With sanctions imposed by the US government, PDVSA is limited to selling crude oil to Asian markets. Countries such as China use price reductions that “at one point ranged from 25% to 30% of the oil bill”; As of today, there is a 45% discount on crude oil sales.
Oliveros stressed that the decline recorded at Petroleos de Venezuela “did not start with sanctions.” “The PDVSA came with a myriad of problems,” he recalled, which, along with economic sanctions, accelerated the deterioration of the industry and the National Refinery Park.
Initially, the imposed restrictions sought to create political change in the country. You to Luis Oliveros Sanctions “do not serve” this purpose and exposed the case of Iran, Cuba, Yemen and North Korea, apart from South Africa, where the measure used worked.
“Sanctions forgot to talk about Venezuela’s foreign debt, so overnight 60 billion dollars stopped being a problem,” the economist pointed out.
In the same way, Oliveros established a position on the changes to be applied in the national oil industry. He noted the need to refinance debt to access international markets and reform the Organic Hydrocarbons Law, particularly Articles 21 and 22, so that PDVSA does not own 50% of all oil projects or all mixed companies. Private international companies investing in the country.
Asked about privatizing Pdvsa, he said, “It will not solve the practical problem.”
On the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and its impact on Venezuela, he said the government faces barriers to selling oil in Asia and now has a competitor with more refining muscle. And a better crude, which is the case of Russian oil.
National oil production
“Eni and Repsol are essential and they are giving Chevron more permits for new wells, I think that is a fundamental point; because Chevron is going to find a ceiling to increase production,” he said.
He recalled that when Chevron received the new license from OFAC, production levels went from 45,000 barrels per day to 125,000 barrels of oil by the end of the first quarter of 2023. The goal is to increase crude production to 250,000 or 300,000 barrels per day, in line with other Western oil companies.
“The problem here is not the oil, the problem here is the management of resources from the sale of oil.”
Fundamentals of creating economic growth
“Though fiscal deficit still exists, the National Executive increased the state’s level from 50 points of GDP to 15 points in 3 years” Hence, the recorded inflationary levels arise from “structural” problem and fiscal deficit.
In collection alone, the country has recorded 4 thousand 500 million dollars in 2022 and in 2023, the estimate is close to 5 billion dollars respectively.
“A dollar-denominated country like Venezuela has the means to maintain a stable exchange rate, stable inflation and an increase in public investment.”
Higher oil income, more companies working, increase in the labor market from an oil perspective are the basic platforms for generating economic growth.
Promote dollarization, implement fiscal reforms, reduce legal reserve, Venezuela’s central bank independence is some of the strategic points to lead the country towards structural economic progress.
Regarding the management of institutions, he felt it necessary to focus on appointments. For example: “Energy Minister cannot be the same chairman of PDVSA”.
“Wannabe web geek. Alcohol expert. Certified introvert. Zombie evangelist. Twitter trailblazer. Communicator. Incurable tv scholar.”
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