Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04GUATEMALA2126
2004-08-20 18:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:
GUATEMALAN PETROLEUM IMPORTS FROM VENEZUELA -- ALL
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS GUATEMALA 002126
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
FOR WHA/EPSC MARTINEZ
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ENRG XK GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALAN PETROLEUM IMPORTS FROM VENEZUELA -- ALL
ON A COMMERCIAL BASIS
REF: SECSTATE 176535
(SBU) The GoG does not purchase petroleum from Venezuela
under the San Jose or Caracas Accords, and the PetroCaribe
initiative is not even on the GoG,s radar. The GoG is not a
direct purchaser of petroleum for its power sector since the
handful of electricity generators it owns run on renewables.
Petroleum product distribution and thermal power generation
are in the hands of the private sector, and they have not
found any mechanisms for purchasing petroleum under the San
Jose or Caracas Accords that offer advantages to purchasing
from the commerical market. Imports are of refined products,
but we note that Duke Energy, an American electrical energy
producer, is working on switching its San Jose plant from
coal to Venezuelan orimulsion. Guatemala imported an average
of 6,045 bpd of refined petroleum products from Venezuela
during the first half of 2004, according to the Hydrocarbons
Directorate of the Ministry of Energy and Mines. This was a
little less then ten percent of total imports of 63,350 bpd.
Venezuelan imports satisfy 12 pct of the demand for premium
gasoline, 5 pct of demand for regular gasoline, 19 pct of
demand for diesel, and 1 pct of demand for bunker C or fuel
oil. COMMENT: In Post,s judgement, petroleum does not give
the Government of Venezuela significant leverage over the
GoG. END COMMENT.
HAMILTON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
FOR WHA/EPSC MARTINEZ
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ENRG XK GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALAN PETROLEUM IMPORTS FROM VENEZUELA -- ALL
ON A COMMERCIAL BASIS
REF: SECSTATE 176535
(SBU) The GoG does not purchase petroleum from Venezuela
under the San Jose or Caracas Accords, and the PetroCaribe
initiative is not even on the GoG,s radar. The GoG is not a
direct purchaser of petroleum for its power sector since the
handful of electricity generators it owns run on renewables.
Petroleum product distribution and thermal power generation
are in the hands of the private sector, and they have not
found any mechanisms for purchasing petroleum under the San
Jose or Caracas Accords that offer advantages to purchasing
from the commerical market. Imports are of refined products,
but we note that Duke Energy, an American electrical energy
producer, is working on switching its San Jose plant from
coal to Venezuelan orimulsion. Guatemala imported an average
of 6,045 bpd of refined petroleum products from Venezuela
during the first half of 2004, according to the Hydrocarbons
Directorate of the Ministry of Energy and Mines. This was a
little less then ten percent of total imports of 63,350 bpd.
Venezuelan imports satisfy 12 pct of the demand for premium
gasoline, 5 pct of demand for regular gasoline, 19 pct of
demand for diesel, and 1 pct of demand for bunker C or fuel
oil. COMMENT: In Post,s judgement, petroleum does not give
the Government of Venezuela significant leverage over the
GoG. END COMMENT.
HAMILTON