la finalidad de incentivar el desarrollo de estas energías, cuyo costo de instalación es actualmente mayor al de las energías convencionales por la tecnología utilizada.
"No obstante, si se compara el precio de la energía renovable con la obtenida mediante el petróleo, resulta ser más barata la primera", añadió Aragón al estimar que a medida que ellas se difundan, aumentará el mercado para los fabricantes y bajarán los costos de las instalaciones.
Aragón precisó que las siete plantas de energía renovable fueron licitadas através de un proceso de subasta que estuvo a cargo del Organismo Supervisor de Inversión en Energía y Minería (Osinergmin).
El director general de Electricidad precisó que la ley de energías renovables establece que cada dos años se puede convocar a una subasta de este tipo, al margen de que el sector privado puede tomar la iniciativa de instalar estas plantas en cualquier momento.
En ese sentido, reiteró que estas subastas tienen como efecto garantizar un precio un poco mayor para incentivar el desarrollo de estas energías limpias.
"Estos proyectos grandes no se hacen de manera rápida porque requieren de mucha investigación y trabajo de campo. Esa parte técnica la van a terminar en octubre, pero todavía tienen que recorrer todo un camino que es la aprobación de los estudios de impacto ambiental. Previamente, tienen que realizar talleres y audiencias públicas en que la empresa expone los resultados de su estudio, su propuesta de mitigación ambiental o de reducción de impactos ambientales, lo que toma su tiempo, acotó.
El Dato
Las 7 plantas de energía renovable producirán una cantidad de energía equivalente a lo que produce una central hidroeléctrica como la de Huinco en Santa Eulalia.
En el mercado sudamericano Brasil, México, Perú y Chile son los países que vienen impulsando la generación de energías renovables.
Existe un proyecto para instalar en la zona de Huaycoloro una planta que utilizará la basura para generar electricidad.

Edegel colocó bonos por US$ 10 millones
La subasta de los papeles registró una demanda de 21.5 millones de dólares.
La eléctrica peruana Edelgel colocó bonos por 10 millones de dólares en medio de una fuerte demanda, informó la correduría que encabezó la operación.
Edelnor, una de las mayores generadoras de electricidad del país sudamericano, colocó los bonos a una tasa del 5.78125% y a un plazo de 10 años, informó la correduría de Scotiabank.
Los fondos obtenidos en la operación serán destinados al financiamiento de inversiones y mejorar el perfil de deuda de la empresa.
En la operación, que registró una robusta demanda de 21.5 millones de dólares, las compañías de seguros se adjudicaron un 63% de los papeles y las administradoras de pensiones un 37%.

Gobierno es irresponsable al hablar de gas
El líder nacionalista Ollanta Humala reiteró en Quillabamba (Cusco) que el gobierno es irresponsable al decir que el gas de los Lotes 56 y 88 son para el consumo nacional, cuando el Consorcio Camisea indica que lo tiene comprometido para sus exportaciones,
Ollanta, vestido a la usanza de la etnia Matsiguenga, comunidad nativa afectada por la explotación del gas de Camisea, dijo que el gobierno debe ser claro sobre el gas y no lo es porque actúa contra los intereses nacionales.
Al respaldar la candidatura de Jorge Acurio a la presidencia regional del Cusco, Ollanta ratificó la importancia de defender el gas de los Lotes 88 y 56 para el consumo nacional y dijo que es una gran irresponsabilidad que el gobierno asegure que uno de estos lotes (56) permanecerá en el país, cuando el recurso no le pertenece y el consorcio, que tiene la propiedad, ya ha comprometido esas reservas.
Ollanta dijo que el gas es un recurso estratégico y que debe aprovecharse dentro de un Plan Energético Nacional, que permita concentrar proyectos dirigidos a conseguir combustible más barato, servicio eléctrico accesible para todos los rincones del país y la creación y fomento de industria.
“Nosotros (los nacionalistas) consideramos que existen actividades estratégicas que no pueden ser entregadas libremente a capitales que no tienen un compromiso de inversión a largo plazo en el país”, indicó.
Ollanta sostuvo asimismo que para reducir el precio del gas de consumo doméstico debe tenerse en cuenta el precio del recurso en la boca de pozo y no el precio del gas en Lima. “El Ejecutivo señala que falta infraestructura y que los precios se justifican porque deben ser llevados a Lima y luego retornados al Cusco, pero por eso justamente es que debemos impulsar la construcción de ductos que permitan que el costo del gas se reduzca ostensiblemente, especialmente en el Cusco y que esa sea la referencia para el precio en las demás regiones del país”, refirió.
Colombia
El Gobierno y Ecopetrol están influyendo en la revaluación
Así lo manifestó el codirector del Banco de la República, Juan José Echavarría, tras advertir que se equivocan quienes creen que el Emisor tiene la fórmula mágica para atajar la caída del dólar.
"El Gobierno está monetizando, Ecopetrol está monetizando. Hay inversión extranjera cuyo último dato es el más alto mensual de la historia reciente", aseguró Echavarría quien dijo que "está entrando mucho dinero a Colombia, no necesariamente de portafolio. Las entradas de portafolio de los últimos meses son muy bajas frente a la inversión extranjera".
Aseguró que el Emisor a veces logra estabilizar la tasa de cambio y "a veces no tanto". Agregó que el Banco es sólo un actor pequeño en el mercado cambiario que equivale sólo al dos por ciento de este.
Adicionalmente, agregó que "la revaluación está afectando al sector productivo colombiano, pero no existen fórmulas mágicas y menos de los bancos centrales para cambiar esa tendencia".
El codirector del Emisor recalcó que "las entradas de Ecopetrol están disparadas; las entradas del Gobierno están disparadas y hay unos flujos pequeños de portafolio que están entrando" y agregó que el Gobierno tiene siempre la solución para frenar la revaluación.
Siglo minero-energético: ¿fuente de optimismo o preocupación?
Pocas personas conocen que mi participación en el sector público y, específicamente, en el sector de minas y energía tuvo en el ex ministro Carlos Caballero Argáez un protagonista fundamental; fue él quien me llevó a este como su viceministro y me dio la extraordinaria oportunidad de participar en este complejo, pero apasionante mundo.
Le guardo enorme aprecio y respeto, como seguramente ocurre con la gran mayoría de las personas que disfrutan de sus opiniones, tanto en la academia, como en los círculos económicos, y quienes leen sus artículos de prensa.
El pasado sábado 25 de septiembre del 2010, en su artículo 'Del siglo del café al del petróleo y la minería', el ex ministro hace un análisis de la evolución de la economía colombiana en el siglo XX y en lo que va corrido del actual siglo, aludiendo al cambio de una economía agrícola hacia una economía petrolera y minera.
Llama a su vez la atención acerca de la necesidad urgente de tomar medidas para profundizar en una diversificación de la economía y procurar las herramientas macroeconómicas necesarias para evitar que el fortalecimiento de la economía del sector extractivo afecte la competitividad de otros sectores, con la consecuencia dramática de la pérdida de empleos en los mismos, producto, entre otras cosas, del fortalecimiento del peso por efecto, en teoría, de la profundización en las inversiones minero- energéticas, indicando a su vez que el sector no es un gran generador de empleo, y que no es exactamente un encadenador económico.
No obstante mi cercanía, y, como lo manifesté, respeto y aprecio, quisiera disentir sobre la caracterización que el ex ministro hace del ramo y, por ende, la dificultad que se podría generar de no observar las especiales circunstancias que revisten a estas actividades:
En primer lugar, todo el sector minero-energético (minas, petróleo, gas natural, energía eléctrica) pesa un poco menos del 7 por ciento del PIB, luego pensar que esta es una economía que está pasando velozmente a ser minera todavía es, por lo menos, contraevidente. Continuamos siendo un país con petróleo, pero no petrolero, nunca hemos sido un país minero y todavía no lo somos.
En segundo lugar, desearía llamar la atención sobre la injusta apreciación, según la cual, el sector extractivo es absolutamente excluyente de los demás ramos; en el mismo sentido, es incorrecto afirmar, en pleno siglo XXI, que dicho sector es perfectamente incompatible con la sanidad macroeconómica y -peor aún- calificarlo de enemigo del desarrollo sostenible.
El sector extractivo, ciertamente incide en el mayor ingreso de divisas, por efecto de sus requerimientos de inversión y por las ventas externas de las materias primas, pero convertirlo en victimario por ese hecho, sin mencionar las múltiples causas reales de la revaluación -algunas de las cuales son de carácter exógeno-, podría dejar a una de las locomotoras del programa económico del actual Gobierno sin combustible antes de partir.
Si se identificasen 'todas' las fuentes macroeconómicas responsables de la revaluación, seguramente seríamos más certeros en los medicamentos; el ahorro obligado de parte de la bonanza, el inaplazable deber de sanear las finanzas públicas buscando rápidamente un escenario de superávit primario, la necesidad de incorporar o promover inversión en sectores que agreguen valor a nuestros recursos naturales no renovables, la intervención más agresiva, y por supuesto, 'no avisada' en el mercado cambiario, la destinación de recursos a la tecnología y la innovación, y la correcta y eficiente utilización de los recursos generados por el sector extractivo, podrían ser mucho más eficientes en resolver el problema, que responsabilizar, de manera general, al sector minero-energético como el gran causante del desastre.
En tercer lugar, contrario a lo que muchos han indicado, este sí genera un número muy importante de puestos de trabajo, además calificados y no calificados: en sólo cuatro operaciones de minería de gran escala se crean directamente cerca de 35.000 empleos, y por cada uno de ellos, se generan 4 indirectos; dichas operaciones son responsables de la mayor proporción de generación de riqueza en los departamentos del Cesar, La Guajira y Córdoba.
Por demás, las inversiones en este sector no son coyunturales, sino de larguísimo plazo; durante su ejecución se construye infraestructura que es destinada, en efecto, a sus operaciones, pero que además, se constituye en infraestructura para la prestación de servicios públicos necesarios: carreteras, puertos, aeropuertos, infraestructura de alimentación, seguridad, capacitación, comunicaciones, distribución de energía, son posibles en lugares muy apartados de nuestro país solamente por la presencia de estas inversiones.
En cuarto lugar, tampoco es afortunado estigmatizar al sector como un 'depredador' del medio ambiente. El hecho de que existan algunos actores cuyas prácticas no sean correctas, no debería ser patente para calificar a la totalidad de los mismos; las mejores prácticas mineras son posibles, la explotación de recursos naturales no renovables en las que se cuenta con la capacidad técnica y financiera, y los mejores comportamientos corporativos permiten tener una operación minera perfectamente sostenible, además no tenemos que ir muy lejos para verificarlo, El Cerrejón ha recuperado cerca de 3.000 hectáreas (de un total de 10.000 intervenidas) a su estado inicial, con resultados excepcionales, y es, además, ejemplo de comportamiento y compromiso con las comunidades, tal como lo son otras empresas mineras, petroleras, gaseras y de energía eléctrica que operan con estándares semejantes.
No busquemos el ahogado río arriba, busquemos la solución estructural a los problemas macroeconómicos bajo el concepto de la total compatibilidad de todas las industrias pero, además, no nos inventemos la rueda: Noruega, Chile, Brasil, Perú, Australia y otros países, en donde el sector extractivo y energético pesa más del 40 por ciento del PIB, y lo han logrado sin convertirlo en el causante de todos los males.
Recapitulando un poco entonces, tenemos que -aunque con grandes expectativas- Colombia no es aún un país ni minero ni petrolero; que un acertado manejo macroeconómico por parte de nuestras autoridades públicas, permitirá canalizar positivamente las mayores divisas que entrarán a al país gracias a un mayor crecimiento del sector minero-energético; que dicho ramo deberá continuar esforzándose por ser garantía de empleo, de desarrollo sostenible y de bienestar de sus comunidades; y que si -como lo predice el ex ministro Caballero Argáez-, estamos entrando en el 'siglo minero-energético', tengamos la absoluta certeza de que será en beneficio de nuestra economía, de nuestra sociedad y de nuestra nación entera.
No le pidamos a un país, en pleno desarrollo, que renuncie a lo que pareciera perfilarse como una de sus más importantes posibilidades de crecimiento.
Exijamos, por supuesto, el cumplimiento de los mejores estándares de sostenibilidad ambiental, comportamiento corporativo e interrelación con las comunidades, pero hagámoslo de manera coordinada y, sobretodo, trabajando en las causas de la enfermedad y no en los síntomas.
Invito para que este 'siglo minero-energético', en el que dicen que nos adentramos sea fuente de optimismo y no de preocupación.
Hubo cambios en la agenda de Porce III, el proyecto entra a operar en diciembre
En los planes del Gobierno, estaba previsto que el proyecto hidroeléctrico ubicado en Antioquia, entrara en una de sus últimas fases y en periodo de verificación de transmisión de energía eléctrica.
Sin embargo, Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM) responsable de la infraestructura, pidió un plazo adicional, aunque anunció que a finales de diciembre toda la infraestructura deberá estar operando.
Se trata de la mayor central del sistema de generación de energía eléctrica de EPM y tendrá una capacidad instalada de 660 megavatios, para una generación en firme de 3.106 gigavatios hora/año.
Ayer, el director de la Unidad de Planeación Minero Energética (Upme), Ricardo Rodríguez, explicó que en el caso de Porce III se presentaron dificultades con la licencia ambiental de la línea de transmisión y ya se había dado una prórroga a EPM para que se pusiera al día con los planes. "Este es un proyecto que debió entrar hace tres meses. Este jueves se cumple el plazo dado", afirmó Rodríguez en el marco de un foro del sector eléctrico organizado por la Asociación Colombiana de Generadores de Energía Eléctrica (Acolgen), en Bogotá.
Porce III está ubicado en jurisdicción de los municipios de Amafli, Anorí, Guadalupe y Gómez Plata, a 147 kilómetros al nororiente de Medellín. El jefe de la Upme, una entidad estatal, sostuvo que a la fecha, la presa presenta un avance del 91 por ciento, mientras en el vertedero, las excavaciones alcanzan el 99 por ciento del volumen total. En resumen, el porcentaje de avance del proyecto es de un 94 por ciento. "Es un embalse que va a entregar una potencia importante y que va a generar todas las condiciones de regulación energética de la zona", agregó.
En las cuentas del Gobierno, a finales de este año entrará al sistema de interconexión eléctrica la primera unidad de generación de Porce III, con 165 megavatios, de un total de cuatro que son las que darán los 660 megavatios.
La puesta en operación fue corroborada por Carlos Mejía, de la subgerencia de desarrollo de proyectos de expansión de EPM. "El 22 de septiembre, en un memorando oficial, le dijimos a la Upme que teníamos que variar la fecha que la habíamos dado para la infraestructura de transmisión", afirmó. También manifestó que las actividades de transmisión, así como la generación se harán casi de manera paralela.
Tres proyectos clave en Antioquia
Antioquia y Chocó es una de las cinco zonas en las que se divide el sistema de transmisión de energía eléctrica en Colombia y, además de Porce III, en el área hay dos proyectos más de expansión que están en marcha. Uno es Porce IV, que tendrá una capacidad 400 megas y cuya primera unidad deberá estar operando en enero del 2015. El otro es Ituango, que será la mayor central de energía eléctrica del país, con una capacidad de 1.200 megas.
ISA le apostará a construir una línea energética en Perú
La Junta Directiva autorizó a la firma para presentar oferta en el proceso que realiza la Agencia de Promoción de la Inversión Privada, la cual otorgará en concesión el proyecto energético "Línea de Transmisión Machupicchu-Abancay-Cotaruse a 220 kV".
Proinversión Perú, explicó que entregar en concesión la línea de transmisión al sector privado busca que se acondicione el sistema eléctrico en el sureste de Perú.
El proyecto tiene por objeto la distribución de energía proveniente de centros de generación energética hidroeléctrica como Machupicchu y Santa Teresa.
"Esta línea contribuirá en parte a resolver los problemas de sobrecarga, inestabilidad y congestión que se presenta en la transmisión eléctrica en el sur del Perú", explicó la Agencia de Promoción de Inversión Privada de Perú.
De acuerdo con las condiciones del proceso establecidos por Proinversión, la firma que sea la adjudicataria del proyecto de la línea de transmisión, tendrá que construirlo, operarlo, financiarlo, diseñarlo y mantenerlo.
La concesión será a 30 años, sin contar que quien desarrolle el proyecto tendrá dos años para construirlo desde la fecha de cierre.
Al finalizar dicho tiempo, la línea Machupicchu - Abancay - Cotaruse será transferida al Estado peruano.
La línea completa contemplada en el proyecto se compone de cuatro secciones: Machupicchu II - Suriray (con una extensión de 6 kilómetros); Suriray - Abancay Nueva (84 kilómetros); Abancay Nueva - Cotaruse (114 kilómetros) y Suriray - Cotaruse (198 kilómetros).
ISA incursionó en Perú en 2001 con la subsidiaria ISA Perú, con el propósito de transmitir energía eléctrica y operar y mantener redes de transmisión energética. La compañía tiene en América Latina una red de transmisión de alta tensión de 38.551 kilómetros de circuito. En 2009, ISA alcanzó su mayor crecimiento en Perú al ganar dos licitaciones públicas internacionales abiertas para construir dos grandes obras a cargo de su filial TransMantaro.
Expectativa por regalías se incrementó a $8 billones
El ministro de Hacienda y Crédito Público, Juan Carlos Echeverry, aseguró que el país podría estar recibiendo al finalizar 2010 ocho billones de pesos por concepto de regalías y no seis billones de pesos como se había estimado inicialmente.
Al respecto, el titular de la cartera de Hacienda explicó que "en efecto, la producción de petróleo está creciendo en el segundo semestre de 2010. Los precios han estado altos, están bien".
Echeverry agregó, que para este año el Gobierno proyecta la continuidad en la producción de elementos minero energéticos.
Por otra parte, para el segundo debate del Acto Legislativo de Regalías se incluirán dos moficicaciones donde se establece que el Gobierno tendrá tres meses para presentar el proyecto luego de que se apruebe el Acto. A su vez, el Congreso de la República contará con seis meses para la aprobación del proyecto.
Adicionalmente, el Ministro de Hacienda aseguró que espera el apoyo de las bancadas del Partido Liberal y de Cambio Radical al proyecto de regalías.
Con relación al planteamiento para la distribución de regalías, Echeverry dijo que "si en un año hubiera 10 billones de pesos para distribuir, un 10 por ciento iría para ciencia y tecnología y un 10 por ciento para el Fonpet".
Explicó que de los ocho billones de pesos restantes, se podrían destinar hasta 2,4 billones de pesos para el Fondo de Ahorro y Estabilización. En consecuencia, quedarían 5,6 billones de pesos para distribuir entre receptores de regalías, puertos y Cormagdalena.
"El resto iría para el anillo menos favorecido del país que son las zonas costeras y fronterizas", dijo el Ministro, quien añadió que el dinero restante de regalías sería distribuido con base en criterios de población, pobreza, equilibrio fiscal y eficiencia administrativa de los entes territoriales.
"Entre el Fonpet y Fondo de Ahorro y Estabilización se gastarían 3,4 billones de pesos. En diferentes modalidades, se gastarían los otros 6,6 billones de pesos", aclaró el Ministro de Hacienda.
El Ministerio de Hacienda proyecta que entre 2012 y 2020 el país recibirá 94,8 billones de pesos por concepto de regalías.
Eliminación de los tres ceros Ante la propuesta de quitar tres ceros a la denominación de la moneda nacional realizada por el congresista Antonio Guerra de la Espriella, el Ministro de Hacienda aseguró que "lo discutimos con el Banco de la República y creo que si lo hacemos con cuidado y distribuimos los costos en un plazo amplio, creo que es razonable".
"Estamos en la evaluación y el Gobierno lo ve con buenos ojos", aseguró el Ministro de Hacienda quien agregó que el Banco de la República realizó un cálculo inicial para este propósito de 200.000 millones de pesos. El funcionario puntualizó que el Emisor tiene por objeto utilizar aleaciones menos costosas por moneda producida para mejorar la eficiencia de producción de estas.
Tendencias del auge minero energético El Ministro de Hacienda aseguró que en el país durante los próximos diez años se espera un posible aumento en los resultados del sector minero energético. En el caso del petróleo, el Gobierno proyectó que a 2020 el país esté produciendo 1,45 millones de barriles de crudo al día. En gas, a la misma fecha se proyectan 250.000 barriles equivalentes diarios. En carbón, se espera producir a 2020, 160 millones de toneladas anuales y en oro, 93 toneladas.

