No fuel for export in 2008

Analysts estimate that if any domestic oil refinery faced operational problems cutting production by 10 percent, Pdvsa would be forced to import gasoline components or finished fuels

While Venezuela plans to build three oil refineries from scratch, the works have not started. It is therefore noteworthy wondering how long local refining facilities will meet the booming fuel demand in the country.

Based on yearbook Oil and Other Statistical Data (PODE), published by the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, domestic consumption of fuel climbed from 185.800 bpd in 1996 to a peak of 243,300 bpd in 2002. Fuel domestic production, however, did not record the same hike.
Specifically, fuel production decreased from 322,340 bpd in 2000 to 281,120 bpd in 2004 -a decline of 12.8 percent parallel to the period when domestic demand started to soar. The data provided for 2005-2007 -precisely the period when car sales have skyrocketed- are not concise. However, one could reasonably expect a further reduction in the production of light oil byproducts such as gasoline over the last two years, as domestic refineries are primarily processing heavy crude oils.

In 2000-2004 Venezuelan production of oil byproducts tumbled 57,000 bpd, with fuels recording the largest decline at 41,220 bpd. Consumption of unleaded gasoline increased in the domestic market, but production of reformulated gasoline (mostly for export) tumbled 55 percent and fuel production for domestic consumption dropped 17%.

el universal