Venezuela is among the top 10 countries in the world with the largest variety of animals, plants and ecosystems, and is the first to develop a national strategy around biodiversity. This strategy is set out in the Second National Socialist Plan for the period 2013- 2019 under an objective entitled “ensure environmental policy for conservation.”

In the morning forum, various actors involved in species preservation initiatives will gather with officials from the Ministry of the Environment to share their ideas and experiences in a discussion designed to benefit researchers and all those concerned with the issue.

In 2010, Venezuela organized its first National Congress on Biodiversity to define strategies that contribute to decreasing the rate of loss of biological diversity.

To achieve this goal, the Environment Ministry began implementing 74 projects to prevent the extinction of endangered species in Venezuela, according to data provided by National Biodiversity Director Jesus Manzanilla.

The conservation of native species is one of the government’s priorities with regard to the environment, along with four other lines of action: information management, strategic areas for conservation, control of the trade in exotic species and the release of endangered turtles.

The development of these strategic lines will merit an annual investment of 140 million bolivars ($22.2 million) to safeguard protected areas and the species that inhabit them.

Manzanilla said the funds will be used for improvements to existing infrastructure, community tourism programs, and scientific stations.

The United Nations recognized the need to preserve biodiversity – the variety of plant and animal species in their environment – in 1992. It designated 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity.

Data from Venezuela’s Environment Ministry indicates that about 100,000 species found in the country are in danger of extinction, including freshwater and marine tortoises and alligators. Many tortoises were released through government conservation programs in 2012. In one particular case, over 480,000 Arrau turtles have been released since 1999.

These actions are part of the ongoing Simón Bolívar National Plan, which focuses on conservation management to help endangered species and ecosystems that are threatened by human actions.

AVN / Press-Venezuelan Embassy to the U.S. / May 22, 2013

The amount, to be paid on May 20, is a record for a single quarter since 2009.

“The payment of this dividend reflects the strength of our operations and our continued alignment with our parent company,” said Alejandro Granado, chairman, president and CEO of CITGO. “We have achieved a strong financial performance without sacrificing what really matters, remaining focused on leading the refining industry for safe operations and continuing our commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility,” he added.

CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals, refined waxes, asphalt and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Experts, UNASUR officials, and representatives of member states are expected to discuss the development of a continent-wide strategy to mobilize natural resources and human potential as effective tools for overcoming poverty, inequality and current asymmetries between countries.

The 12 member countries of UNASUR occupy 10 million square miles and contain 20% of the world’s proven oil reserves as well as large amounts of mineral reserves, including lithium (65% of global deposits), silver (42%), copper (38%), tin (33%), iron (21%) and bauxite (18%). They also possess almost one third of the world’s water resources, a high concentration of biodiversity, and millions of acres of farmland.

The conference, convened by UNASUR Secretary General Alí Rodríguez Araque of Venezuela to comply with a mandate from the Sixth Meeting of the Council of Heads of State and Government held in Lima, Peru, on November 30, 2012.

At that time, Rodríguez said: “[We have]more than enough resources to give impetus to the most ambitious development plans imaginable. We could say that we have everything.”

However, he also warned of a lack of “a common vision of our strengths and goals, a strategy and a coherent plan to materialize. We could exploit the huge potential represented by the vast reserves of natural and human resources contained in this rich region.”

Ample Space for Discussion

Topics of debate for the conference include: “the economic and social use of natural resources for human life: Towards a new development model.” Another is called “natural resources, biodiversity and the environment in UNASUR: A strategic vision.”

Other issues are sovereignty over natural resources, scientific and technological development, industrial policy and natural resources, and the identification of instruments for a South American development strategy within UNASUR.

There will be more than 30 participants from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. They include Bolivian Vice President Álvaro García Linera, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Alicia Barcena, and Latin American Energy Organization Secretary Victorio Oxilia Davalos.

Also expected to attend are Eudomar Tovar and Jose Felix Rivas Alvarado of the Central Bank of Venezuela, Venezuela’s OPEC representative Bernard Mommer, Brazilian sociologist and economist Theotonio Dos Santos, and many other academics including Monica Bruckman of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Hebe Maria Cristina Vessuri of Mexico, and Asdrubal Baptista and Judith Valencia of Venezuela.

At the end of the four day conference, a set of conclusions and recommendations will be issued. This will be used as a tool to advance the creation of a regional strategy for natural resource use to benefit the economic, social, cultural, technological and industrial development of the nations of UNASUR.

YVKE Mundial / Press-Venezuelan Embassy to the U.S. / May 14, 2013

The biggest oil company is Saudi Arabia’s Aramco, followed by NIOC in Iran, Exxon Mobil in the United States and CNPC in China.

After PDVSA are the following: BP (United Kingdom), Shell (Netherlands), Chevron (U.S.) and Total (France).