Ecopetrol firma gigantesco contrato
Ecopetrol firma acuerdo multimillonario con Mincom para optimizar desempeño de gestión de activos y la fuerza de trabajo
Una de las 40 petroleras más importantes del mundo amplía la implementación de su Sistema de Gestión de Activos -EAM Mincom- â€�con plena integración al ERP de SAP en toda la empresaâ€� para obtener mejoras extras en la eficiencia y productividad de sus operaciones.
Santiago, 28 de septiembre de 2010 — Para mejorar aún más el desempeño de sus operaciones petroleras regionales, Ecopetrol -una de las 40 petroleras más importantes del mundo y una de las cuatro principales de América Latina- amplió considerablemente su relación con Mincom, proveedor mundial líder de software y servicios para industrias intensivas en el uso de sus activos.
Sobre la base de una exitosa relación de más de 15 años con Mincom, Ecopetrol está actualizándose a la versión más reciente de Mincom Ellipse, la solución emblemática de Mincom para Gestión de Activos Empresariales (EAM, por sus siglas en inglés), y adoptará Mincom Enterprise Reporting & Analytics para lograr visibilidad corporativa y Mincom Ellipse Work Management para habilitar el mantenimiento de activos en tiempo real.
En otro hecho importante, Ecopetrol aprovechará la integración estándar de Mincom con las principales aplicaciones de Planeación de Recursos Empresariales (ERP, por sus siglas en inglés) para integrar transparentemente las mejores funcionalidades de la solución EAM de Mincom con las aplicaciones de Recursos Humanos y Finanzas de ERP de SAP en Ecopetrol.
“Valoramos enormemente nuestra alianza con Ecopetrol y consideramos que representa un enfoque de mejores prácticas entre las empresas de recursos naturales de todo el mundo, que buscan constantemente mejorar sus operaciones optimizando el desempeño de sus activos y de su fuerza laboral”, afirmó Gary Poole, presidente de Mincom América Latina.
“Ecopetrol es además el mejor ejemplo de cómo una empresa puede implementar Mincom Ellipse, integrada con su actual inversión en sistemas ERP, lo que potencia efectivamente las mejores funcionalidades de EAM de Mincom con las aplicaciones ERP provistas por SAP y Oracle”.
Ecopetrol y Mincom iniciaron su alianza en 1994, cuando la petrolera implementó las soluciones de EAM de Mincom en su Refinería de Cartagena. La empresa luego amplió su implementación de soluciones Mincom a 32 instalaciones operacionales en Colombia.
La gestión de materiales y mantenimiento de Ecopetrol â€�que cuenta con más de 6.000 empleados, 32 distritos, más de 8.500 kilómetros de ductos, 320.000 activos, 125 bodegas, 16.000 órdenes mensuales de mantenimiento y 290.000 ítem catalogados en su inventarioâ€� está centralizada y optimizada con Mincom Ellipse. Gracias a esta solución, Ecopetrol ha logrado racionalizar con éxito su inventario, aumentar la disponibilidad de sus equipos y reducir sus costos operacionales, lo que le ha permitido obtener el retorno de su inversión en cinco años y generar ahorros por millones de dólares en su primer proyecto de implementación.
Ecopetrol es una de las 40 petroleras más importantes del mundo y una de las cuatro principales de América Latina. Además de Colombia -país en que es responsable del 60 por ciento de la producción petrolera- lleva a cabo actividades de exploración y producción en Brasil, Perú y Estados Unidos (Golfo de México).

Ecuador
GASPETSA: solicitud de visto bueno a trabajadores está prescrita
El Gerente General de GASPETSA, Ing. Cristobal Torres Cazco, afirmó que todo este operativo de visto bueno contra los trabajadores de EP-PETROECUADOR, no tiene ninguna lógica ya que conforme consta en el Oficio No.017-GASPETSA de 2 de octubre de 2000, recibido el 3 de octubre del mismo año, dirigido al PRESIDENTE Y MIEMBROS DEL DIRECTORIO DE PETROCOMERCIAL, se informó lo siguiente: “ Me permito llevar a su conocimiento que el 5 de octubre de 1999, con la aportación de 1200 funcionarios, empleados y trabajadores del sistema Petroecuador, se constituyó la compañía Gasolinas y Petróleos Sociedad Anónima-GASPETSA, cuyo capital autorizado es de US$ 160.000.”
La misma comunicación en su párrafo final expresa: “Tomamos sus palabras, señor Presidente, de apoyar toda iniciativa que tienda a posibilitar la cobertura de los servicios que PETROCOMERCIAL está obligada por Ley, a brindar a los sectores deprimidos de la sociedad, sin que exista inversión estatal, por lo que, solicitamos se digna autorizar a GASPETSA, para que brinde el servicio de preparación del combustible para la pesca artesanal en los términos y condiciones que oportunamente sean negociados.”
Si PETROCOMERCIAL conoció hace diez años que los trabajadores del Sistema Petroecuador eran accionistas de GASPETSA , la solicitud de visto bueno presentada en contra de ellos está prescrita, y si la nueva Ley de Empresas Públicas, ahora lo prohíbe, no tiene efecto retroactivo, afirmó el Presidente de la Compañía, Dr. Juan Velasco.

Depositados $ 800 millones de segundo préstamo chino
Los primeros $ 800 millones del préstamo del Banco de Desarrollo de China ayer fueron depositados en las cuentas del Estado, confirmaron fuentes del Ministerio de Finanzas.
Restan por entregar $ 200 millones, pues el crédito total asciende a $ 1.000 millones. El crédito –que estaría atado a la venta de petróleo de Petroecuador a Petrochina– deberá pagarse en cuatro años a una tasa del 6%, ha informado el Gobierno.
De acuerdo con las cláusulas del contrato, $ 800 millones serán de libre disponibilidad y $ 200 millones servirán para proyectos hidroeléctricos y petroleros, que serían contratados con empresas chinas.
Aunque el Gobierno ha insistido en que el crédito chino no implica un canje por petróleo, a inicios de este mes se conoció que Petroecuador ya empezó a enviar embarques de petróleo para cumplir con su parte del convenio del nuevo préstamo.
Este último acuerdo financiero con China ha estado envuelto en la polémica, luego de que el ministro de Finanzas, Patricio Rivera, negara información al asambleísta Enrique Herrería (Madera de Guerrero) sobre los detalles de dicha negociación.
Rivera contestó que no se puede atender el requerimiento debido a que se trata de una operación en curso, por lo tanto, es información reservada. Y por ello, Herrería ha pedido a la Comisión de Participación Ciudadana de la Asamblea que convoque al ministro para que explique la negativa.
El año pasado, Ecuador acordó una preventa de petróleo por otros $ 1.000 millones con China.

Bolivia: Lo destacado del día 01/10/2010

Anuncian perforación de pozo Timboy X2
A inicios del próximo año, YPFB Corporación y YPFB Petroandina SAM, tienen programado arrancar con la perforación del primer pozo exploratorio Timboy-X2 (TBY-X2) que está ubicado en el Área Aguaragüe Sur “A” en la zona del chaco tarijeño.YPFB Petroandina SAM ha iniciado la construcción del camino hasta la locación donde se construirá la planchada para la perforación del pozo, lugar donde se alzará la torre de perforación para este pozo, que tiene como objetivo explorar nuevas reservas de gas natural y líquidos en la formación Huamampampa, considerado uno de los reservorios productores de hidrocarburos más importantes encontrados en el área tradicional.Los procesos de contratación aseguraron el trabajo de las compañías encargadas de la construcción del camino y planchada y la adquisición de los materiales para dar inicio a la perforación del nuevo pozo.“El proyecto de perforación del Pozo TBY-X2 cuenta con la respectiva Licencia Ambiental desde el 30 de abril de 2010, sin embargo las obras han sufrido alguna demora debido a reclamos de la Asamblea del Pueblo Guaraní (APG)”, señala el informe YPFB Petroandina SAM.“Se ha verificado que salieron licitaciones en medios impresos para la contratación de cañerías, compra de trépanos, servicios de cementación. Por otra parte tenemos conocimiento que brigadas de topografía están adquiriendo información de campo para el diseño y construcción del camino y planchada, por tanto la iniciación del pozo sería los primeros meses del año 2011”, indicó por su parte el Gerente Nacional de Exploración y Explotación de YPFB Corporación, Ing. Rubén Sandi Bernal.OTRAS ÁREAS EN EL SUBANDINO SURLos proyectos exploratorios a cargo de YPFB Petroandina SAM también contempla otras áreas como Iñau e Iñiguazu en el Subandino Sur, donde se espera encontrar reservorios de gas y condensando en la formación Huamampampa. Su avance está programado de acuerdo al plan general de exploración para estos bloques, dichos proyectos cuentan con importantes recursos económicos de inversión en exploración, que actualmente están pendientes de la obtención de sus licencias ambientales respectivas en cumplimientos de las normativas ambientales vigentes. En los bloques mencionados se realizará la Adquisición Sísmica 2D, método exploratorio que comprende tres etapas, la primera consistente en la adquisición de los datos sismográficos, continuando con el procesamiento sísmico y la etapa final de la interpretación de los mismos, para culminar con la elaboración de un prospecto de perforación exploratoria y poder determinar los recursos hidrocarburíferos de los bloques.La sociedad YPFB Petroandina SAM, conformada por la estatal YPFB poseedora del 60% de las acciones y la empresa venezolana PDVSA con el 40%, es actualmente una de las empresas con mayor inversión en el desarrollo proyectos de exploración y el descubrimiento de nuevos campos hidrocaburíferos en Bolivia.

