The Superior Council of the Private Enterprise is questioning the supposed "benefits" and "efficiency" of the oil agreement signed with Venezuela.
Mario Amador, president of the Chamber of Industries of Nicaragua (Cadin), said the country has been buying oil at $120 and $130 a barrel when the price on the international market was slightly over $80. These prices are not benefiting the consumer.
The company Alba Petróleos is preparing to enter the Salvadoran propane market in December.
At the beginning of its operations, the company may cover only 3% of the domestic market which is currently served by four companies, Tropigas, Z-Gas, and Total Gas and Tomza.
An article in Elsalvador.com by Luz Estrella Rodríguez contains quotes by the vice president of Alba Petróleos: "The gas will be stocked by a company in Honduras and will be unloaded to the 5,000 barrel capacity tank that has already been built in its plant located in Puerto de Acajutla, Sonsonate , as well as to other locations that are available in the port of La Union and that Alba Petróleos plan to rent. "
The regulator has still not issued an opinion on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) submitted by Grupo Tomza to build a gas plant in Punta de Manabique.
The new Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) presented by the company includes moving the location of the plant by about 500 meters to ensure that the impact on flora and fauna will be temporary and can be mitigated through forestation plans.
The Costa Rican Petroleum Refinery (RECOPE) is putting out to tender the construction of four areas for storing liquefied petroleum gas.
A press release from RECOPE reads:
On July 4 [2011] The Public Tender 2011LN 000009-02 "Recruitment of engineering services, labor, procurement of materials, equipment and tools for the design, construction, technology transfer, training, testing and commissioning of four Refinery areas” was published in La Gaceta No. 128.
The plant, capable of storing 350,000 barrels of fuel, will be inaugurated on May 19.
The plant built with an investment of $115 million, is owned by Alba Petroleum, a company formed by Salvadoran municipalities and the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA.
Luz Estrella Rodríguez, vice president of Petroleos Alba told the media that within ten days the company will begin marketing liquefied gas, and making its debut in the Salvadoran market.
The State refiner awarded the Felguera group the construction of the new infrastructure for storing liquefied gas.
I.H.S.A. Felguera Spain won the tender and will be responsible for the design, purchase of materials and construction of six storage facilities of 250 m3 each.
The project will cost a total of $ 10,481,266.00 and will start construction in July of this year for completion in October 2012.
The company announced plans to venture into the liquefied gas market starting January 2011.
Luz Estrella Rodríguez, vice president of Alba Petroleum, made the announcement adding they are currently conducting a market study.
According to Laprensagrafica.com, "…..with regards to construction of a storage facility in Acajutla, Rodriguez said this required an additional investment of approximately $ 10 million, which was covered by their partner, Venezuelan state company PDVSA”.
For several years now, Honduran authorities have stated their intention of moving the company’s gas plant in the locality of Omoa.
However, for various reasons, such decision has not been taken yet, but authorities seem poised to do it now. The Council of Ministers is expected to meet and analyze if they revoke the company’s operation license.
Tomza, the Mexican group who owns the company, has been targeted by authorities, as it allegedly owes $8 million to the state; has been accused of contaminating and corruption when purchasing the plant’s lots.
Pacific Rubiales Energy, a Canadian corporation, is studying the Panamanian market, to determine the feasibility of importing gas from Colombia.
Eduardo Lima, head of the company, explained that $100 million should be invested in the first phase, to transport compressed gas from Colombia in small ships.
“We are currently negotiating with the thermoelectric company of Colón and Valle Las Minas.
On mid-2010, the company will begin shipping 30 million cubic meters of compressed gas to Panama each day.
The announcement was made by Pacific Rubiales president Ronald Pantin, who explained that the gas will be used to supply gas-fired generation plants.
"The product will be transported by boat, from the Caribbean port of Coveñas, to the "La Creciente" fields in the department of Sucre, located in the country's northwest.
The subsidy will only be available for families living under extreme poverty conditions.
Alex Segovia, Presidential Secretary, explained that this subsidy will be eliminated in the second half of the year.
"Segovia informed they have hired international technical assistance and are working on a series of proposals to focus the subsidy on the poorer population", reported Elsalvador.com.
The Mexican company "Gas del Caribe", located in Cortés, Honduras, will move its operations to Costa Rica.
The transnational company, operating in the country for the past 20 years, will move its operations after being unable to solve legal problems and environmental licenses.
Company spokespersons told newspaper El Heraldo: "Several of our executives are already in Costa Rica, we haven't had the support of Honduran authorities and ...
With the new plant, the country will double its storage capacity for liquefied petroleum gas.
Gabriela Montes de Oca is the head of this project in Recope, the state owned energy company. She assures the plant will save the country $8 million in freightage costs.
"... the project will be financed by the Central American Economic Integration Bank, through a trust...
Salvadoran propane gas companies expect to double their sales by investing in distribution centers and upgrading their customer service.
Tropigas will invest $4 million in expanding its storage terminal in La Unión, while Tomza, of Mexican capital, projects to open 100 stores in the mid term, in addition to the 200 it currently operates in El Salvador. Zeta Gas would also conduct expansion plans, increasing its express centers to 225.