MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Venezuelan refineries in US fully operational

Venezuela's Government owned oil Company Petroleos de Venezuela, PDVSA, affiliate in United States, Citgo, is refining 840.000 barrels per day and its capacity has not been curtailed by hurricane Katrina revealed PDVSA president Felix Rodriguez.

"The refining capacity of Citgo two plants has not been affected. In fact we've increased refined products volume from 810.000 to 840.000 bpd to contribute with additional fuel in the US", added Mr. Rodriguez during a direct communication with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.

Mr. Rodríguez explained that Citgo's total processing includes 398.000 bpd from Lake Charles refinery in Louisiana, one of the states worst hit by the hurricane. He also confirmed that 2.500 Louisiana evacuees are being looked after in Citgo's refinery.

Besides its own five refineries, Citgo has another one in association with Lyondelle Chemical, totalling a refining capacity of 1,12 million bpd.

Citgo annual sales are in the range of 13,6 billion gallons of gasoline with a network of 14.000 gasoline stations plus 55 crude storage and distribution terminals in United States.

PDVSA also controls three other US refineries which process 942.000 bpd. However no information was given about the 92.000 bpd Chalmette refinery which is jointly operated with Exxon Mobil in Louisiana and since Katrina battered New Orleans was shut down.

Venezuela has offered United States humanitarian aid including 5 million US dollars, a million barrels of gasoline for the victims of the hurricane, and is waiting the green light to send 120 rescue experts, helicopters, food and water to the Louisiana area.

President Chavez apparently also ordered the Citgo Lake Charles refinery to keep helping people ravaged by the hurricane and if necessary "to rent a campaign hospital" for the medical cases.

Venezuela and the Bush administration have tense relations particularly since United States supposedly supported a coup to oust President Chavez in April 2002, so claims Caracas. Washington on the other hand describes the Chavez regime as a destabilizing force in the region and accuses him of involvement in Bolivia, Ecuador and other hot spots affairs, besides the fact it can't tolerate the close links of Venezuela with Castro's Cuba.

However Venezuela is the US fourth oil supplier with a daily shipments of 1,5 million barrels.

During his Sunday program "Allo presidente", Mr. Chavez took advantage of the situation to attack president Bush saying, "how many children have died that could have been evacuated?, while Mr. Bush was on holidays. It's truly painful. No precautions were taken in spite of the incoming and announced tragedy".