Industrialización del gas es un tema inviable
La industrialización del gas no podría ser viable en el mediano plazo porque el Gobierno no está tomando las acciones y los planes correspondientes para este proceso, manifestó el analista del Centro de Estudios para el Desarrollo Laboral y Agrario (Cedla), Carlos Arce.“Lo primero que se debe discutir es que si los proyectos que se están planteando son efectivamente de industrialización. La mayor parte de los proyectos que realizará el Gobierno corresponden a la generación de energía eléctrica, petrocasas que no van a tener materia prima nacional, sino más bien venezolana”, manifestó Arce.Además, dijo que todas las empresas que importan plásticos y plastoformos son importadores de esta materia prima y es lo mismo que hará el Gobierno, resaltando que esto no es industrializar y menos la industrialización del gas, porque se comprará de otro productor y se revenderá.“El problema general consiste en saber qué quieren producir (Gobierno), generar electricidad o producir diésel para el mercado interno. El Gobierno está prioriozando proyectos que van a favorecer a otras industrias”, manifestó.Para Arce, esta industrialización no se podría lograr por la falta de capacidad financiera y técnica, pero además porque se prioriza los intereses de las empresas transnacionales y los intereses del Gobierno con las mismas.SEMINARIOAyer, la Plataforma Energética realizó el seminario – coloquio “Planificación e industrialización del gas: energía para Bolivia”.Una de las conclusiones del evento señala que Bolivia debe trabajar muy duro en la planificación energética y en la industrialización del gas, si pretende salir del atraso y la pobreza.El informe, “Estado de la planificación energética en Bolivia”, elaborado por Juan Carlos Guzmán, expresa que durante más de 30 años el Estado boliviano desarrolló una política energética virtualmente a ciegas, sin instrumentos básicos para la planificación, lo que ocasionó millonarios e irreparables daños al sector energético y a la economía y finanzas públicas.“Bolivia contó con el balance energético recién a partir del 2008”, por lo que todas las reformas y políticas, como la intención de convertir al país en el centro energético de la región e incluso de la “nacionalización”, se desarrollaron sin contar con esta herramienta fundamental para la planificación energética, sostiene el informe.
Bolivia dejaría de ser el segundo país poseedor de reservas de gas
Datos extraoficiales del informe de las reservas gasíferas del país muestran que esta se encuentra entre los 9,7 hasta un máximo de 13 trillones de pies cúbicos (TCF), cifras que reflejan el fracaso de la política petrolera aplicada por el Gobierno, aseguró a EL DIARIO el analista de la Fundación Milenio, Napoleón Pacheco.Según Pacheco, los crecientes volúmenes y valores de importación de gasolina, GLP y diésel demuestran el fracaso de la política petrolera del Gobierno. “Hemos perdido la autosuficiencia en estos productos energéticos y estos aspectos tienen consecuencia porque con un nivel de reserva que demuestra este informe preliminar, Bolivia indudablemente deja de ser el segundo país poseedor de reservas importantes de gas natural, por lo menos en el cono Sur y queda en duda su capacidad para poder satisfacer una demanda de gas por parte de la Argentina”, manifestó el analista.Si las reservas cayeron después de tener un aproximado a 20 TCF, es porque la inversión se ha deprimido fuertemente y ésto ocurrió por el deterioro del clima de inversión en el país y particularmente para el sector petrolero, dijo Pacheco.“Mientras en Brasil se descubría y se invertía en yacimientos de gas y de petróleo, en Bolivia no se invirtió y esos son los resultados: Aunque no tenga los datos exactos, es seguro que perdimos el lugar en el que nos encontrábamos”, manifestó Pacheco.RESERVAS“Este es un nivel de reservas que va a permitir cumplir con el compromiso de exportación al Brasil hasta el año 2019, pero indudablemente queda en duda la posibilidad de cumplir con el compromiso de exportación a la Argentina que son 7 millones de metros cúbicos por día mediante un contrato de por lo menos de 20 años”, añadió.El crecimiento del consumo interno no puede poner en riesgo el promedio de las reservas que parecen existir en el país, el mismo que no pasa de 1 TCF. “Si es que no se realiza inversiones y las mismas no se traducen en nuevas exploraciones y descubrimientos en el mediano plazo, podríamos experimentar problemas, como es el caso de las fábricas cementeras, que para aumentar la oferta de cemento se debe incrementar la provisión de gas, pero ésto no se puede realizar a causa de la restricción de provisión de gas natural que está permitida para el mercado interno”, explicó Pacheco.ACCIONES“Las acciones que debería tomar el Gobierno es rectificar la política petrolera que existe en el país y eso significa en términos concretos, una revisión de los acuerdos con las empresas que incluyan cronogramas de inversión, que fue lo que se borró en los nuevos contratos”, manifestó Napoleón Pacheco.Según el analista de Milenio, se debería mejorar el clima de inversión como uno de los primeros pasos para restablecer las condiciones que permitan esperar el aumento de la inversión petrolera, que en un plazo de tres a cuatro años empiece a dar resultados.FRANQUEZA“Vamos a decir con franqueza que las reservas probadas en Bolivia están entre los 9,7 y 12,7 máximo a 13 TCF y sobre eso es que se puede franquear contratos. Si hacemos un balance, necesitamos 4 TCF para el contrato con Brasil por los próximos 10 u 11 años, necesitamos otros 4 TCF para el contrato de venta a la Argentina y alrededor 1 y medio TCF para cumplir con el mercado interno”, mencionó el especialista en temas de hidrocarburos, Álvaro Ríos.Según Ríos, las reservas de Bolivia se están viendo de manera ajustada, con el mercado interno, el mercado del Brasil y que “cuando se vaya a renovar en un promedio de cinco años los contratos y no se cuente con nuevas reservas de gas, entonces la situación para el país será complicada. “Estamos a tiempo, no tenemos pánico por el momento, pero tenemos que reactivar la exploración en el país”, advirtió.El ministro de Hidrocarburos y Energía, Luis Vincetti hace un mes y medio aproximadamente manifestó que las reservas gasíferas que se encontraban en el país estaban en el rango de 19 TCF, pero con el nuevo descubrimiento del campo Río Grande llegarían a 20 TCF de gas natural.La empresa encargada de realizar el estudio de las reservas de gas en el país, Rider Scott, debería presentar su informe a finales de septiembre, pero no se cumplió con esta fecha. prevista.k

YPFB invertirá $us 115 millones para llevar GNL a poblaciones
Un total de 147.097 viviendas de 25 poblaciones intermedias del país se beneficiarán con la implementación del Sistema Virtual de Distribución de Gas Natural Licuado (GNL), informó el gerente Nacional de Redes y Ductos de YPFB, Óscar López. De acuerdo al informe oficial, el estudio de ingeniería conceptual del proyecto, que demandará una inversión de 115 millones de dólares, fue aprobado por el comité de proyectos de la estatal petrolera.“Hemos aprobado el proyecto GNL (Gas Natural Licuado) para poblaciones donde los gasoductos no son imposibles, pero sí demasiado costosos, tenemos la ingeniería conceptual aprobada, la preinversión está garantizada”, afirmó López.El objetivo de este proyecto es el cambio de la matriz energética del gas natural a nivel nacional, para fomentar la expansión de redes de distribución y promover el uso masivo del gas natural como sustituto de otras fuentes energéticas en el mercado interno; en este caso a través de la implementación de la tecnología de Gas Natural Licuado.Según López, el transporte de GNL a bordo de cisternas especialmente diseñadas para su carga, se hará desde una planta de licuefacción de GNL de 200 TNM/día de Gas Natural Licuado, hasta localidades que dispondrán de depósitos de almacenaje y regasificación para posteriormente distribuirlo a través de redes. “Paralelamente a la ejecución de este proyecto, se instalarán redes de gas domiciliario en estos sitios”, agregó López.En programa beneficiará a poblaciones como Desaguadero, Copacabana, Achacachi, Coroico, Guanay y Caranavi (La Paz); Llallagua, Uyuni, Tupiza y Villazón en Potosí, Huanuni y Challapata en Oruro; San Ignacio de Velasco, Ascensión de Guarayos, San Julián, San José de Chiquitos y Roboré en Santa Cruz; Trinidad, San Ignacio de Moxos, San Borja, Rurrenabaque, Guayaramerín, Santa Ana de Yacuma y Riberalta en Beni y Cobija en Pando.
Construcción del GIJA comenzó en Argentina
La construcción del Gasoducto de Integración Juana Azurduy (GIJA), de 47 kilómetros de extensión y que transportará gas natural de Bolivia a la Argentina, comenzó esta semana en el tramo salteño, en la frontera de ambos países, informaron ayer fuentes del Ministerio de Planificación.Según la publicación de la prensa argentina, el gasoducto tendrá 32 kilómetros de extensión del lado argentino y otros 15 en territorio boliviano, a través del cual se abastecerá a la región noreste de Argentina.La cabecera del Gasoducto Juana Azurduy (tramo argentino) se construye en inmediaciones de la frontera de ambos países, en Salta, y finaliza en la Planta Compresora Campo Durán, en la misma provincia.Allí se emplazará la planta de separación y medición del gas importado de Bolivia que posteriormente se comprimirá en esas instalaciones y se inyectará al Gasoducto del nordeste (GNEA).ENLACEEl GIJA contendrá instalaciones de lanzamiento y recepción de elementos de limpieza e inspección (trampas scrapper), tanto en tramo boliviano como en el argentino. La vinculación entre ambos tramos del Gasoducto Juana Azurduy se realizará a través de un `by pass` que vinculará la trampa receptora boliviana con la trampa de lanzamiento argentina.Se incluye dentro del diseño del gasoducto en el tramo argentino una derivación para futuras ampliaciones del sistema de transporte de gas hacia las zonas del noroeste, con el fin de incorporar al servicio de gas por redes a las provincias de Formosa, Chaco, Misiones y Corrientes.Los volúmenes que se espera transportar por el GIJA, en los primeros años de operación, son: 7,7 millones de metros cúbicos de gas por día (MMmcd) en el invierno de 2011; 11,6 MMmcd, en 2012; y 13,5 MMmcd en el 2013.Este gasoducto verterá su gas en el Gasoducto del nordeste Argentino (GNEA), cuya puesta en operación permitirá ampliar el actual sistema de transporte de gas natural, en esta zona.
Deuda pública por energía alcanza los Bs 97,1 MM
A junio de este año, la deuda acumulada en los fondos de estabilización de tarifas eléctricas alcanzó los Bs 97,1 millones, informó la Autoridad de Fiscalización y Control Social de Electricidad (AE).El Fondo de Estabilización de Distribución (FED), vigente desde diciembre del 2003, absorbe los costos de cualquier incremento sustancial en el servicio de electricidad para que los consumidores finales puedan tener tarifas fijas.“A junio del 2010, el saldo en los fondos de estabilización llega a Bs 97,1 millones, deuda que tienen los consumidores y necesita ser pagada”, señala la separata de la AE Energía Solar. La revisión extraordinaria de tarifas permite una reducción de las mismas que tampoco llega al consumidor, sino que es destinada al FED para que éste absorba los incrementos estacionales en las tarifas eléctricas. Saldar la cuenta permitirá que el FED tenga sostenibilidad en el tiempo, pero fundamentalmente le permitirá estabilizar las tarifas y limitar la variación en los precios de distribución de las empresa (máximo 3%).El FED funciona con aportes de las empresas de generación y de distribución de electricidad que operan en el Sistema Interconectado Nacional (SIN).
Bolivia carece de planificación energética
El Estado carece de planificación energética, los documentos elaborados son tan sólo "planes", pues se limitan a prever demanda sin medir impactos económicos, sociales, tecnológicos y ambientales, asegura Andrés Trepp, de la Academia de Ciencias de Bolivia.En tanto, Gerardo Velasco, de la Cámara Nacional de Industria, señala que el problema de suministro de gas natural a la industria paceña es por falta de planificación.La demanda del energético "está peligrosamente empatada" con la oferta, lo que perjudica el desarrollo industrial de La Paz e impide la ejecución de nuevos emprendimientos. "Bolivia debe trabajar muy duro en la planificación energética y en la industrialización del gas si pretende salir del atraso y la pobreza, advierten dos estudios que la Plataforma Energética presentó este jueves", indica el informe de la entidad.En "Estado de la planificación energética en Bolivia", Juan Carlos Guzmán señala que por más de 30 años el país emprendió "una política energética virtualmente a ciegas, sin instrumentos básicos para la planificación, lo que ocasionó millonarios e irreparables daños al sector energético, a la economía y a las finanzas públicas"."Bolivia contó con el balance energético recién a partir de 2008", por lo que todas las reformas y políticas, como la intención de convertir al país en el centro energético de la región e incluso la de la "nacionalización", se desarrollaron sin contar con esta herramienta para la planificación energética, señala el estudio.
YPFB espera asignación de áreas de exploración
Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB) espera la aprobación de un decreto supremo que le asigne nuevas áreas de explotación de hidrocarburos que podrán ser licitadas para que empresas privadas puedan hacerse cargo, informó el presidente de la petrolera estatal, Carlos Villegas.Indicó que una de las compañías interesadas es la petrolera argentina YPF, la que expresó su interés de invertir en actividades de exploración en cuatro áreas en Bolivia.“Tuvimos reuniones con YPF, que tiene interés de explorar en Bolivia, pero por el momento no hemos hablado específicamente. Vamos a esperar a que el Gobierno Nacional promulgue un decreto supremo. Probablemente en días más, el Gabinete apruebe 35 nuevas áreas para YPFB”, explicó Villegas tras retornar de Buenos Aires, Argentina, según un comunicado de la estatal.YPFB prevé implementar un Plan de Exploración hasta 2020 que consiste en la licitación de áreas libres disponibles.De norte a sur del país, las zonas de interés hidrocarburífero se reparten entre Madre de Dios, Subandino Norte y Altiplano, desplazadas en territorios de explotación no tradicionales.

