CARACAS, Tuesday November 03, 2009 | Update
Energy
Venezuela's Minister of Energy and Petroleum Rafael Ramírez said Thursday that a joint gas exploration project with Russia's Gazprom would have the same potential as the massive gas field discovered in Venezuela by Spanish oil company Repsol.
Repsol reported two months ago a huge natural gas discovery with estimated reserves of up to 8 trillion cubic feet of gas, Reuters said.
Ramírez added that Venezuela will receive bids later this year for the Mariscal Sucre offshore gas project.
Further, the official reminded that Venezuela will pay an initial contribution of USD 300 million for its participation in a joint oil refinery in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco.
04:20 PM. Western Hemisphere. Colombian President Álvaro Uribe said on Tuesday that governments should ensure citizens' rights to live on the border, in reference to a political and diplomatic crisis with Venezuela and its effects on border residents.