Stories for August 14th 2008
Chile's top tourism official warns on dam project for Patagonia
Chile's director of tourism bureau, SERNATUR Oscar Santelices said that the country's tourism industry is worried about potential negative effects of the HidroAysén dam project slated for Chilean Patagonia.
YPF announces plans for off-shore drilling in Santa Cruz
Argentine Oil Corporation YPF announced this week a 500 million US dollars annual investment plan to be mainly implemented in the Patagonian province of Santa Cruz to help sustain hydrocarbons extraction in the San Jorge Gulf basin
Bolivia: Morales and opposition governors agree to sit and talk
Bolivian President Evo Morales and opposition regional governors agreed on Wednesday to meet in an attempt to ease the bitter power stand off that has paralyzed the country for most of the year.
S. America spending to upgrade armed forces and equipment
Although most Latinamerica and United States officials deny the existence of an arms race in South America, “large increases in military expenditure have been taking place in several countries of the region”, points out the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, SIPRI:
Venezuela: price rises of up to 50% for 15 basic foods
Venezuela raised regulated prices of 15 basic foods ranging from bread to beef by up to 50% and removed price controls from other goods in an attempt to ease sporadic shortages in supermarkets.
South Georgia Island visited by 8.000 cruise ship pax
Analysis of the figures from the 2007/8 tourist season shows that tourism to South Georgia in the South Atlantic continues to increase. Sixty-four cruise ship visits were made by 29 different vessels (13 more visits than last year), bringing more than 8000 cruise ship passengers.
Farming Systems Uruguay posts $US1.6 m profit
New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay today posted a net after tax profit of $US1.6 million ($NZ2.3m) for the year to June 30, boosted by earnings of $US8m from milk sales, at record prices of about US40c a litre.
Desire Petroleum closer to begin drilling in Falklands
AIM listed Desire Petroleum Plc. announced on Thursday that a formal farm-out agreement has been entered into with Arcadia Petroleum Ltd following the approval of the Falkland Islands Government.
Brazil invests in research for bio-fuels from micro-algae
Brazil will allocate 4.5 million Reais (approx. 2.8 million US dollars) in non-refundable credits to research projects exploring the use of aquaculture or micro-algae products in biodiesel production.
Argentine farmers attracted by the allure of fail-safe soy
Despite the recent dip in prices soybeans keep attracting Argentine farmers who for the coming 2008/09 season are expected to dedicate a record area to the oilseed crop.
