Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05SANTIAGO2558
2005-12-22 16:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:
CHILE TEMPORARILY TO INCREASE OIL IMPORTS FROM
how-toVZCZCXYZ0060 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHSG #2558 3561602 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 221602Z DEC 05 FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8113 INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 2997 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES PRIORITY 2815 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0834 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 4381 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 002558
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2015
TAGS: ENRG ECON
SUBJECT: CHILE TEMPORARILY TO INCREASE OIL IMPORTS FROM
VENEZUELA
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Emi L. Yamauchi. Reasons: 1.4 (
b and d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 002558
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2015
TAGS: ENRG ECON
SUBJECT: CHILE TEMPORARILY TO INCREASE OIL IMPORTS FROM
VENEZUELA
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Emi L. Yamauchi. Reasons: 1.4 (
b and d).
1. (C) Deputy Foreign Minister Cristian Barros told the
Ambassador on December 21 that Chile would temporarily
increase its oil imports from Venezuela until other options
became available. Barros explained that Chile's state-owned
oil production and refinery company (ENAP) would extract the
oil, partially refine it in Venezuela, and then transport it
to Chile for further refinement. Barros claimed the
decision, which has not yet been made public, was driven by
Argentina's decision to restrict its oil exports to Chile and
the lack of other viable alternatives. He said Chile was
between a rock and a hard place. The only other real
supplier of oil in the short term, Angola, was not
cost-effective, he said.
2. (C) Barros said the GOC wanted the U.S. to know about the
decision before it became public. He said that Chile
imported a small percentage of its oil from Venezuela,
emphasized the move was "purely commercial," and added it
would not increase Chile's dependence on Venezuela.
3. (C) Post note: Chile is heavily dependent on foreign
sources of oil, importing roughly 90 percent of its total
petroleum and petroleum-related products. In the region,
Chile's primary oil suppliers during 2004-2005 were
Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. During the
January-October 2005 period, Chile did not import oil from
Venezuela, according to Chile's Central Bank. Outside of
Latin America, Chile's primary suppliers during the 2004-2005
period were Nigeria, South Africa and Gabon.
KELLY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2015
TAGS: ENRG ECON
SUBJECT: CHILE TEMPORARILY TO INCREASE OIL IMPORTS FROM
VENEZUELA
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Emi L. Yamauchi. Reasons: 1.4 (
b and d).
1. (C) Deputy Foreign Minister Cristian Barros told the
Ambassador on December 21 that Chile would temporarily
increase its oil imports from Venezuela until other options
became available. Barros explained that Chile's state-owned
oil production and refinery company (ENAP) would extract the
oil, partially refine it in Venezuela, and then transport it
to Chile for further refinement. Barros claimed the
decision, which has not yet been made public, was driven by
Argentina's decision to restrict its oil exports to Chile and
the lack of other viable alternatives. He said Chile was
between a rock and a hard place. The only other real
supplier of oil in the short term, Angola, was not
cost-effective, he said.
2. (C) Barros said the GOC wanted the U.S. to know about the
decision before it became public. He said that Chile
imported a small percentage of its oil from Venezuela,
emphasized the move was "purely commercial," and added it
would not increase Chile's dependence on Venezuela.
3. (C) Post note: Chile is heavily dependent on foreign
sources of oil, importing roughly 90 percent of its total
petroleum and petroleum-related products. In the region,
Chile's primary oil suppliers during 2004-2005 were
Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. During the
January-October 2005 period, Chile did not import oil from
Venezuela, according to Chile's Central Bank. Outside of
Latin America, Chile's primary suppliers during the 2004-2005
period were Nigeria, South Africa and Gabon.
KELLY