Noticias en Idioma Inglés

September 30, 2010 - BUENOS AIRES: Loma La Lata-Sierra Barrosa, Argentina, Commercial Asset Valuation And Forecast To 2027 (ARGENTINA)
Source: Official Spin
Loma La Lata-Sierra Barrosa, Argentina, Commercial Asset Valuation and Forecast to 2027 ; The Loma La Lata-Sierra Barrosa field is located in Neuquen basin. It is the largest gas field of South America. Repsol YPF is the operator of the field which has 100% equity stake in it. It has 196 major wells and average daily production is approximately 25 million standard cubic meters. The Loma La Lata-Sierra Barrosa field produces crude oil and natural gas. The field produces the crude oil of West Texas Intermediate quality with approximately 35º API and sulfur content of 0.40% (by weight).Loma La Lata-Sierra Barrosa field started production in 1989 and has produced around 49.93 million barrels of crude oil and 930.60 billion cubic feet of natural gas from the last three years. The current production (2010) of the field is estimated to be approximately 15.84 million barrels of crude oil and 245.05 billion cubic feet of natural gas.The production life of the Loma La Lata-Sierra Barrosa field is expected to be around 38-39 years with complete abandonment during 2027. The field is expected to generate $21.42 bn in revenue (undiscounted) during its remaining life (starting January 1, 2010) and is expected to yield an IRR of 11.34%.
September 28, 2010 - BUENOS AIRES: Argentines brace for energy price hikes (ARGENTINA)
Source: Financial Times
Purple posters with a drawing of candles on them have gone up on billboards around Buenos Aires. Their message is simple: Most residents have got used to paying less over the past decade for their electricity than the cost of a couple of candles.
Campaigns to educate Argentines to use energy rationally have been largely absent in a country where, since the economy crashed into a historic sovereign debt default in 2001, tariffs have remained largely frozen. There is so little incentive to use energy wisely that, the joke used to go, if in winter you were hot, you kept the heating on and simply opened the window. That will change, to some extent, this Friday, when the government unwinds some subsidies applied during the winter months to mitigate its last attempt to hike prices – which ran into fierce opposition from consumer groups. The heaviest users can expect a hefty 200 per cent rise, while medium users will see their bills go up by some 50 per cent. In a country where inflation – inexorable, although officially denied, and running at some 20 to 25 per cent according to private analysts – is eroding purchasing power, the latest attempt to push up bills is not going to go down well.
Argentina probably has some leeway to increase prices. Fuel prices have been climbing steadily since the start of the year, and though motorists have grumbled, car sales are still booming (in part, because buying things like cars is a good hedge against inflation).
Residential gas prices in Argentina are some 0.29 pesos ( 7 US cents) per cubic metre, against 8 pesos in Brazil and 4.6 in Chile. Marcelo Mindlin, president of Pampa Energía, a large electricity company, says 9 out of 10 electricity users in Buenos Aires and the greater Buenos Aires area pay less than 1.33 pesos a day – the product of indiscriminate subsidies for all users, rather than just the poorest sectors.
That has to change. Electricity demand has surged an estimated 50 per cent in the last decade, and though consumers have become comfortable with low rates, Argentina’s energy resources have been badly depleted; it has spent fortunes on subsidies in what is a highly regulated market which has discouraged investment. Energy imports have surged as production has fallen. And the government has taken as a provocation upbeat announcements by UK companies exploring for oil and gas around the disputed Falkland Islands about the area’s commercial potential.
The government – which is pushing for wealth redistribution at the same time as dishing out subsidies - says residential customers who use less than 1,000 cubic metres of gas a month and less than 1,000 kilowatts of electricity saw no price increases between 2003 and 2010,while those who use more than those levels saw gas bills rise 97 per cent and electricity bills rise 81 per cent over the period.
Argentina’s rates lag even those of humble Paraguay and the situation can surely not last. But with elections just over a year away and voters to keep sweet, the sweeping readjustments to a sector for which the government has no strategic long-term plan are likely to remain on ice.
September 27, 2010 - FALKLAND ISLANDS/MALVINAS: Falklands Oil Quest Receives More Cash (ARGENTINA)
Source: OfficialWire
Desire Petroleum, one of the six oil companies exploring for hydrocarbons in the waters of the British-ruled Falkland Islands, raised new cash through equity to push forward its seismic surveys to successful conclusion.
The U.K. company, listed on the Alternative Investment Market, said it raised $36 million through pound sterling share placements to enable it to continue with scientific research and identify more lucrative oil deposits than those previously drilled.
So far Desire has been less successful than Rockhopper in locating hydrocarbons that will give its shareholders much needed returns on their investments.
The frenetic quest for oil in the North Falkland Basin in the South Atlantic waters east of South American mainland began last year amid predictions the deep-water reserves could rival those in the North Sea or even some reserves in Saudi Arabia.
The results so far have been modest but haven't calmed Argentina, which claims the British Overseas Territory is London's colonial outpost and Buenos Aires is the rightful owner. Bearing the same claim, an Argentine military junta invaded the islands in 1982 but was beaten back, with the loss of more than 1,000 lives.
Despite a formal surrender to the British military, Argentina didn't relinquish the claim pursued by its defeated dictators and launched a vigorous international campaign to oppose the islands' current status as a British Overseas Territory.
Argentina's claim has had mixed results on the diplomatic front. Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner launched further tirades against Britain and the United Nations last week -- the latter for continuing to insist the dispute needs to be resolved bilaterally by Argentina and Britain.
Desire Petroleum was unfazed by the latest Argentine pronouncements at the United Nations. The company said it would use the additional funds to acquire and process further 3-D seismic images of sea waters under its license, on the east flank of the North Falkland Basin, in Tranches D and F.
Another British company active in the area, Rockhopper Exploration, made what it considers a significant discovery of hydrocarbons called Sea Lion earlier this year.
Since that discovery, Desire has hinted it wants to concentrate on identifying prospects in the same play type as Sea Lion and has outlined a fan sandstone play fairway in the eastern flank.
The fan sandstones can only be fully identified in 3-D data and currently Desire has 3-D coverage for only half of this fairway on its acreage, the company said in a news release.
"Desire believes that it is essential that it acquires and processes new 3D seismic data as quickly as possible in order to fully understand the potential of this play," it said.
The company said it had received tenders for a 3-D seismic survey and intended to award a contract in the near future. The company is also in contact with other oil operators in the North Falklands Basin to mount a joint seismic program.
September 27, 2010 - FALKLAND ISLANDS/MALVINAS: Oil company has second go at Falklands drilling (ARGENTINA)
Source: Malvern Gazette
AN oil company based in Mathon has embarked on the second stage of a drilling programme aimed at billions of dollars of oil off the Falkland Islands.
Desire Petroleum, which was founded by the late Dr Colin Phipps and is now chaired by his son Stephen, has also placed 16 million-odd shares to raise £22.8m for 3D seismic surveys into further prospective drill sites.
Desire, which is registered to Mathon and has an office in London, began drilling in February off the Ocean Guardian rig amid an international row between the UK and Argentina - which claims sovereignty over the islands. As the spat escalated, Argentina brought in controls on all ships passing through its waters in an attempt to blockade the South Atlantic archipelago.
The latest round of drilling began on the 2,850 metre Rachel prospect on Monday afternoon (September 27) and is expected to last for 35 days.
On Friday (September 24) the company placed new shares at 140p each in order to fund the “essential” acquisition and processing of 3D data of a further site along the eastern flank of the North Falkland Basin (NFB).
Discussions are also underway between Desire and other NFB oil operators regarding a joint seismic programme to mitigate the extensive costs of such an operation.
“Because it’s so expensive to get a rig or any form of vessel down there and back it’s better if you share the mobilisation and demobilisation with companies in the north,” said Mr Phipps.
It is expected the seismic programme will begin in December.
September 28, 2010 - FALKLAND ISLANDS/MALVINAS: UK's Falkland Oil shares slump as partner BHP Billiton pulls out (ARGENTINA)
Source: Platts
UK-based Falkland Oil and Gas Limited's shares slumped Tuesday after the company announced its major exploration partner BHP Billiton was pulling out of their license area to the south of the Falkland Islands.
BHP Billiton has told FOGL it does not intend to take part in the second phase of exploration work on the southern license area, which is due to start in December this year, FOGL said in a statement.
FOGL, however, said it believed the area was "still prospective," and that it would take a 100% interest in the blocks after BHP Billiton returns its 51% stake.
The next phase of work in the southern basin involves drilling a single well by December 2015.
The reassignment of BHP Billiton's interest to FOGL and the transfer of operatorship of the license area from one company to the other still require the approval of the Falkland Islands government.
FOGL's shares in London were down 26% at GBP1.1575 ($1.83) at 0858 GMT.
The company also announced Tuesday that it had been granted a one-year extension of its exploration licenses in the northern Falkland Basin after being unable to meet drilling commitments because of a tight rig market.
Under the existing license terms, FOGL was meant to have started the next phase of its drilling program in 2010, but the company said it was "increasingly unlikely" that this would happen.
The Falkland Islands government has agreed to extend the licenses by one year so that they now expire on December 15, 2011.
Earlier this month FOGL announced a successful flow test of oil from its Sea Lion discovery in the northern Falkland basin, the first significant oil find off the UK's Falkland Islands, whose sovereignty is disputed by Argentina.

September 29, 2010 - LA PAZ: Total Aims to Boost Gas Production in Bolivia (BOLIVIA)
Source: Latin American Herald
French oil major Total says it plans to raise its investment in Bolivia to achieve production of 6 million cubic meters (211.5 million cubic feet) of natural gas per day at the Itau field.Total’s exploration and production director, Yves Louis Derricarrere, announced that target for Itau, which is 75 percent owned by Total and 25 percent owned by BG Group and is due to come online in January with output of 1.5 million cmd.Derricarrere and other company executives met Tuesday with Bolivian President Evo Morales.“We’ve had talks with President Morales to present different projects through which we want to continue investing in this country,” the official ABI news agency quoted Derricarrere as saying.Total, operating alone or in partnership with other energy companies, participates in 60 percent of Bolivia’s overall gas production, which exceeds 40 million cmd.State-owned energy firm Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos said in a report that on Jan. 1, 2011, Itau will begin producing 1.5 million cmd of gas and 1,060 barrels of condensate.Itau’s natural gas output is due to rise to 3.5 million cmd and 5 million cmd in 2013 and 2015, respectively, YPFB said. EFE
September 29, 2010 - LA PAZ: Energy Solutions signs contract with TBG for PipelineTransporter (BOLIVIA)
Source: Trading Markets
Energy Solutions International, a supplier of software solutions for oil and gas pipelines, signed a contract with Transportadora Brasileira Gasoduto Bolivia-Brasil or TBG, to roll out the latest version of PipelineTransporter to manage of TBG's transportation contracts, as well as their nominations and allocations processes.
The 2,593km pipeline transports natural gas from the Bolivia-Brazil border, through five Brazilian states, delivering gas to many key consumers including the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. TBG holds transportation contracts with the Brazilian gas trading shipper, Petrobras, delivering the gas in local city gates.
Maria Santos, operations manager at TBG, said: "PipelineTransporter is an integral part of the gas transportation business of TBG, and we are very excited about upgrading to its newest version."
September 29, 2010 - LA PAZ: Bolivian Farmers Occupy Power Plant (BOLIVIA)
Source: Latin american Herald
Peasants from the Bolivian town of Zongo, 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of La Paz, occupied a power plant, interrupting the supply of electricity to three major cities, media outlets said.Television channels reported that about 200 farmers from Zongo took over the COBEE plant, owned by the Israeli firm Inkia Holdings, to demand payment of a royalty for the use of local water sources.The peasants diverted the flow of the water to the plant, affecting its electricity output and causing power outages in several cities including La Paz, El Alto and Potosi.This hydroelectric plant and the one at Miguillas, which is also operated by COBEE, together generate about 220 megawatts, or about 24 percent of Bolivia’s electricity.The interior ministry said in a communique that Deputy Minister Marcos Farfan, a prosecutor and 160 police officers were sent to Zongo to “guarantee the functioning of the electrical energy generators.”The administration warned that “under no circumstances will the restriction of basic services be permitted,” given that such services were acknowledged as public rights under the 2009 constitution.The government added in its statement on the matter that the cutoff of basic services “constitutes a serious crime, as a result of which appropriate action will be taken to punish those responsible for any measure against the interests of the public.”

September 29, 2010 - BRASILIA: Petrobras to Perform In Line (BRAZIL)
Source: ZACKS

We are maintaining our Neutral recommendation on Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. or Petrobras (PBR - Analyst Report) ADRs with a target price of $38.
We believe that continued demand growth in Brazil (expected to outperform developed countries in the next few years), together with all the new investments and acquisitions, will fuel Petrobras’ medium-term earnings outlook. Additionally, we expect the company to benefit from its expertise in deep-water operations, its huge recent discoveries (that could double its resource base) and the growing domestic refined products market.
However, we are concerned about the significant increase in its downstream investment level in the face of a bearish refining margin outlook. Investor skepticism regarding the company’s huge investment requirements, as well as the possibility of heightened state interference and earnings dilution following the $70 billion share sale, also remains near-term headwinds, in our view. Consequently, we do not anticipate a significant upside in the near future and expect the stock to perform in line with the broader market.
Headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Petrobras is the largest integrated energy firm in Brazil and one of the largest in Latin America. The company’s activities include: the exploration, exploitation and production of oil from reservoir wells, shale and other rocks, and in the refining, processing, trade and transport of oil and oil products, natural gas and other fluid hydrocarbons, in addition to other energy-related activities.
September 28, 2010 - BRASILIA: Brazilian government boosting Petrobras stake to 64 percent (BRAZIL)
Source: PETROLEUMWORLD.
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gestures as he speaks at Brazilian state oil company Petrobras' share offering ceremony in Sao Paulo September 24, 2010.
The Brazilian government will boost its stake in oil giant Petrobras to 64 percent of the common stock following a massive share offering, the firm disclosed Tuesday.
A regulatory filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission said the Brazilian state and other government entities exercised rights as existing shareholders to buy shares in a huge offering expected to raise as much as 70 billion dollars.
It said the Brazilian federal government, the biggest shareholder, as well the Brazilian sovereign wealth fund, agreed to purchase a total of 1.8 billion common shares and 994 million preferred shares in the offering.
"In the aggregate, the Brazilian federal government and these entities will own approximately 64 percent of our common shares and 48 percent of our total outstanding shares after the offering," the document said.
The offering has made Petrobras the third largest oil company in the world after US-based ExxonMobil and PetroChina, by market capitalization.
Petrobras is to use the proceeds from the share sale to explore offshore oil fields, which are so big they could make Brazil a major exporter of crude.
The company wants to boost capital expenditure over the next five years to 224 billion dollars to exploit the newly-discovered reserves.
Petrobras estimates the so-called subsalt fields could more than triple existing proven oil reserves of 14 billion barrels.
September 29, 2010 - BRASILIA: Government to buy 2/3 of Petrobras offer (BRAZIL)
Source: UPSTREAMONLINE
Brazil's government, through its sovereign wealth fund and other state entities, agreed to buy nearly two-thirds of the shares in Petrobras as part of the company's massive $70 billion offering that was sealed last week.
News wires 28 September 2010 18:15 GMT
The sovereign fund, state development bank BNDES and the National Treasury committed to buy about 2.8 billion shares of the 4.27 billion offered, Petrobras said in a statement today.
Brazilian state entities placed bids for 1.81 billion voting shares, or 76%t of the total, and 994.9 million preferred shares, about 66% of the volume, Reuters reported.
Petrobras raised 120.25 billion reais ($70.52 billion) on 23 September in the world's biggest share offering.
Petrobras preferred shares, its most widely traded class of stock, were up 0.91% in mid-afternoon trading in Sao Paulo, while the voting shares were down 0.1%.