According to the report, PDVSA has the largest proven reserves of crude oil, over 297 billion barrels, and the sixth highest proven reserves of natural gas, over 196 billion cubic feet.

Despite the PIW article claim that PDVSA is seventh in liquid oil production, processing 2.5 million barrels a day, the company’s official statistics indicate that it produced a total of 3.13 million barrels a day in 2012, which would put it in third place.

As for refining, PDVSA was in sixth place, with a capacity of 2.82 million barrels a day, of which 1.3 are processed in the country and the rest abroad.

Per the report, PDVSA is eleventh in sales, exporting 2.568 billion barrels of crude with an income of over $124 billion in 2012.

AVN / Press – Venezuelan Embassy to the U.S. / May 10, 2012

The summit was held in Venezuela’s capital city of Caracas, and concluded at the Cuartel de la Montaña 4F, where leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean paid tribute to the leader of the Bolivarian Revolution, Hugo Chávez.

Below is the final declaration of the PetroCaribe summit:

Inspired by the will of member countries to continue promoting this cooperation scheme that transcends relationships among governments to build a concrete platform based on the objective to elevate the quality of life of the Caribbean and Central American people’s as has been demonstrated through almost 8 years of existence and many great achievements.

Noting that the global economic scenario is marked by a structural crisis based on the rupture of an absurd model of exploitation that, instead of taking into account the needs of human beings for their development, is guided by the ambition of interest groups and privileged minorities.

Noting the energy cooperation accord of PetroCaribe, signed on June 29, 2005, at the first Summit of heads of state and government in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela.

Taking into account that the energy security treaty of PetroCaribe, signed August 11, 2007, is the basis for achieving energy security in the Caribbean region.

Highlighting that this meeting is inspired by the fulfillment and achievement of the legacy of President Hugo Chávez, promoter of the cooperation agreement and energy integration of the countries of Central America and the Caribbean, the heads of state of PetroCaribe and ALBA, meeting in the city of Caracas on May 5, 2013, declare that:

Express their satisfaction regarding the advances obtained so far through this mechanism for integration.

Recognize the need to promote and consolidate the energy cooperation agreement of PetroCaribe and of ALBA.

Celebrate the signing of the cooperation agreement for the provision of fertilizers under PetroCaribe.

Express their recognition of the results obtained through fair trade and encourage this to continue with the efficient application of the compensation manual for oil bills.

Approve the proposal presented by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to stimulate the strengthening of PetroCaribe through the formation of the PetroCaribe Economic Zone, which is destined to deepen the organization’s reach with a view toward developing the productive sectors of member countries through the formation of production chains that generate economic surpluses and make cooperation through PetroCaribe sustainable so that they can sign a memorandum of understanding for the development of a PetroCaribe Economic Zone to initiate research and discussions related to effective establishment of this initiative.

Agree to convene a meeting of the council of ministers of the economy and other areas of opportunity for government cooperation related to the development of the PetroCaribe Economic Zone.

Take note of the proposal to begin research and technical discussions for the creation of the system of bilateral funds for the integration of PetroCaribe as a financial platform for the productive articulation of commercial exchange, the ALBA Bank being the financial institution for the formulation of projects and the administration of PetroCaribe funds.

Celebrate the triumph of the Bolivarian Revolution of Venezuela in the elections on April 14, 2013, when the Bolivarian people elected Nicolás Maduro Moros as president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which guarantees the continuity of the project of Latin American and Caribbean integration.

Agree to hold a special summit of PetroCaribe to celebrate 8 years since the creation of this mechanism for integration in the city of Managua, Nicaragua, on June 29 of 2013.

Caracas, May 5, 2013

He recalled that national oil production capacity is expected to reach million barrels per day by 2014 and 6 million barrels per day by 2016.

“We want to have private participation in the development of this plan so that by 2019 we can acquire 80% of the necessary inputs from national producers and just 20% from abroad,” Ramírez said, speaking at a meeting in Cumaná between the national oil company Petróleos de Venezuela (Pdvsa) and the country’s Oil Chamber.

He also referred to the goal of producing 4 million barrels per day of crude oil by 2019 in the Orinoco Oil Belt, the site of the world’s largest oil deposits.

He explained this involves the construction of five oil upgrade facilities, two refineries, 520 drill clusters, 10,550 oil wells, 1,400 km of tubes and a storage capacity of 15.5 million barrels of crude.

Popular Savings Fund

Ramírez, who is also the president of PDVSA, announced that executive will promote investment among Venezuelans and the business sector in oil production projects through the implementation of a Popular Savings Fund.

This mechanism was first proposed in 2012 by President Chávez as to way to gather resources for the development of the Orinoco Oil Belt and develop investments in strategic project without strict state control.

“For example, we can open up to private sector participation the construction of the Araya terminal and shares on the market that generate interest,” Ramirez said.

He said that 500,000 Venezuelans took advantage of the bonds and titles offered by PDVSA in 2007 “that receive interest payments punctually.”

