BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, June 14. 2018 - MINISTER of Energy, Hon. Ian Liburd has denied reports that PDVSA has suspended its oil shipments to St. Kitts and Nevis, despite reports published regionally.
According to media reports, S&P Global Platts stated that the government of Venezuela is suspending a combined 38,000 b/d of refined products delivered to 8 of 17 countries that make up Petrocaribe, including St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, El Salvador and Haiti.
The position was taken after a fall in crude production and low refinery utilisation.
Contacted today for a comment, Minister Liburd while refuting the claims directed criticisms at the opposition members for their continued pedaling that the shipment has ceased.
He told SKNVibes that he is not aware that any such position was taken.
“I have seen something circulating, and as I am aware as the Minister with Responsibility for Energy, the statement has no veracity,” Liburd said.
In fact, the Minister explained that he is expected to receive an official communiqué from the Petrocaribe Secretariat.
“The information that I have before me is that it is not correct,” he added.
The suspension, according to reports, is the second major blow to Venezuela’s oil industry in the past week.
In its report, S&P Global Platts reported that PDVSA stated it will continue to supply 45,600 barrels of refined products to Cuba.
According to a report published by the Antigua Observer, Antigua-based West Indies Oil Company (WIOC) said it received no notification from PDVSA.
“In any event, even if it were the case that PDVSA had suspended shipments, WIOC is not reliant on fuel supplies from PDVSA for the petroleum requirements of Antigua and Barbuda.”
The Spanish-speaking South American country in recent times has been severely affected by the frequent fall in oil prices on the world market.