September 30, 2010 - BRASILIA: Shell hits pay in Santos basin (BRAZIL)
Source: UPSTREAMONLINE
Shell is 80% stake holder in the concession, with Total of France as partner.
The block lies 200 kilometres (125 miles) off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state and the well is being drilled 2 kilometres below the ocean surface.
The company said it would continue drilling to 6 kilometres, after which it will conduct an analysis of the flow and seismic data from the well, Reuters reported.
Brazil's pre-salt reserves, revealed in 2007, are estimated to hold upwards of 50 billion barrels
September 30, 2010 - BRASILIA: Brazil's elections: No big deal to foreign investors (BRAZIL)
Source: PETROLEUMWORLD
It's an exciting week in Brazil. Petrobras' historic $67 billion public offering closes today. News of the Brazilian government boosting its stake in Petrobras irked some minority investors who called it “reverse privatization.” Next up: On October 3 Dilma Rousseff will likely win next week's presidential elections, despite being embroiled in a corruption scandal that caused a hiccup on her lead at the polls for the first time in months.
Some Brazilians are apprehensive of what the continuation of a Lula administration could mean. One insider in the Brazilian Development Bank, BNDES , told me he was personally dissuaded from investing in Petrobras after the government's stake in the company grew.
None of this political frenzy seems to be fazing foreign investors who have continued to bet big on Brazil over the last few months.
“Things have been very active in Brazil,” says Marcello Hallake , a partner with Thompson & Knight LLP who has represented Petrobras in connection with M&A transactions. “It is probably the first time that the elections have not been a factor affecting businesses.”
Some of the latest business buzz in Brazil:
In August private equity powerhouse Carlyle Group, whose managing director David Rubenstein is a staple in the Forbes 400 since 2007, announced a “significant investment” in Scalina, the largest hosiery and lingerie manufacturer in Brazil. Carlyle said that “in the last five years the lingerie and hosiery sector in Brazil has grown at nearly double the rate of GDP.” The Carlyle Group is already invested in CVC S.A. the largest tour operator in Latin America; Qualicorp, a health care company; and Scopel, a São Paulo-based real estate developer.
Sam Zell , another U.S. billionaire highly vested in Brazil, has been growing his stakes in the country for years. These days over half of his Equity International portfolio is invested there in businesses like retail property company BR Mall and home builder Gafisa (NYSE:GFA).
In July Zell told me that he'll be content with whoever wins Brazil's presidential election — whether it's more centrist José Serra or leftist Dilma Rousseff: “Both [candidates] endorse Lula's approach, which is socially liberal and economically conservative.” Zell acknowledged that there are “challenges” to going to an emerging market but “when it's all said and done, you have to look at where growth opportunities are, you have to look at how countries like Brazil are changing and are becoming more transparent and more predictable and therefore more attractive.”
The markets are following his logic. Over the last month large public companies across industries have continued to climb the market, including Petrobras, whose stock is up by 10% over the last month and about 5% since the beginning of the year.
A Goldman Sachs report released this week reiterated investors' enthusiasm in the country, noting “Bullishness on business prospects. Exceptions concerned competition, not markets overall.”
Among the companies expanding their growth in Brazil:
Last week Minneapolis-based Cargill Inc. announced it will buy the Brazilian tomato-product unit of Unilever for about $350 million, citing its “long-term commitment” to growing its business in Brazil.
In June, IBM announced that it's opening a new research lab in Brazil, stating that “the choice of Brazil for the newest IBM Research Lab is the reflection of the big growth opportunity we have seen here.”
Earlier this year, GE announced that it would open its first factory in Brazil as part of its commitment to Brazil and Latin America.
So should foreign investors concern themselves with the upcoming elections?
I asked this question to Reginaldo Arcuri , president of the Brazilian Agency for Industrial Development, who was speaking last week in Washington, D.C. at the US-Brazil Innovation Summit, hosted at Georgetown University.
“Absolutely not,” he said. “We are sure that not only the macro economic standards will be continuing but also that the investment flow will keep more or less the same for the next year, even a little better.”
He added that the government's boosted stake in Petrobras was necessary for the company's exploratory efforts: “The fact that the government has x% of a company like Petrobras in the end means nothing,” said Arcuri. “What really counts for shareholders is the quality of the management and this quality is proven. So I don't see any reason for complaints.”
September 29, 2010 - BRASILIA: Eletrobras to bid on 1.8GW Teles Pires hydro plant - (BRAZIL)
Source: Business News Americas
Brazilian state-run utility Eletrobras (NYSE: EBR) will take part in the upcoming auction for Brazil's 1.82GW Teles Pires hydro project, a spokesperson for the company told BNamericas.
The hydro plant is planned for the Teles Pires river between the states of Mato Grosso and Para.
Brazilian federal energy planning company EPE said national environmental regulator Ibama had recently approved an EIS for the project.
The region does not present natural obstacles that could hinder the project, EPE previously said in a statement, adding that there are no conservation and indigenous land protection units in the direct area.
Eletrobras did not specify which of its subsidiaries would take part in the auction, although Furnas, Chesf and Eletronorte would be the most probable ones.
Teles Pires is set to be included in the A-5 new power auction to be held by the government at the end of the year.
September 29, 2010 - BRASILIA: Brazil's OSX Gets $420 Million Loan From European Banks For Platform (BRAZIL)
Source: NASDAQ
Brazilian oilfield services company OSX Brasil SA (OSXB3.BR) has obtained a $420 million loan to finance its purchase of the company's first offshore oil production platform, the company said Thursday.OSX will pay 425 basis points over the London interbank overnight rate, or Libor, for the eight-year term of the loan, the company said in a regulatory filing.The floating production, storage and offloading vessel, or FPSO, will be the leased for 20 years to sister company OGX Petroleo e Gas Participacoes SA ( OGXPY, OGXP3.BR), producing the first oil for billionaire Brazilian businessman Eike Batista's independent driller in mid-2011.OGX will pay OSX a day rate of $263,000 to lease the vessel. Both OGX and OSX are controlled by Batista.The FPSO, dubbed "OSX-1," will be installed in the Campos Basin at OGX's Waimea prospect, OSX officials said earlier this month. The "OSX-1" is being readied in Singapore dockyards. The converted oil tanker will have the capacity to produce 100,000 barrels a day.OSX will also complete bidding for a second FPSO, "OSX-2" in October, with delivery expected in 2013, company officials said.Norway's DVB Bank led the loan syndicate, which included Credit Agricole, Eksportfinans, GIEK, ING Bank, Santander and ABN Amro, OSX said.
September 30, 2010 - BRASILIA: Brazil's Big Oil Play: How This Nation is Charting National Energy Security (BRAZIL)
Source: Journal of Energy Security
Brazil first stumbled upon its hydrocarbon fortunes on the road toward energy security by discovering its mammoth “pre-salt” oil reserves back in 2006. The expression 'pre-salt' makes reference to an aggregation of rocks located offshore in a large portion of the Brazilian coast and with potential to generate and accumulate oil. For decades successive Brazilian governments have taken great efforts to find hydrocarbons, lower oil imports, and develop a national market for sugarcane based ethanol as a transportation fuel substitute. Indeed, by the end of President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva’s first term in office (2003-2006)
it was evident that Brazil had significantly achieved transportation fuel security by boosting petroleum and ethanol production in tandem with the rollout of a new flex-fuel passenger vehicle fleet. As luck would have it, these national efforts have been underscored with the recent discovery of remarkable pre-salt oil and gas reserves. Today, Brazil’s new-found hydrocarbon bonanza promises to rapidly increase oil and gas production, fuel a national drive toward economic and social development, and swell the country’s geopolitical weight around the world.
Petrobras, Brazil’s state controlled and publicly traded energy company, found its new oil and gas treasures in cooperation with a consortium of oil and gas companies to prospect deepwater oil in the Tupi fields of the Santos basin near the State of São Paulo.
Exploratory drilling occurred in the Paratí prospect on bloc BM-S-10 and eventually found condensate gas in the pre-salt layer some 5,000 meters below the waterline. A second prospect was drilled in the BM-S-11 bloc where Petrobras discovered a massive reservoir of 5-8 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe). Since then, pre-salt reservoirs have been prospected throughout the Santos and Campos basins. Today, Petrobras is working alongside Anadarko, Devon, Exxon-Mobil, BG group, Petrogal, Reposol, Shell, and UK Gas Company to prospect and produce oil and gas from these immense reserves.
For example, in June of this year Petrobras, working in partnership with Reposol, discovered light crude in the pre-salt layer of the Albacora Leste field of the Campos basin some 130 kilometers offshore from Rio de Janeiro. In July, Petrobras opened up production of the Baleia Branca pre-salt field some 85 kilometers offshore from the state of Espirito Santo which could produce 20,000 barrels by the end of the year. The United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts that the pre-salt reserves could add over 50 billion barrels to Brazil’s proven reserves while others estimate much more. All agree that Brazil is sitting on a treasure of hydrocarbons that could lead the country to become one of the most important oil producers in the world during the coming decade. Already Petrobras, Exxon-Mobil, Anadarko, and Reposol are producing from the pre-salt fields to boost overall national production from 2.4 mbd in 2008 to over 2.8 mbd by the end of this year. According to Petrobras’ business plan for the period of 2010 to 2014, the firm will invest $224 billion of which 53 percent will be devoted to exploration and production, most of it in the pre-salt reservoirs. The company’s production goals include 3.9 million boe by 2014, rising to 5.4 million by 2020. Brazil will likely become one of the top five producers of hydrocarbons by the end of the decade if these goals are reached.The drive towards transportation fuel security
Under the banner “O petroleo é nosso!” the Brazilian government of President Getúlio Vargas created Petrobras in 1953 to undertake a drive toward oil self-sufficiency. Petrobras worked to guarantee retail supplies of transportation fuels and lubricants to all regions of Brazil during the first two decades of operations. Consequently, the company focused on building refinery capacity for oil imported from the Middle East. The oil shocks of the 1970s convinced most Brazilian policymakers that their country’s dependence on petroleum imports jeopardized national development and security. Hence, Petrobras doubled up on efforts to discover hydrocarbon reserves in Brazil while the military government established the National Alcohol Program (PROALCOOL) to subsidize and standardize national production of ethanol fuel from sugarcane to supplant production and supplies of transport fuels.
Although the company began searching for offshore reserves as early as 1968 near the coast of Sergipe, it was not until 1974 that it found the Campos reserves off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, the largest discovered until the pre-salt reserves. Petrobras’ discoveries in the Campos basin allowed Brazil to implement policies and programs developed to set a solid public-private foundation for petrochemical and ethanol production to curtail the nation’s dependence on imports of petroleum and its derivatives. For example, in 1975 the federal government took advantage of declining world sugar prices to launch the PROALCOOL program to provide tax incentives, credits, and infrastructure to sugarcane and ethanol producers. Between 1975 and 1985 domestic ethanol production quadrupled.
According to Sennes and Narciso, such concerted efforts to find hydrocarbons, produce ethanol, and displace imports in the 1970s were not merely the case of adjusting the national economy to the international price shock; it was also an effort to render the development and security strategy sustainable within an increasingly hostile international environment where energy was vital. So crucial was the country’s strategy of development and industrialization considered for national security that it justified a thorough political, financial, institutional, and technological mobilization (see Sennes, Ricardo Ubiraci and Thais Narciso. “Brazil as an International Energy Player,” in Brazil as an Economic Superpower? Understanding Brazil’s Changing Role in the Global Economy. Edited by Lael Brainard and Leonardo Martinez-Diaz. Brookings Institution Press. 2009:17-54).”If the OPEC oil shocks of the 1970s reinforced Brazil’s defensive imperative to lessen energy imports, then it was the partial privatization of Petrobras in 1997 that replaced the state controlled import substitution strategy with a more balanced, entrepreneurial approach that sought greater private and foreign investment, technology transfer, and production efficiencies. The campaign to liberalize Brazilian production, through the partial privatization of Petrobras and the concurrent formation of a concessionary policy framework for hydrocarbon exploration and production, caused the favorable conditions which led to the pre-salt discoveries less than a decade later. Under the 1997 Petroleum Law, Brazil’s proven reserves of oil and gas grew by 40 percent, investment rose from $4 to $25 billion per year, production doubled in the proceeding decade, and the petroleum sector’s importance to overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded from two to ten percent.
Just two decades ago Brazil purchased over 40 percent of its energy abroad. In 1999 Brazil imported 24.1 percent of its total energy consumption, including 34.5 percent of its petroleum use. By 2008 the nation had reduced its external energy dependence to 8.3 percent, achieved self-sufficiency in crude oil production, and was the world’s largest exporter of ethanol. Between 2005 and 2009, petroleum production rose from just over two million barrels per day to nearly 2.6 million, and ethanol production grew from nearly 4.2 million gallons to over 7 million gallons. With transportation fuel security at hand, the Brazilian government is tasked with developing a policy framework that doubles production of oil and gas while projecting the country’s hydrocarbon power toward the commanding heights of the global political economy
Policy, production, and power
In August of 2009 President Lula introduced four distinct but integrated legislative initiatives to maximize state control over the pre-salt reserves. The proposed regime includes four key strategic pillars:
1) establishing a production sharing regime for the nation’s new found “strategic” oil reserves;
2) strengthening Petrobras' stake in the new hydrocarbon wealth;
3) creating a new state controlled company, Pré-Sal Petróleo, S.A or “Petrosal”, to administer the Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) and commercialize the state’s portion of the profit oil earned from each PSA; and
4) setting up a new Social Fund to administer the wealth generated by Petrosal’s stake in the PSAs.
This new production framework is designed to replace the concessionary model in place since 1997 for those blocs denominated “strategic” by the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels (known as the ANP). The proposed production sharing regime falls short of completely renationalizing oil and gas exploration and production, but the roles of both Petrobras’ and Petrosal should provide the Brazilian state with ample control over the nation’s hydrocarbon resources. Petrobras serves as the corporate cornerstone of the Lula government’s strategy to leverage the pre-salt reserves into the fuel of national development and geopolitical power. Under the proposed policy framework, the National Council for Energy Policy (CNPE) would continue to formulate national energy policy, but the ANP would be authorized to identify strategic blocs from the pre-salt reservoirs and award them directly to Petrobras or to consortia with at least a thirty percent stake reserved for Petrobras. The Brazilian state, represented by Petrosal, would also participate in all strategic bloc awards without making any investment. Therefore, the government will exercise control over exploration and production of the pre-salt reserves through its majority 51 percent ownership of voting shares in Petrobras and sole ownership of Petrosal.
The government’s gamble to place Petrobras at the center-stage of the national efforts to exploit the pre-salt reserves comes after the company’s widely recognized success in developing competitive advantages in deep water exploration and drilling. The company is one of the world’s most successful oil companies—among both state and privately owned companies—in terms of increases in reserves and production, technical capacity (particularly in exploration, development and production of offshore and deep offshore reserves) and development of international projects.” (Isbell, Paul."Energy and Geopolitics in Latin America," Real Instituto Elcano, Working Paper December 2008).
According to Petrobras’ Director of Exploration and Production, Guilherme Estrella, the company’s success and discovery of the pre-salt reservoirs, "is the result of five decades of exploration investments of Petrobrás, which resulted in a growing knowledge of Brazilian sedimentary basins. It reflects, too, the focus on the development of technologies, analytical procedures and innovative solutions in exploratory processes, particularly seismic and drilling of wells and the increased willingness of Petrobras for exploration risks.” (ibid)These competitive advantages in deep water drilling were confirmed by the results of the 2007 ANP auction of the eleven blocs associated with the pre-salt reserves located in the Cluster region of the Santos basin. Petrobras participated in every winning consortium, leading with over a 60 percent stake in nine of these blocs and holding 40 and 45 percent stakes in the remaining two. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Lula administration’s proposals would mandate Petrobras as the sole operator with a minimum 30 percent stake in all strategic blocs. Under the new regime, ANP will administer public auctions of the strategic reserves to consortia with at least 30 percent Petrobras participation or opt to directly award an exclusive PSA to the state controlled firm. Thus, the ANP determines under which conditions participating private sector or foreign state owned enterprises (SOEs) will be allowed to invest and apply their technological and managerial capacities in partnership with Petrobras. Petrobras does face significant hurdles to successfully exercise its operational control under the proposed PSA regime, including the need for a constant flow of capital to fully exploit the ultra-deepwater pre-salt reserves. On June 30, 2010 President Lula signed one of the key pre-salt proposals into law which allows for the transfer of rights to five billion boe from the pre-salt fields to Petrobras in return for the recently negotiated $42.5 billion worth of company shares. This completed deal now sets up Petrobras’ impending public stock issue which could raise some $75 billion depending on how investors gauge the company’s falling stock price and the politics surrounding the pre-salt production. Although bullish on Petrobras, it reminds investors of the increasing risks associated with the government’s control of the company and the 25-30 percent stock price dive in the past year. Politics have certainly challenged Petrobras and slowed complete passage of the new regulatory framework as the producing states of Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo duel with the non-producing states over the distribution of rents and royalties. However, the probable victory of President Lula’s hand picked successor, Dilma Rousseff of the Workers Party, in October’s presidential election should encourage full congressional passage of the PSA regime and a rebound of Petrobras’ share price in early 2011. These probable outcomes will provide Brazil with state control over the nation’s hydrocarbon resources and one of the largest oil and gas companies of the world, providing future governments the revenues and tools for accelerating national development and projecting geopolitical power for decades to come. The country’s hydrocarbon inheritance permits Brazil to make a critical contribution to regional energy security in South America and to become a stable supplier of crude oil and transportation fuels around the world, including the United States. Currently, Brazil is the second largest oil producer in South America, but it is expected to surpass Venezuela in the coming years as increasing numbers of pre-salt blocs come onto production. The United States imports approximately 60 percent of Brazil’s current oil exports, with volumes expected to rise in the next decade. Indeed, if bilateral biofuel cooperation expands in the coming years it is possible that Brazil would play a growing role in meeting the rising demand for ethanol in the US. Brazil’s capacity to increase production and exports of oil, gas, petrochemicals, and ethanol in the coming decades will likely lead to greater economic interdependence with its neighbors in South America, providing a stronger political stage for projecting national power through multilateral forums and international governmental organizations, including the Organization of Petroleum Exporting States (OPEC), the Organization of American States (OAS), and the United Nations Security Council. The Brazilian state’s control over hydrocarbons is likely to place the nation in an “advantageous position as an energy player to gain preferential standing in other areas” and to “gain a more assertive political and economic presence in the world." The pre-salt reserves all but guarantee Brazil’s energy security and geopolitical importance. Now, the question is whether the Brazilian state can effectively manage the nation’s hydrocarbon wealth to take a giant leap in economic and social development.
September 30, 2010 - BRASILIA: Thermal Power Market Outlook In Brazil To 2020 (BRAZIL)
Source: Press Office
The new report, "Thermal Power Market Outlook in Brazil to 2020 - Capacity, Generation, Regulations, Major Power Plants, and Key Companies" gives a view of Brazil's thermal energy market and provides forecasts to 2020. This report includes information on thermal (coal, oil and gas) installed capacity and generation. It provides information on key trends, profiles of major industry participants, information on major power plants and analysis of important deals. This, along with detailed information on the regulatory framework and key policies governing the industry, provides a comprehensive understanding of the market for thermal power in the country. This report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research and in-house analysis by a team of industry experts.
September 30, 2010 - BRASILIA: Cosan launches new 90 Mgy ethanol, power project in Brazil (BRAZIL)
Source: Biofuels Digest
In Brazil, Cosan announced the inauguration of their newest ethanol, sugar and electricity facility in Caarapó. Listed as part of the Shell/Cosan joint venture Biofuels reported on August 26th, the facility will process 2.5 million tons of sugarcane to produce 90 MGy of ethanol, 185,000 tons of sugar and cogenerate 76 MWh/yr of electricity from sugar bagasse. This is Cosan’s first plant in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul. ”
The plant uses high technology, which better integrates the production system and the environment. In Caarapó we have also prioritized the hiring of local labor, contributing to improved income generation in the region”, says Cosan president Marcos Marinho Lutz. Cosan’s website states that the plant utilizes three 700 meter wells and cooling towers to reduce water consumption as well as “exclusive software that makes production even more dynamic, avoiding waste and facilitating the decision-making process along the activities the are being carried out. In addition, waste from ethanol production is managed to be returned to the agricultural area as fertilizer, as in the use of vinasse (also known as filter cake), a by-product of the distillation of ethanol.”
September 29, 2010 - BRASILIA: Hydropower making waves in the renewable energy world (BRAZIL)
Source: Energy Digital
Here is a look at some of the latest trends and top companies in the world of hydropower, a dominant renewable energy resource
Hydroelectricity, generated through hydropower, is the oldest, most popular method of producing renewable energy. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), “Water is currently the leading renewable energy source used by electric utilities to generate electric power.”
Hydroelectricity Locations
Several countries utilize hydroelectric power for a majority of their electric energy generation, such as Venezuela, Switzerland, Norway, Canada and Brazil. In 2009, China generated the highest net amount of hydroelectric power in the world, with Brazil, Canada and the U.S. following closely. According to the EIA, “Total generation from renewable resources increases by three percent annually.” The renewable share of world electricity generation is expected to grow a total of 23 percent between 2007 and 2035, with around 80 percent of the increase coming from hydroelectric power and wind power.
Hydropower Pros and Cons
The advantages of producing electricity via water include: zero greenhouse gas emissions and therefore zero pollution to the environment; consistent electricity production for many decades; repurposing for irrigation or recreational activities in the lakes; and the ability to stop production and use dams only when needed. Hydroelectricity is the only renewable energy that is capable of competing economically with fossil fuels. EIA believes, “Government policies or incentives often provide the primary economic motivation for construction of renewable generation facilities.”
Hydropower generation also presents a few disadvantages, such as: high costs for building dams; damage to natural environments from flooding over large areas of land; and potential geological damages.
Major Hydropower Projects
Itaipu Binacional
Itaipu Binacional is a project developed collaboratively by Brazil and Paraguay, which includes the Itaipu Dam, its hydroelectric power plant and the Itaipu Lake. The plant was built on the Paraná River, situated on the Brazil-Paraguay border. Construction of the Itaipu Dam was completed in 1982, and the power plant has been in operation since 1984. Itaipu Binacional is the world’s largest generator of clean, renewable energy. The total installed power capacity of the project is 14,000 megawatts from 20 generating units, supplying around 19 percent of the energy consumed in Brazil and 77 percent of the demand in Paraguay. According to Itaipu Binacional, “In 2009, the Itaipu power plant generated 91.651.808 megawatts per hour (MWh), the fourth highest in 25 years of power production.”
China Yangtze Power Co Ltd.
China Yangtze Power Co Ltd. is the largest hydropower corporation in China. The company owns and operates the Gezhouba Power Plant, which has a total installed capacity of 6,977 megawatts. Additionally, China Yangtze Power Co is responsible for managing six generating sets at the Three Gorges Power Plant, currently in operation. The total operational and management capacity of the company is 12,577 megawatts. Electricity generated by the hydro plants is sold to central China and the Guangdong Province. According to China Yangtze Power Co, “Depending on the construction of the Three Gorges Project and the development of the water resources at the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, the company will continue to commit itself to generating the hydropower-dominated clean electricity.”
Companhia Energética de São Paulo
Companhia Energética de São Paulo (CESP), the largest power generation company in São Paulo state and the third largest in Brazil, has six hydroelectric plants, and 57 generating units. The company’s total installed capacity is 7,445 megawatts, with 3,916 megawatts of assured power. Electrical generation from these plants accounts for up to ten percent of the national total. The company’s hydro plants distribute via two drainage basins, including the Paraná River basin, located in the western part of São Paulo state, and the Paraíba do Sul river basin, located in the east.
The Guri Dam
Located on the Caroni River in Bolívar State of Venezuela, the Guri Dam is considered one of the largest in the world. Also known as the Central Hidroeléctrica Simón Bolívar, the dam was developed in two parts, with construction concluded in 1986. The dam construction has been controversial, due to the destroyed environment resulting from the created lake. The Guri hydroelectric power station is situated in the Necuima Canyon, near the Caroní River’s mouth. As of 2009, the plant is the world’s third largest, with a generating capacity of 10,200 megawatts.
Grand Coulee Dam
According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, “Grand Coulee Dam is the largest hydropower producer in the United States, with a total generating capacity of 6,809 megawatts. It is one of the top ten largest producers of electricity in the world.” The dam is located on the Columbia River in Washington State. The reservoir is named Franklin Delano Roosevelt Lake, after the U.S. president who oversaw the development of the dam. MWAK constructed the dam’s foundation.

