Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CARACAS565
2008-04-25 19:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
PDVSA TO FORM NEW SERVICE JOINT VENTURES (REALLY)
how-toVZCZCXRO8489 RR RUEHDE DE RUEHCV #0565 1161958 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 251958Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1008 INFO RUEHHH/OPEC COLLECTIVE RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 0938 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 7765 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 6053 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 1744 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 2734 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 1010 RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 3573 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 2825 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 4058 RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 0577 RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RHEHAAA/WHITEHOUSE WASHDC RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0983 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000565
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
ENERGY FOR CDAY AND ALOCKWOOD
NSC FOR JSHRIER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2018
TAGS: EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE
SUBJECT: PDVSA TO FORM NEW SERVICE JOINT VENTURES (REALLY)
REF: A. 2006 CARACAS 3402
B. 2007 CARACAS 666
Classified By: Acting Economic Counselor Shawn E. Flatt
for Reason 1.4 (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000565
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
ENERGY FOR CDAY AND ALOCKWOOD
NSC FOR JSHRIER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2018
TAGS: EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE
SUBJECT: PDVSA TO FORM NEW SERVICE JOINT VENTURES (REALLY)
REF: A. 2006 CARACAS 3402
B. 2007 CARACAS 666
Classified By: Acting Economic Counselor Shawn E. Flatt
for Reason 1.4 (D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: PDVSA officials met with service company
representatives and attorneys the week of April 14 to
announce the formation of new joint ventures for the
petroleum service sector. The new joint ventures will be
restricted to individual product lines and will be guaranteed
a 30% market share. END SUMMARY.
RETURN OF A ZOMBIE POLICY
2. (C) After a number of false starts (Reftels A and B),
PDVSA appears ready to begin forming joint ventures with
service companies to compete in a wide number of petroleum
products and services. Baker Hughes (BH) Vice President for
Latin America Sales Edgar Pelaez (strictly protect
throughout) told Petroleum Attache on April 24 that PDVSA
officials met with service company representatives and
attorneys the week of April 14 to announce the ground rules
for the new joint ventures.
3. (C) According to Pelaez, individual joint ventures will
be formed for separate products and services. The joint
ventures will be limited to competing in the individual
product or service's market and will not compete in other
areas. For example, the joint venture that handles cement
will only deal with cement, not other well completion
products or services. PDVSA will hold a 60% stake in the
joint ventures with an international service company holding
a 25% stake and a local service company holding the remaining
15%.
4. (C) Pelaez stated the BRV has guaranteed each joint
venture a 30% stake in its respective market. He added
international service companies were relieved that 70% of
each market was still open to competition. When asked how
PDVSA would guarantee a joint venture a 30% stake, Pelaez
opined that PDVSA may directly assign work on its own fields
to the joint ventures.
PLENTY OF DETAILS TO BE WORKED OUT
5. (C) Pelaez said details on the formation of the companies
as well as details on their structure and operations remain
to be worked out. For instance, it is not clear if the
international service companies are expected to contribute
facilities or personnel to the joint ventures. It is also
unclear if international service companies are supposed to
make offers to participate in particular joint ventures or
receive an offer to participate directly from PDVSA. He said
BH management is concerned that it may be asked to
participate in a joint venture in an area in which it has a
commanding market share and holds exclusive technology. BH
does not have any interest in being a part of such a joint
venture but it is not sure how to decline without being
penalized by the BRV or PDVSA. Pelaez stated the Petroleum
Chamber, the majority of whose members are local companies,
has formed a working group to examine how local companies can
participate.
DUDDY
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
ENERGY FOR CDAY AND ALOCKWOOD
NSC FOR JSHRIER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2018
TAGS: EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE
SUBJECT: PDVSA TO FORM NEW SERVICE JOINT VENTURES (REALLY)
REF: A. 2006 CARACAS 3402
B. 2007 CARACAS 666
Classified By: Acting Economic Counselor Shawn E. Flatt
for Reason 1.4 (D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: PDVSA officials met with service company
representatives and attorneys the week of April 14 to
announce the formation of new joint ventures for the
petroleum service sector. The new joint ventures will be
restricted to individual product lines and will be guaranteed
a 30% market share. END SUMMARY.
RETURN OF A ZOMBIE POLICY
2. (C) After a number of false starts (Reftels A and B),
PDVSA appears ready to begin forming joint ventures with
service companies to compete in a wide number of petroleum
products and services. Baker Hughes (BH) Vice President for
Latin America Sales Edgar Pelaez (strictly protect
throughout) told Petroleum Attache on April 24 that PDVSA
officials met with service company representatives and
attorneys the week of April 14 to announce the ground rules
for the new joint ventures.
3. (C) According to Pelaez, individual joint ventures will
be formed for separate products and services. The joint
ventures will be limited to competing in the individual
product or service's market and will not compete in other
areas. For example, the joint venture that handles cement
will only deal with cement, not other well completion
products or services. PDVSA will hold a 60% stake in the
joint ventures with an international service company holding
a 25% stake and a local service company holding the remaining
15%.
4. (C) Pelaez stated the BRV has guaranteed each joint
venture a 30% stake in its respective market. He added
international service companies were relieved that 70% of
each market was still open to competition. When asked how
PDVSA would guarantee a joint venture a 30% stake, Pelaez
opined that PDVSA may directly assign work on its own fields
to the joint ventures.
PLENTY OF DETAILS TO BE WORKED OUT
5. (C) Pelaez said details on the formation of the companies
as well as details on their structure and operations remain
to be worked out. For instance, it is not clear if the
international service companies are expected to contribute
facilities or personnel to the joint ventures. It is also
unclear if international service companies are supposed to
make offers to participate in particular joint ventures or
receive an offer to participate directly from PDVSA. He said
BH management is concerned that it may be asked to
participate in a joint venture in an area in which it has a
commanding market share and holds exclusive technology. BH
does not have any interest in being a part of such a joint
venture but it is not sure how to decline without being
penalized by the BRV or PDVSA. Pelaez stated the Petroleum
Chamber, the majority of whose members are local companies,
has formed a working group to examine how local companies can
participate.
DUDDY