AVN/ Press – Venezuelan Embassy the US/ May 3, 2013

]]> http://venezuela-us.org/2013/05/03/oil-ministry-calls-for-private-sector-participation/feed/ 0 http://venezuela-us.org/2013/05/02/venezuela-begins-electricity-grid-improvement-plan/ http://venezuela-us.org/2013/05/02/venezuela-begins-electricity-grid-improvement-plan/#comments Thu, 02 May 2013 16:40:56 +0000 admin http://venezuela-us.org/?p=29122 Venezuela’s minister for electricity, Jesse Chacón, said Wednesday that the government’s plan to strengthen the electricity system expects to increase the capacity of the grid by 1000 MW in the next 100 days. “It’s a plan that, in 100 days,…]]> Venezuela’s minister for electricity, Jesse Chacón, said Wednesday that the government’s plan to strengthen the electricity system expects to increase the capacity of the grid by 1000 MW in the next 100 days.

“It’s a plan that, in 100 days, attempts to reduce demand by 1000 MW and increase generation by 1000 MW through various projects that we will complete,” he told the press.

Chacón referred to a 50% increase in demand for electricity in Venezuela and the last 10 years thanks in part to social programs created by the government.

“In 10 years we have gone from 12,000 MW to an average of 17-18,000 MW. A large investment has been made in electricity generation, but we need a technological update to the transmission and distribution system at [power] stations and substations,” he said.

Meanwhile, he added, the application of the 100 day plan “will open up space for 2-3000 MW that are required to begin a plan for maintenance to the power generation, transmission and distribution systems, with which we aim to stabilize the national electrical system by the end of 2013.”

A second phase of the plan will involve investments to allow the country “to keep pace with the growth in home construction and as well as in productive development in Venezuela.”

He insisted on the need to promote energy conservation to strengthen the efficient and rational use of this resource.

“The reduction of demand has to do with the rational use of electricity, for which we are beginning a campaign with public and private actors, because the conscious use of energy will allow us to lower demand and promote the defense of the planet for the enjoyment of future generations,” he said.

AVN/ Press – Venezuelan Embassy to US/ May 2, 2013

]]> http://venezuela-us.org/2013/05/02/venezuela-begins-electricity-grid-improvement-plan/feed/ 0 http://venezuela-us.org/2013/04/29/venezuelan-business-leaders-trust-private-sector-alliance-with-oil-industry/ http://venezuela-us.org/2013/04/29/venezuelan-business-leaders-trust-private-sector-alliance-with-oil-industry/#comments Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:56:46 +0000 admin http://venezuela-us.org/?p=29082 The private sector in Venezuela has achieved greater participation in oil industry projects around the country, which indicates an increased role for ventures between the state and private companies in the coming years, said the president of the Oil Chamber…]]> The private sector in Venezuela has achieved greater participation in oil industry projects around the country, which indicates an increased role for ventures between the state and private companies in the coming years, said the president of the Oil Chamber of Venezuela, Alfredo Hernandez Raffalli.

“We are achieving greater participation in the projects being developed nationwide by incorporating private companies in Central aspects of the industry,” he said in an interview with Venezolana de Televisión.

Following a meeting last week among business leaders and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Hernández Raffalli said he expects relations between the government and the private sector will get even better.

YVKE Mundial/ Press – Venezuelan Embassy to the US/April 29, 2013

The High Court ruled in favor of the appeal proposed by the Attorney General’s Office against the decision handed down by the Superior Court of Agrarian First Judicial District of Caracas Metropolitan Area and the states of Miranda, Vargas, Guárico and Amazonas, on September 16, 2009.

This decision annuls a prior decree on January 11, 2008, which halted discussion or implementation of the Draft Ruling on the Regulation of Use of the El Caura Forest Reserve.

The decree was designed to establish an ecological zone, taking into account the potential and the limitations of the area, and the assignation of sustainable resource use and conservation.

The new measure was developed through broad national consultation, including in 16 community assemblies, of which two meetings were held with indigenous peoples to discuss the plan in their native languages.

Land use plans typically remain in place for 3 to 5 years, and in the case of the El Caura Forest Reserves, the program includes periodic evaluations of changes to the forest, given that a central objective focuses on restrictive measures regarding the extraction of mineral resources in the area.

These forest reserves include hardwoods that are essential to the national logging industry, according to article 55 of the Law on Forest Soils and Water.

Despite the declaration of forest reserves, the document does not support timber harvesting by ethnic Yekuana, Sanema and other indigenous groups, which are instead granted limited use of wood to meet basic survival needs (the construction of dugout canoes, huts, etc.). They may also make use of non-timber products such as seeds, fruits, resin, and other resources.

The pronouncement by the court enables the Environment Ministry to implement the Ruling on the Regulation of Use of the El Caura Forest Reserve, which will benefit communities in the area.

Environment Ministry/ Press – Venezuelan Embassy to the US/ April 17, 2013