Septermber 30,2010 - BOGOTA: Ecopetrol, Anadarko Make Offshore Oil Find in Brazil (COLOMBIA)
Source: Latin American Herald
Colombian state oil company Ecopetrol announced the presence of crude at a Brazilian offshore block it is jointly exploring with U.S. multinational Anadarko.The discovery was made at the Itauna well in the BM-C-29 block, the Colombian company said without providing further information.“Future developments and projections will be subject to additional data to be obtained during the exploration activities carried out in the block in the following months,” said Ecopetrol, which accounts for 60 percent of domestic oil output.The Colombian state oil company said that Anadarko, the operator of the block, confirmed the “presence of hydrocarbons in the Itauna well.”Ecopetrol, which is a 50 percent partner in the block through its subsidiary in Brazil, is Colombia’s largest company and one of the four biggest oil firms in Latin America.In addition to Colombia and Brazil, the company also has a presence in exploration and production activities in Peru and the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.


September 30, 2010 -HAVANA: Cuba's drilling has risks (CUBA)
Source: Dalla's News
Five months after the BP oil spill, a federal moratorium still prohibits new deep-water drilling in the U.S. waters of the Gulf of Mexico. And under longstanding federal law, drilling is also banned near the coast of Florida.
Yet next year, a Spanish company will begin drilling new wells 50 miles from the Florida Keys – in Cuba's sovereign waters.
Cuba currently produces little oil. But oil experts say the country might have reserves along its north coast as plentiful as that of international oil middleweights Ecuador and Colombia – enough to bolster its faltering economy and cut its dependence on Venezuela for its energy needs.
"Cuba needs to find its oil. It's a resource Cuba needs," Luis Alberto Barreras Canizo, of Cuba's Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment, said this week. He confirmed the drilling plans in an interview in Sarasota, Fla., where he was one of 20 Cuban scientists who met with scientists from the U.S. and Mexico to finalize a long-term marine research and conservation plan for the three countries.
The advent of drilling in Cuban waters poses risks both to the island nation and the United States. Ocean scientists warn that a well blowout similar to the BP disaster could send oil spewing onto Cuban beaches and then the Florida Keys in as little as three days. If the oil reached the Gulf Stream, a powerful ocean current that passes through the region, oil could flow up the coast to Miami and beyond.
September 30, 2010 - HAVANA: Cuba ready to drill for oil deeper than BP (CUBA)
Source: Poder 360
Cuba is picking up the pace on efforts to search for oil and gas. Exploratory rigs could start working as soon as next year, just miles off the Florida coastCuba is expected to begin drilling offshore for oil and gas as soon as next year with equipment that will go deeper than the Deepwater Horizon rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, industry experts say.The Spanish energy company, Repsol, which drilled an exploratory well in 2004 off the coast near Havana, has contracted to drill the first of several exploratory wells with a semi-submersible rig that is expected to arrive in Cuba at the end of the year, said Jorge Piñon, an energy expert and visiting research fellow at the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University. He said the rig is expected to drill down 5,600 feet in an area about 22 miles north of Havana and 65 miles south of the Marquesas Keys.The development comes as 20 Cuban scientists joined their American and Mexican counterparts at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota this week to finalize a long-term marine research and conservation plan for the three countries. Luis Alberto Barreras Cañizo, who led the Cuban delegation as a representative of Cuba's Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment, confirmed the plans for exploration. ``Cuba needs to find its oil, it's a resource Cuba needs,'' he told the Bradenton Herald in an interview.Environmentalists suggested the prospect of rigs just 45 miles from Florida's coastline could intensify pressure for the Obama administration to engage in talks with its Cold War antagonist to prevent ecological damage.``A policy of isolationism doesn't benefit anyone. We have a selfish interest in talking with Cuba,'' said David Guggenheim, a conference organizer and senior fellow at The Ocean Foundation in Washington. ``At a minimum, you need a good Rolodex.''AFFECTING U.S.Guggenheim has been working on marine research and conservation issues with Cuba for nearly a decade and assisted the country with satellite images and models to track the trajectory of the Gulf spill. He said computer modeling shows that an oil spill off Cuba's coast could end up in U.S. waters -- chiefly the Florida Keys and the state's east coast. ``The Gulf isn't going to respect any boundaries when it comes to oil spills,'' he said.Barreras said he's not worried about the ecological effects of offshore drilling, saying, ``the Cuban environmental framework is very progressive.''A State Department spokeswoman said the United States expects that oil exploration companies would have ``adequate safeguards in place'' and that U.S. companies could get a license through the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control to help with oil spill prevention efforts in Cuba.But FIU's Piñon, who argued in a paper in May that U.S.-Cuba policy would ``foreclose the ability to respond effectively'' to an oil disaster, said such permits could take weeks. ``You can't put a spill on hold to wander through the bureaucracy,'' he said.Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami, accused the Cuban regime of saying ``anything to attract investors and convince them to open their wallets.''``The regime is in tough economic straits and to keep itself afloat, is now looking at the oil industry, among others, to throw it a lifeline,'' she said. She warned that with Cuba's emerging relationship with Iran, investments in Cuba's petroleum sector could provide Iran with ``back-door access to resources and markets that it would otherwise be blocked from under new sanctions.''
September 30, 2010 - HAVANA: Cuba to drill for oil in water deeper than failed BP well (CUBA)
Source: Kansas City
Cuba is expected to begin drilling offshore for oil and gas as soon as next year in waters deeper than those the Deepwater Horizon rig was drilling in when it exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in April.The Spanish energy company Repsol, which drilled an exploratory well in 2004 off the coast near Havana, has contracted to drill the first of several exploratory wells with a semi-submersible rig that is expected to arrive in Cuba at the end of the year, said Jorge Pinon, an energy expert and visiting research fellow at the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University.He said the rig is expected to begin drilling in 5,600 feet of water about 22 miles north of Havana; and 65 miles south of Florida's Marquesas Keys. The oil reservoir is thought to lie 13,000 feet below the seafloor. The Deepwater Horizon rig was drilling in about 5,000 feet of water when it exploded April 20, touching off the oil spill that fixated the Gulf region throughout the spring and summer.Luis Alberto Barreras Canizo, of Cuba's Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment, confirmed the drilling plans in an interview this week in Sarasota, Fla., where he was one of 20 Cuban scientists who met with scientists from the U.S. and Mexico to finalize a long-term marine research and conservation plan for the three countries."Cuba needs to find its oil. It's a resource Cuba needs," Barreras said.Environmentalists said the prospect of rigs just miles from Florida could intensify pressure for the U.S. to engage in talks with its Cold War antagonist to prevent ecological damage."We have a selfish interest in talking with Cuba," said David Guggenheim, a conference organizer and senior fellow at The Ocean Foundation in Washington. "At a minimum, you need a good Rolodex."Guggenheim, who has worked on marine research and conservation issues with Cuba for nearly a decade and helped that country track the trajectory of the Deepwater Horizon spill, said computer modeling shows that oil from a spill off Cuba's coast could end up in U.S. waters - chiefly the Florida Keys and the east coast of Florida."The Gulf isn't going to respect any boundaries when it comes to oil spills," Guggenheim said.Barreras said he isn't worried about the ecological affects of offshore drilling. "The Cuban environmental framework is very progressive," he said.Pinon said, however, that an effective response to a spill might be delayed by the need for U.S. companies to apply to the Treasury Department for permission to work in Cuban waters, but State Department spokesman Charles Luoma-Overstreet said U.S. companies could apply for permits now to do such work."We would expect that any company engaged in oil exploration activities to have adequate safeguards in place to prevent oil spills or other incidents," he said. "U.S. companies can be licensed ... to provide oil spill prevention and containment support related to operations in Cuba."Daniel Whittle, the Cuba program director for the Environmental Defense Fund, who recently returned from the island, said Cuban government officials are "moving forward as quickly as possible" on securing domestic oil production.Cuba imports most of its oil and gas from Venezuela, and Whittle said its own source would be critical to its economy.He said the country is "taking a very close look at the lessons learned from the BP oil spill. I can say they're determined to do it right. The international consequences of doing it wrong are all something they'd like to avoid."Pinon said the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba had complicated Cuba's efforts to secure a drilling rig. Vessels with more than 10 percent U.S. parts are barred from operating in Cuba.Repsol has hired an Italian rig, the Scarabeo 9, with a 200-member crew, to do the job, but the rig's blowout preventer, a critical piece of safety equipment that failed in the Deepwater Horizon explosion, was manufactured in the U.S. The Scarabeo 9 is expected to drill as many as nine other wells off Cuba's coast.Florida lawmakers have sought - unsuccessfully -
When news reports of a potential deal with Repsol emerged in June, Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., asked the Obama administration to withdraw from a 1977 Maritime Boundary Agreement with Cuba to pressure its government. National security adviser James Jones, however, said withdrawal "would have no discernible effect" on the Cuban government and could create further boundary claim disputes for the U.S.Nelson tried a similar approach with the Bush administration in 2007 when Cuba was talking to Brazil about oil exploration. The Bush administration also turned him down.Guggenheim said he's encouraged that the State Department had granted visas to 20 Cuban delegates to attend the marine and conservation conference at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota - it was the highest number ever issued for such a conference. The attendees discussed a tri-national plan of action for protection of coral reefs, sea turtles, fish, sharks and other marine life."We can't protect our own waters without working closely with Mexico and Cuba," he said.
September 30, 2010 - HOUSTON: Drilling Plans Off Cuba Stir Fears of Impact on Gulf (UNITED STATES)
Source: The New York Times
Five months after the BP oil spill, a federal moratorium still prohibits new deepwater drilling in the American waters of the Gulf of Mexico. And under longstanding federal law, drilling is also banned near the coast of Florida.
Yet next year, a Spanish company will begin drilling new wells 50 miles from the Florida Keys — in Cuba’s sovereign waters.
Cuba currently produces little oil. But oil experts say the country might have reserves along its north coast as plentiful as that of the international oil middleweights, Ecuador and Colombia — enough to bolster its faltering economy and cut its dependence on Venezuela for its energy needs.
The advent of drilling in Cuban waters poses risks both to the island nation and the United States.
Ocean scientists warn that a well blowout similar to the BP disaster could send oil spewing onto Cuban beaches and then the Florida Keys in as little as three days. If the oil reached the Gulf Stream, a powerful ocean current that passes through the region, oil could flow up the coast to Miami and beyond.
The nascent oil industry in Cuba is far less prepared to handle a major spill than even the American industry was at the time of the BP spill. Cuba has neither the submarine robots needed to fix deepwater rig equipment nor the platforms available to begin drilling relief wells on short notice.
And marshaling help from American oil companies to fight a Cuban spill would be greatly complicated by the trade embargo on Cuba imposed by the United States government 48 years ago, according to industry officials. Under that embargo, American companies face severe restrictions on the business they can conduct with Cuba.
The prospect of an accident is emboldening American drilling companies, backed by some critics of the embargo, to seek permission from the United States government to participate in Cuba’s nascent industry, even if only to protect against an accident.
“This isn’t about ideology. It’s about oil spills,” said Lee Hunt, president of the International Association of Drilling Contractors, a trade group that is trying to broaden bilateral contacts to promote drilling safety. “Political attitudes have to change in order to protect the gulf.”
Any opening could provide a convenient wedge for big American oil companies that have quietly lobbied Congress for years to allow them to bid for oil and natural gas deposits in waters off Cuba. Representatives of Exxon Mobil and Valero Energy attended an energy conference on Cuba in Mexico City in 2006, where they met Cuban oil officials.
Right now, Cuba’s oil industry is served almost exclusively by non-American companies. Repsol, a Spanish oil company, has contracted with an Italian operator to build a rig in China that is scheduled to begin drilling several deepwater test wells next year. Other companies, from Norway, India, Malaysia, Venezuela, Vietnam and Brazil, have taken exploration leases.
New Mexico’s governor, Bill Richardson, a Democrat who regularly visits Cuba, said Cuba’s offshore drilling plans are a “potential inroad” for loosening the embargo. During a recent humanitarian trip to Cuba, he said, he bumped into a number of American drilling contractors — “all Republicans who could eventually convince the Congress to make the embargo flexible in this area of oil spills.”
“I think you will see the administration be more forward-moving after the election,” Mr. Richardson said.
Despite several requests in the last week, Cuban officials declined to make anyone available for an interview.
Currently, the United States, Mexico and Cuba are signatories to several international protocols in which they agreed to cooperate to contain any oil spill. In practice, there is little cooperation between Washington and Havana on oil matters, although American officials did hold low-level meetings with Cuban officials after the BP blowout.
“What is needed is for international oil companies in Cuba to have full access to U.S. technology and personnel in order to prevent and/or manage a blowout,” said Jorge Piñón, a former executive of BP and Amoco. Mr. Piñón, who fled Cuba as a child and now briefs American companies on Cuban oil prospects, said the two governments must create a plan for managing a spill.
Several American oil and oil service companies are eager to do business in Cuba, Mr. Piñón said, but they are careful not to identify themselves publicly because they want to “protect their brand image in South Florida,” where Cuban-Americans who support the embargo could boycott their gasoline stations and other products.
There are signs the Obama administration is aware of the safety issues. Shortly after the BP accident, the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the agency that regulates the embargo, said it would make licenses available to American service companies to provide oil spill prevention and containment support.
Charles Luoma-Overstreet, a State Department spokesman, said licenses would be granted on a “application-by-application basis,” but he would not comment on the criteria.
Mr. Piñón said it appeared that an American company could apply for a license before an emergency but that a license would be issued only after an accident had occurred. “We’re jumping up and down for clarification,” he said.
One group — Clean Caribbean & Americas, a Fort Lauderdale cooperative of several oil companies — has received licenses to send technical advisers, dispersants, containment booms and skimmers to Cuba since 2003. But it can only serve the member companies Repsol and Petrobras, not Cuba’s government.
Economic sanctions on Cuba have been in effect in one form or another since 1960, although the embargo has been loosened to allow the sale of agricultural goods and medicines and travel by Cuban-Americans to the island.
Mr. Hunt of the drillers’ group said that the association had sent a delegation to Cuba in late August and had held talks with government officials and Cupet, the Cuban national oil company.
He said that Cuban officials, including Tomás Benítez Hernández, the vice minister of basic industry, asked him to take a message back to the United States. “Senior officials told us they are going ahead with their deepwater drilling program, that they are utilizing every reliable non-U.S. source that they can for technology and information, but they would prefer to work directly with the United States in matters of safe drilling practices,” Mr. Hunt said.
Mr. Benítez became the acting minister last week when the minister of basic industry, the agency that oversees the oil industry, was fired for reasons still unclear.
Donald Van Nieuwenhuise, director of petroleum geoscience programs at the University of Houston, said that if an accident occurred in Cuban waters, Repsol or other companies could mobilize equipment from the North Sea, Brazil, Japan or China. But “a one-week delay could be disastrous,” he said, and it would be better for Havana, Washington and major oil companies to coordinate in advance.
Opponents of the Cuban regime warn that assisting the Cubans with their oil industry could help prop up Communist rule. Instead of making the drilling safer, some want to stop it altogether.
Senator Bill Nelson, Democrat of Florida, is urging President Obama to recall a diplomatic note to Havana reinforcing a 1977 boundary agreement that gives Cuba jurisdiction up to 45 miles from Florida. “I am sure you agree that we cannot allow Cuba to put at risk Florida’s major business and irreplaceable environment,” he wrote the president shortly after the BP accident.
September 30, 2010 - HAVANA: Cuba ups gasoline prices about 10 percent (CUBA)
Source: Associeted Press
Cuba has upped already–high gasoline prices by about 10 percent amid sweeping changes to the economy, a move that could lead to grumbling among cash–strapped islanders, particularly private taxi drivers who are not allowed to raise their own prices.
The changes, which took effect Monday, were announced in the Communist Party–newspaper Granma, which cited rising international prices for the move. It was the first time prices have risen since September 2008, when crude oil internationally sold for about a third more than it does now.
The cost of diesel fuel — used by many of the old cars that populate Cuba's streets — rose to $1.19 a liter ($4.50 a gallon), about 11 cents a liter (42 cents a gallon) higher than previously. The highest octane fuel rose even more to $1.73 a liter ($6.54 a gallon), from $1.51 a liter ($5.72 a gallon).
The prices approach those paid in Europe and are apparently the highest in the hemisphere, topping pump prices in Brazil and Bermuda. They are a fortune for Cubans who make the average salary of just $20 a month.
But the changes are not likely to affect many islanders, a reason why past gas hikes here have not led to unrest, as they sometimes do in other developing countries.
Few people on the island own a car, and those lucky enough to have been issued a vehicle through their state–run companies usually have a monthly quota of gas paid through work.
The government heavily subsidizes the public transportation system on which most Cubans rely, and it did not announce an increase in those prices.
Those who will take a hit are the thousands of private taxi drivers who use gas–guzzling American clunkers from the 1950s or rusting cars from former Eastern Bloc countries to ferry people along set routes to and from work.
In most cases, the price they charge is set at 10 pesos (about 50 cents). Even before the price hikes, many complained that high fuel costs meant it didn't pay to cruise the city looking for a fare.
Taxi drivers interviewed Monday said it would be even harder for them to make ends meet if the government does not authorize higher fares, particularly since they already pay a steep price for permission to drive.
"I already work just to pay the license fees," said Alexander Rodriguez, a 39–year–old taxi driver waiting for a fare at a taxi stand in Old Havana. He said he must pay the government 300 Cuban pesos a month — about $15 — for the right to take passengers in his cherry–red 1955 Oldsmobile. "For a Cuban, this price hike is really tough."
The gas price hikes come as the government is seeking to transform its socialist economy into a system that includes more private workers and more reliance on prices to regulate supply and demand. Earlier this month, Cuba announced it was laying off half a million workers — about one–tenth of the work force — while allowing far more free enterprise.
On Friday, the government approved some 178 private business activities, gave Cubans the right to employ people not related to them, and even promised credit to entrepreneurs.
Among the new activities authorized by the government is the sale of fruits and vegetables from roadside kiosks or homes, something many had already done on the black market. On Monday, the government gave more details of how the legal stands will work, saying a pilot program allowing the stands in a few provinces will be expanded nationwide.
Those interested must register and pay taxes starting at 25 percent on any profits, according to an article in Granma.
"The idea is to give order to what had been a raging river," the article said, referring to the widespread illegal vegetable stands that have existed until now.
September 30, 2010 - HAVANA: Cuba may begin oil drilling next year (CUBA)
Source: Poder 360
The Spanish energy company, Repsol, has contracted to drill the first of several exploratory wells with a semi-submersible rig that is expected to arrive in Cuba at the end of the year, according to Jorge Piñon, an energy expert and visiting research fellow at Florida International University.
Quoted in The Miami Herald, Piñon said the rig is expected to drill down 5,600 feet in an area about 22 miles north of Havana and 65 miles south of the Marquesas Keys. Cuba is currently heavily dependent on Venezuela for its petroleum needs.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates Cuba's offshore reserves hold from 5-billion to 9-billion barrels of oil (almost as much as in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska), and close to 1-trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Meanwhile, the Herald also reports that 20 Cuban scientists joined American and Mexican counterparts at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota this week to finalize a long-term marine research and conservation plan for the three countries.
The drilling is likely to raise environmental and political concerns in South Florida. A State Department spokeswoman told the Herald that US companies could get a license through the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control to help with oil spill prevention efforts in Cuba.
September 30, 2010 - HAVANA: Cuban Offshore Drilling Plans Spark Concerns(CUBA)
Source: VOA News
A Spanish energy company is planning to help Cuba drill for oil off the island's northern coast, about 80 kilometers south of the U.S. state of Florida.
Repsol spokesman Kristian Rix says the company has drilling rights to a 4,500-square-kilometer area in the Straits of Florida but would not give a timeline on when oil exploration would begin.
Cuba currently imports most of its oil and gas from Venezuela, but oil experts say there could be significant offshore reserves. A study earlier this year by the U.S. Geological Survey estimated that Cuba might be able to access 4.6 billion barrels of oil.
The plans by Cuba and Repsol to drill for oil are raising concerns in the United States because of the proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, where an explosion aboard a BP oil rig in April led to the worst oil spill in U.S. history.
Florida Democratic Senator Bill Nelson is urging the White House to pressure the Cuban government to abandon its offshore drilling plans.
Scientists warn any oil from a spill off Cuba's north coast could reach the southeastern United States within days. And experts worry difficult relations between the U.S. and Cuba's communist government could hurt efforts to respond to a potential disaster.
The U.S. State Department says U.S. companies can be licensed to provide oil spill prevention and clean-up support to Cuba.
There are also concerns that the U.S. trade embargo is complicating Cuba's efforts to safely drill for oil.
The embargo calls for sanctions against companies that supply more than 10 percent of the parts for any vessel operating in Cuban waters.
To get around the embargo, Spanish energy firm Repsol has been working with an Italian company to build an oil exploration rig in China. The rig is expected to arrive in Cuba early next year.
Despite the concerns, a Cuban official visiting the U.S. says he is confident Cuba can drill for oil safely.
Luis Alberto Barreras Canizo of Cuba's Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment told the McClatchy Newspaper Service that Cuba's environmental framework is "very progressive." Barreras was in Sarasota, Florida this week for a meeting with American and Mexican officials on marine research and conservation.
Meanwhile, the New York Times reports some U.S. officials see Cuba's oil ambitions as a chance to loosen the trade embargo and allow U.S. energy companies to pursue more opportunities in Cuba.
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson told the Times he believes the Obama administration will move forward with potential changes following mid-term elections in November.
Separately, a Cuban delegation visiting Azerbaijan this week raised the possibility of cooperation between the two countries in the oil and energy sectors.

