By approving the changes to the Special Law for Exploration and Exploitation of Hydrocarbons, the country's oil sector contractors are exonerated from all taxes.
The amendments stipulate that transfers of agreed contracts shall not pay taxes during the exploration period, and the direct or indirect assignment or transfer of all or part of the rights derived under any modality for the activity of exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons shall be exempt from any capital gains tax.
In Nicaragua, a reform to the Hydrocarbon Supply Law was approved, which allows thermal generators to "freely" import fuels derived from hydrocarbons.
In relation to the approved reform of urgent character, Patricia Rodriguez, expert in energy, explained to Elnuevodiario.com.ni that "... it is not clear what will be the role of the Nicaraguan Company of Petroleum (Petronic) nor why the refinery of the company Puma Energy will stop producing full oil to generate electric energy."
Price of the gallon of regular gasoline: Costa Rica $4.05, Honduras $3.69, Nicaragua $3.58, Guatemala and El Salvador $3.06, and Panama, $2.81.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
The current reference prices for gasoline and diesel are trending downwards due to supply and demand, on the demand side, there is less economic activity in the world, especially in China; while on the supply side, as a consequence of a rapid recovery in unconventional oil extraction from wells in the United States and a slow reduction of inventories of this nation have caused a decrease inprices. Likewise, the prices of hydrocarbonsare surrounded by uncertainty about the course of the meeting that OPEC will hold on May 25 in Vienna, Austria, where further efforts will be made to reduce oil extraction by member and non-member countries until the end of the year. This year, in addition to geopolitical factors that are affecting prices in significant way and which could vary from moment to moment.[GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graphics"]
The results of the examination carried out so far by the Norwegian company Statoil indicate the existence of "interesting geological structures that may contain oil."
Elnuevodiario.com.ni reports that "...Preliminary results of the first stage of research were presented on Tuesday by Statoil to authorities of the state-owned company Empresa Nicaragüense de Petroleos (Petronic), the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM), the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Marena), and Enel."
After the signing of a contract between the government of Nicaragua and a norwegian company to explore for hydrocarbons, Costa Rica has noted that the award was made on disputed maritime areas in the International Court of Justice.
An article in Nacion.com reports that "... Foreign Minister Manuel Gonzalez said he prepared the letter to the company that received the rights to explore and exploit hydrocarbons in the Pacific coast, in an area that lacks clear boundaries between the Costa Rican and Nicaraguan territory."
The companies Statoil and Petronic won four contracts for exploration and exploitation of oil in a total area of 16 thousand square kilometers in the Nicaraguan Pacific.
The work will be carried out jointly by both companies, whom the government awarded contracts to for exploring and exploiting hydrocarbons in four different areas.
The adoption of the amendments to the hydrocarbon law provides for the participation of the state run company Petronic in exploration activities and the ability to partner with other companies engaged in the activity.
The amended law authorizes Empresa Nicaragüense de Petróleo (Petronic) to represent the State in the exploration and exploitation of oil and "... make 'associations and partnerships with companies who come to explore and exploit hydrocarbons.'"
The government has signed memorandums of understanding with the British Geoex and Norway's Statoil, to carry out studies and activities in re-exploration and exploration of gas-oil in the Pacific.
The agreement signed with the Norwegian state run company Statoil focuses on the development of a study for exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbon potential in the Nicaraguan Pacific, while the one signed with Geoex, allows for a study of surface reconnaissance around the Pacific Nicaragua, about 32 thousand square kilometers of water and about 9 thousand kilometers in line for the complete study which will allow Statoil to start exploration activities.
A proposal has been made to amend the Special Law on Exploration and Exploitation of Hydrocarbons in order to further extend search deadlines from 5 to 10 years for the operating period and from 1 to 6 years for exploration.
In order to provide longer time frames for exploration and mining stages, the President has sent to the National Assembly a proposal to reform the Special Law on Exploration and Exploitation of Hydrocarbons.
From 14 to 16 November, the fifth Central American Energy Fair will take place, with the theme "challenges and opportunities for boosting the region’s energy potential."
The event, which anticipates the participation of 80 to 100 companies, brings together businessmen and investors from the energy and oil sectors and, for the first time this year, the mining sector.
The Gallon of premium gasoline: Costa Rica has the highest price: $ 4.54, followed by Nicaragua with $ 4.28, Honduras $ 4.16, Guatemala 3.97, El Salvador $ 3.92 and Panama $ 3.45.
Report on average consumer prices for Gasoline and Diesel in Central America, for the week of January 30 through February 5, 2011, based on official prices and monitoring done by various Departments in the capital of each Central American country.
A study by the ministry of Energy and Mines found that the country has over 3.2 million hectares suitable for biofuel production.
Milton Fernández, coordinator of the study, explained that they also discovered that Nicaragua can produce biodiesel from fig, palm and jatropha, and ethanol from sugar cane, cassava and gourd.
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