MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Breaking news form Chile.

Headlines:
Chile programs natural gas supply diversification;
1,7 million tourists expected in Chile this year; “White Lady” celebrates 50 years.

Chile programs natural gas supply diversification.

The Chilean government owned oil company, ENAP, has contracted Citigroup Global Markets Inc. as investment bank advisor with a project to set up a liquid natural gas re-gasification plant in Chile. A short list of six private investment banks with ample experience in this kind of projects was convened and Citigroup Global Markets finally chosen. The US based bank will help to explore and define third parties interested in the project, both natural gas suppliers and clients, plus designing a "pool" of consumers and the commercial model for its viability. Citigroup Global Markets has worked in similar projects in many oil producing countries such as Oman, Nigeria, Qatar, US, Mexico, Egypt, Italy, Angola, Trinidad Tobago. Besides, Citigroup's experience with consumer pools and credit in Chile was also contemplated in the nomination. Citigroup will be responsible for drafting the supply contract to be licenced as well as associated contracts plus the assessment, negotiation and awarding of the main contract. Enap has been instructed by the Chilean government to coordinate a project for the unloading, storing and regasification of liquid natural gas operational by 2008. Natural liquid gas would arrive by sea to Chile from different world suppliers with sufficient reserves. Chile's dependency on natural gas from Argentina which has cut surplus exports to supply its own domestic market has caused a serious energy and political crisis for Chile.

1,7 million tourists expected in Chile this year.

The tourist industry in Chile keeps expanding and in the first four months of this year registered a 20% growth compared to the same period in 2003, according to the latest figures from the National Tourism Office, Senatur. Last year 1,6 million foreign tourists visited Chile and in 2004 estimates are it will reach 1,7 million. Senatur invests annually two million US dollars in promoting and attracting mainly American and European tourists. Until the Argentine crisis of 2001/2002, Argentines were the bulk of foreign tourists in Chile, (almost 65%) but that has fallen to 36% in 2003 and Janaury-April 2004.

"White Lady" celebrates 50 years.

"Esmeralda", the Chilean Navy's school ship currently visiting Japan celebrated this week half a century. On its forty-ninth training cruise the Spanish built white tall ship this year has been calling mostly Pacific basin countries with the purpose of promoting the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum that this year will be holding its summit in Chile. The "White Lady" as she is known in Chile was commissioned June 15, 1954 in the Bazan shipyards and delivered to the Chilean Navy in payment for standing debts from the then impoverished Spain living under the iron rule of dictator Francisco Franco. Since then Esmeralda has visited 57 countries, sailed two million kilometres equivalent to three trips to the moon or 51 times the circumvallation of the earth. The Esmeralda is also one of the most popular vessels, together with the USCG Eagle and Argentina's Libertad, in tall ships world competitions.