September 29, 2010 - SANTIAGO: Chile Generator Colbun Aims To Expand Capacity 63% By 2015 (CHILE)
Source: Wall Street Journal
Chilean power generator Colbun SA (COLBUN.SN) plans to increase its installed capacity by 63% by 2015, the company said late Monday.
The expansion plan comes to keep up with electricity demand on the central SIC grid, Chile's largest, which is forecast to grow around 5.7% annually over the next five years.
Colbun, currently the second largest generator on the SIC grid, expects to expand capacity from 2,620 megawatts to 4,278 mw, according to a company presentation.
The SIC grid supplies energy to over 90% of the Andean nation's population and covers an area from northern Tal Tal to the southern island of Chiloe.
Over the next five years, Colbun also plans to invert its current mix of installed capacity to 52% hydroelectric and 48% thermoelectric, from 52% thermoelectric and 48% hydroelectric currently.
The projects slated to come online by 2015 include the 150 mw San Pedro and 316 mw Angostura hydroelectric projects, the 342 mw Santa Maria I and 350 mw Santa Maria II coal-fired projects, and some 500 mw in non-conventional, renewable energy sources, such as geothermal, wind, biomass and small-scale hydroelectric.
Colbun's expansion plans don't consider the $3.2 billion HidroAysen hydroelectric joint venture project in Chile's far south, which it is developing with power-generator Empresa Nacional de Electricidad SA (EOC, ENDESA.SN).
The 2,750 mw hydropower project, which opponents criticize because it includes plans to lay a 2,000-kilometer (1,240 miles) transmission line through pristine land and to dam both the Baker and Pascua rivers, has yet to receive environmental approval.
September 29, 2010 - SANTIAGO: Southern region could hold a lot of oil - executive - (CHILE)
Source: Business News Americas
The south of Chile is becoming appealing to oil and gas exploration companies, according to Dwayne Warkentin, CEO of Canada's Madalena Ventures.
"Chile is one of the countries we are strongly looking at," Warkentin told BNamericas. "We think that for sure there is potential in the south of Chile."
Magdalena has interest in three exploratory blocks in Argentina's Neuquen basin but could potentially look into acquiring new assets in the region, according to the CEO.
"We were really very surprised by GeoPark's success with its oil discovery," Warkentin said. "I think the good acreage in Chile might already be held. So the best bet is to make a deal with someone rather than to go in on new blocks."
London-listed GeoPark (LSE: GPK), which conducts E&P in the south of Chile along with state oil company Enap and a handful of other international oil companies, recently announced an internal 2P estimate of 55Mboe following success at its Guanaco 4 oil well.
"I have to say when I first looked at Chile three years ago with all those new blocks coming up the process was a little long, the time horizon for our kind of company to commit dollars was not good enough. Neuquen allowed us to move faster than in Chile," he continued. "But terms are improving there."
September 30, 2010 - SANTIAGO: Chile HidroAysen Possibly Starting Operations In 2018-2019 (CHILE)
Source: Fox Business
Chile's giant hydroelectric HidroAysen project could bring the first of its five power plants online in 2018 or 2019, Energy Minister Ricardo Raineri said Thursday.
The $3.2-billion HidroAysen project, a joint venture between Chilean power generators Empresa Nacional de Electricidad SA (EOC, ENDESA.SN) and Colbun SA (COLBUN.SN), still needs to get environmental approval and recently requested more time to respond to comments on its environmental-impact study.
"If all the [environmental] studies for HidroAysen, including for the transmission line, run smoothly, they'll probably get approval for the project at the end of 2013 and their investment decision will be made in 2014...and from there the first plant will be in operation in four or five years," Raineri said in a speech to the Asimet metallurgical industry trade group.
After first submitting the project's environmental-impact study in August 2008, the environmental-approval process has been plagued with delays.
The controversial 2,750-megawatt hydropower project consists of five power plants on the Baker and Pascua rivers in the southern Aysen region. Fierce critics of the project oppose its plans to damn the rivers and plans for a transmission line that would span nearly 2,000 kilometers through pristine land.
Chile, which currently has some 15,000 megawatts of installed capacity, needs to add nearly 10,000 megawatts over the next 10 years in order to keep up with forecasts for rising energy demand as the Andean nation's gross domestic product is expected to grow by 5% to 6% annually over the period.
"Between now and 2013 we've got some 2,500 megawatts covered in projects that are already undergoing construction," Raineri said. "That leaves an additional 7,500 megawatts that we need install from 2014 onwards. We're very aware of the fact that the energy sector is vital for the nation's growth."
One of conservative President Sebastian Pinera's main goals is to have Chile's economy expand by 6% annually during his four-year term.

September 30,2010 - QUITO: Foreign oil companies in Ecuador (ECUADOR)
Source: Agency
Unrest erupted in Ecuador on Thursday with soldiers taking control of the main airport and police demonstrating in the streets while President Rafael Correa considered dissolving a deadlocked Congress. [ID:nN30130945]
There was no immediate signs of any impact on the oil sector in OPEC's smallest member, which rejoined the global exporter group under Correa and has seen its output rise in recent years to an average of 470,000 barrels per day (bpd).
About 44 percent of that is extracted by private companies and the rest by state-run firms including Petroecuador, Petroamazonas and Rio Napo. Ecuador is a top 10 oil supplier to the United States, shipping about 225,000 bpd in recent months. Below is a list of foreign oil companies involved in Ecuador's oil production:
* Andes Petroleum, a consortium led by the Chinese National Petroleum Corp, produces some 36,000 bpd from its Tarapoa block, in the northeast of the country. It is also a stakeholder in a heavy crude pipeline.
* Agip Oil, a unit of Italy's ENI (ENI.MI: Quote), is extracting around 16,000 bpd at Block 10 in the Ecuadorean Amazon region.
* Ecuador TLC, a unit of Brazil's Petrobras (PETR4.SA: Quote) (PBR.N: Quote), pumps around 23,000 bpd from Block 18 in the Oriente basin. It is a stakeholder in the heavy crude pipeline.
* Spain's Repsol-YPF (REP.MC: Quote), one of Ecuador's largest investors, operates block 16 with 41,000 bpd of production and also takes part of the heavy crude pipeline.
* Chinese company Petroriental has two blocks with output at 13,900 bpd.
September 30,2010 - QUITO: Giving up oil production for the greater good (ECUADOR)
Source: Miami Herald
On the day in August that BP and the Obama administration announced that they finally had control over the oil spill that spewed about 5 million gallons of petroleum into the Gulf of Mexico, Ecuador and the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) quietly announced a plan to leave unexploited some 846 million barrels of proven crude reserves lying under the Yasuni National Park in the Amazonian rain forest of Ecuador.Together Ecuador and UNDP propose to support this effort by raising $3.6 billion from other countries, individuals and institutions around the world, a small fraction of the amount already spent by BP and the U.S. government to mitigate the damage of the Gulf of Mexico disaster. It also is only half of the value of the underground oil that today represents 20 percent of Ecuador's entire petroleum reserves. Our contribution is to forego the other $3.6 billion.Why would a small oil-producing country like ours forego more than $7 billion in certain revenue, given the poverty and basic needs of our people? It stems from the vision of our president, our constitution and our Ecuadorean notion of Buen Vivir -- Good Living. Buen Vivir is a concept written into the new constitution put forward by President Rafael Correa that Ecuadoreans ratified in 2008. It is the underpinning of everything we try to do as a government in economic development, conservation and global affairs. At its elemental level Buen Vivir speaks to the aspiration of our government to provide all Ecuadorians with a decent living standard supported by an ethical government that depends upon their engagement and operates transparently. Our constitution also endows nature with the right of protection against harmful exploitation.But there also is an international notion of good living, and we think that extends to protecting the environment upon which humanity depends and finding ways to power our modern society without crushing those people who choose a different paradigm of good living. In the case of the Yasuni rain forest, not only does it house oil, but it is one of the most biodiverse regions of the world, with more tree species than in all of North America, more documented insect species than any forest in the world and a critical habitat for threatened mammals, birds, bats and amphibians. UNESCO declared it a World Biosphere Reserve in 1989. The land that makes up Yasuni's Ishpingo, Tambococha and Tiputini fields (ITT) also is home to several indigenous communities whose well-being is guaranteed by our constitution and whose idea of Buen Vivir is as valued as it is different from that of other Andean populations. There are about 3,000 people in these communities, incluiding the Tagaeri and Taromenane, the last two indigenous groups still living in voluntary isolation in Ecuador.The Yasuni-ITT proposition is simple: the world contributes to the UNDP trust fund and acquires bonds through a program that the trust will administer. Ecuador agrees not to allow drilling of the oil and to invest the revenue in sustainable and eco-friendly development in the Amazon region. The trade-off will prevent the discharge into the world's atmosphere of more than 400 million metric tons of carbon that would be emitted if the oil were put to use. And over time, donors to the fund may profit from the exchange of their bonds as a global cap and trade program gives them value.For the first time in history an oil producing country -- petroleum currently accounts for about one-third of our gross domestic product -- will give up development of its reserves for a greater good. It only works, of course, if the countries and leaders who have tried to forge global accords to protect the environment agree to share with us the responsibility for keeping that oil underground.The Yasuni-ITT plan has been years in the making. We have received encouragement from European governments, NGOs, major philanthropists and now the UNDP. Ahead is the real test. Ecuador is ready to lead other countries away from dependency on fossil fuels and toward a world committed to conservation, protection of indigenous people and toward a carbon-free vision.Are the richer countries of the planet prepared to join us?Lenín Voltaire Moreno Garcés has been the vice pesident of Ecuador since January 2007. He addressed the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Monday seeking support for the Yasuni Initiative.

September 30,2010 - MEXICO CITY: Interior not ready to lift offshore drilling ban (MEXICO)
Source: Politico
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is standing his ground amid calls from Gulf state lawmakers and industry to immediately end the deepwater oil drilling ban. Salazar unveiled a pair of new rules for offshore drillers Thursday and indicated he needs proof industry has reduced the risk of another BP-like oil spill before he delivers a final verdict. "We will only lift the moratorium when I as secretary of Interior am comfortable that we have significantly reduced those risks," he said at a speech at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. The rules go into effect immediately and create tough new standards for the equipment and technology used in offshore drilling, including requiring the independent certification of a well’s blowout preventer. They also include new workplace safety standards aimed at reducing human and organization errors, such as the ones believed to have played a role in the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion. "We are raising the bar for safety, oversight and environmental protection at every state of the development and drilling process,” Salazar said. Salazar suggested today that additional rules were on the way in the coming weeks and months, making it unclear how many steps remain before the deepwater ban is lifted. "The oil and gas industry needs to expect a dynamic regulatory environment," Salazar said. Thursday’s rules include many of the recommendations released in a preliminary report from the agency earlier this year, and aim to address a number of safety concerns that have arisen from a series of investigations into the causes of the spill. The moratorium expires at the end of November but Salazar and other administration officials have suggested they hope to lift it sooner, especially given the uproar from Gulf state lawmakers about job losses due to the ban. But Salazar took a hard line on the political maneuvering surrounding the moratorium in a New York Times interview Thursday. “We will lift it at our own time and when we’re ready, and not based on political pressure from anyone,” Salazar told the newspaper. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) is blocking Obama’s nominee for the director of the Office of Management and Budget until drilling resumes. “Let my people go. Let them get back to work,” Landrieu told reporters Wednesday. “I know that [the administration is] working hard but all of that good will and wish and leaning forward is not resulting in more permits being issued.” Landrieu also stressed that she won’t necessarily lift her hold when the administration lifts the moratorium. “It doesn’t do me any good to technically have the moratorium lifted if there are no permits issued,” she said. The environmental community was quick to applaud the new rules – and Salazar’s suggestion that more were on the way – and said that the reforms help pave the way for the administration to lift the deepwater drilling moratorium earlier than the Nov. 30 deadline. “I always believed that the moratorium could be lifted once a stronger safety net was in place, and I think we have that now,” Elgie Holstein, a senior director at the Environmental Defense Fund.
September 30, 2010 - MEXICO CITY: Mexico's Pemex says natural gas pipeline bursts (MEXICO)
Source: Agency
A natural gas pipeline burst in southern Mexico on Wednesday but did not catch fire, state oil company Pemex said.
"It was brought under control," Pemex [PEMX.UL] said in a statement.
No injuries were reported in the explosion, which happened on the Cactus-El Misterio pipeline in the state of Chiapas.
September 30, 2010 - MEXICO CITY: Mexico may launch claim over BP spill (MEXICO)
Source: UPSTREAMONLINE
Mexico's federal government could join a list of its states suing the companies blamed for the disastrous Gulf oil spill, claiming damage to fishing and tourism.
Earlier this month, three Mexican states sued UK oil giant BP and its contractors Transocean, as well as affiliated businesses.
The northern state of Tamaulipas - which shares a border with Texas - and Veracruz with its long coastline on the Gulf of Mexico, both said the spill posed risks to beaches and marine life that would cause lost profits and potentially large clean-up bills.
Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula, home to major tourist destinations like Cancun, also filed suit in a Texas court on 15 September.
"We expect the rest of the (Mexican) Gulf states will join the endeavor and potentially ... Mexico," said lawyer Enrique Serna, whose San Antonio-based practice represents the states.
The lawsuits are believed to be the first by foreign governments against the petroleum giant BP and its contractors in the aftermath of April's Deepwater Horizon rig explosion and ensuing oil spill, Serna said.
More than 300 civil lawsuits have already been filed in the US by out-of-work rig workers, fishermen and hotel workers, and that number is expected to increase.
Mexico's federal government has been studying the viability of a legal claim against BP, the environment minister told Reuters in an interview in June, adding that the remnants of the oil spill could hit Mexico's shores next month.
As of August, the government of Mexico had spent about $35 million monitoring the spill, according to media reports.
"It is only natural for them to sue BP and the rest of the corporate defendants to reclaim such sums," Serna said.
"There are a number of damages that eventually we'll be able to quantify but only time will tell," he said.
Serna said he also expects more than 1500 individual claimants in Mexico - from fishermen to restaurant operators who have been forced to pay more for fish from Pacific waters - to eventually press claims.
A spokeswoman for Halliburton said the allegations appeared to be without merit, but BP and Transocean declined to comment.
BP has set up a $20 billion fund to compensate those who lost livelihoods or income due to the spill, but it excludes foreign claimants. The company has paid out over $240 million thus far and has said it will add to the size of the fund if necessary.
US District Court Judge Carl Barbier was recently named to navigate the vast array of claims prompted by the spill that some expect to be among the costliest and most complex litigation in US history, reported Reuters.
September 30, 2010 - MEXICO CITY: Jasminia stays on for Pemex (MEXICO)
Source: UPSTREAMONLINE
Prosafe and Interpetroleum Services have agreed to extend the bareboat contract for use of the semi-submersible accommodation rig Jasminia in the Cantarell field for Pemex in Mexico for 159 days.
This is the first of a series of mutually agreeable extensions with a duration of up to six months each. If all extensions are agreed, the contract will run until mid-February 2013.
The contract runs now until 8 June 2011. The value of the extension of the bareboat contract is about $7.2 million, Prosafe said today.
September 30, 2010 - MEXICO CITY: Mexico still seeking oil hedges (MEXICO)
Source: UPSTREAMONLINE
Mexico's finance minister said today the government will continue to seek opportunities to hedge its crude oil exports.
"We're looking, as we do every year, for the best opportunity to have oil export hedges for the coming year," Finance Minister Ernesto Cordero told reporters.
Today, the Financial Times reported Mexico - whose oil exports fund more than a third of the federal government - was looking to hedge next year’s net oil exports at $65 to $70 per barrel.
It also reported the country will hedge less than 200 million barrels next year, down from 230 million barrels this year.
Cordero declined to confirm those figures but added, "We are looking for the best moment to hedge."
Mexican officials have previously said they intend to buy securities to guarantee a minimum price for the country's oil exports, according to a Reuters report.
In his budget for next year, President Felipe Calderon proposed an average price of $63 per barrel for the country's oil export basket.
Mexico has aimed to hedge as much of its net oil exports as possible near the oil price assumed in the budget since last year.
The country's rapidly growing need for oil product imports amid a shortage of refining capacity and slowly falling crude output cut the volume that needs to be hedged each year.
Late last year, Mexico paid $1.172 billion to guarantee a minimum $57 per barrel for this year’s oil exports.
Peru

September 28, 2010 - LIMA: Peru's Enersur signs contract for Las Bambas mine project (PERU)
Source: Andina
Peru's Enersur SA, a unit of Suez Energy International, has signed a contract to provide electricity for the Las Bambas copper project in southern Peru. "The supplies outlined in the contract are valid for 10 years and 10 months from the time the consumption starts, and include successive and automatic two-year extensions," Enersur said in a filing late Tuesday with Peru's securities regulatory agency.
The Las Bambas project is being developed by Xstrata Copper, which has said production is expected from the second quarter of 2014.
According to Dow Jones Newswires, the mine is expected to produce 400,000 metric tons a year of copper in concentrate, alongside "significant" quantities of gold, silver and molybdenum, the company has said.
September 29, 2010 - LIMA: Conduit Capital sells Peruvian power company to Inkia Energy (PERU)
Source: PEHUB
Conduit Capital Partners, a private equity firm that deals in energy infrastructure, has sold its interest in Peru’s largest electricity company, Edegel, to Inkia Energy, its partner in the investment, for $50 million. Conduit initially bought its share through its Latin Power II fund for $21 million.
Conduit Capital Partners LLC, a private equity investment firm focused on energy infrastructure investment and development in Latin America and the Caribbean, today announced that it has sold its indirect interest in Edegel, Peru’s largest electric power company, for $50 million. The interest was purchased by Inkia Energy, Conduit’s current partner in this investment.
“This sale is a further validation of the success of Conduit’s investment philosophy and performance,” stated George Osorio, Managing Partner at Conduit. “Edegel was an exciting investment in the fastest-growing economy in Latin America over the last several years with a government that is dedicated to meeting its country’s growing infrastructure needs. We are pleased to have taken part in the growth of Edegel and Peru, and we look forward to our continued involvement in Peru’s energy sector through Latin Power III’s ownership of Kuntur, a $3 billion gas and liquids pipeline being developed in the south of Peru.”
Latin Power II acquired its seven percent indirect interest in Edegel for approximately $21 million in 2002. Through Edegel’s sale of electric power through contracts and power on the spot market, Conduit received just under $20 million in distributions up to the time of sale. Conduit’s total realization on its investment was 3.3x invested capital.
This transaction constitutes the sale of the last remaining asset of Conduit Capital Partners’ Latin Power II Fund. Latin Power II is a vintage 1998 fund that was closed with $157 million of committed capital. Latin Power III has $392 million of capital, was raised in 2006 and is now 90% committed.

September 30, 2010 - CARACAS: Venezuela's Chavez Plans Trip To China, A Growing Partner (VENEZUELA)
Source: Nasdaq
CARACAS -(Dow Jones)- President Hugo Chavez said he's planning a trip to China before December, and said that by 2012 his government will be sending the Chinese 1 million barrels a day of crude oil.
"We're going to go to China with lots of enthusiasm," he told reporters late Monday. "It's a country that has become a strategic ally for Venezuela."
The Venezuelan government currently ships around 400,000 barrels a day to China, and Chavez said that "we're now headed for half a million" barrels a day. By 2012, he said, China would be receiving a full 1 million barrels a day of Venezuelan crude.
Chavez's plans to increase oil shipments to China are part of a plan to reduce the need to sell to the U.S., which currently gets close to 1 million barrels a day from Venezuela, making it Venezuela's top buyer. Chavez is an outspoken critic of the U.S. government, which he says engages in imperialism.
Venezuela's president, a socialist who says he has a "deep respect" for China, said he hoped his visit would dovetail with "the start of construction of the first Venezuelan refinery in China."
China National Petroleum Corp, or CNPC and Venezuela's state-run Petroleos de Venezuela SA, or PDVSA, plan a major refinery in southern China's Guangdong province to process Venezuelan oil.

September 29, 2010 - Latin America's region a growing fuel importer
Source: Pretroleumworld
PDVSA-Hess HOVENSA, 500,000 barrels per day (BPD in the Virgin Islands, is among the top ten largest refineries in the world. NEW YORK Petroleumworld.com, Sep 29, 2010 In Latin America, quick economic growth has boosted fuel demand and the sluggish pace of refinery expansions is making the region a growing fuel importer, including from the United States. Reliance on fuel imports may continue in the near term, since the region, including Mexico , is only planning to add 100,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) in refining capacity through 2011, and at most 475,000 bpd through 2013.
Brazil holds at least 2 million bpd of capacity and has plans to increase capacity by 50 percent, but that expansion will mostly come in 2013 and beyond. Venezuela holds a fourth of South and Central America's combined 5 million bpd capacity. But the fuel exporter has seen several of its refineries falter due to poor maintenance. Mexico, with around 1.7 million bpd capacity, has not built a new plant in three decades and depends on imports for 40 percent of its gasoline.
Two large refineries on the Caribbean islands of Aruba and Curacao have been completely or partially idle this year. Analysis: Below is a factbox detailing known plans to expand Latin America's refining infrastructure through 2013. Several larger expansion projects are planned for later in the decade.
* ARGENTINA: no significant expansion planned by 2013.
* BOLIVIA: no significant expansion planned by 2013.
* BRAZIL: For 2010, Petrobras plans to expand Clara Camarao refinery capacity by 30,000 barrels. In 2013, the company plans to inaugurate a 230,000 bpd refinery known as Abreu e Lima in northeastern Brazil.
* CENTRAL AMERICA: no significant expansion planned by 2013.
* CHILE: no significant expansion planned by 2013.
* COLOMBIA: In 2013, Ecopetrol plans to expand its Cartagena refinery to 165,000 bpd, up 85,000 barrels from its 80,000 bpd capacity now.
* ECUADOR: Ecuador has pledged to invest up to $700 million in an upgrade of its 110,000 bpd Esmeraldas refinery, but no date has been set and experts say the expansion is unlikely to happen by 2013.
* MEXICO: Pemex has plans to expand its 170,000 bpd Minatitlan refinery in early 2011, boosting capacity to 240,000 bpd. The project should add 57,000 bpd of incremental gasoline supply and 62,000 bpd of incremental distillate supply.
* PERU: no significant expansion planned by 2013
* VENEZUELA: PDVSA plans to begin a new refinery called Batalla de Santa Ines in Central Venezuela to process 60,000 bpd in 2012, and further expand in the future.
* URUGUAY: no significant expansion planned by 2013. Story compiled by Joshua Schneyer from