 |
| Minister of Public Works, Utilities, Transport and Posts Honourable Dr. Earl Asim Martin.
| |
|
Basseterre, St. Kitts (July 06, 2006): The commencement of shipping of Petro Caribe petroleum products to St. Kitts and Nevis has moved one step closer after a meeting with the company's executive representatives, regional stakeholders and the Federtation's Minister responsible for utilities.
Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA) Managing Director Mr. Arsenio Naveda explained that while the previous meeting prepared a complete arrangement of how St. Kitts and Nevis would proceed there was still opportunity to improve the operation.
He said it was difficult to fit all requirements into one meeting hence the need for that day's meeting and several more.
Chief Executive Officer of St. Vincent Electricity Service Ltd. Mr. Thornley Myers, who attended the meeting, said that he has contributed to negotiations since the first meeting of the signing of the Petro Caribe Agreement June 29, 2005.
He said since then there have been several meetings pertaining to the arrangements for St. Vincent and the Grenadines and several with regional colleagues.
He noted that while he was representing St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the present meeting, as a member of the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), his country was hoping that an agreement would be reached that will benefit the whole region.
 |
| Chief Executive Officer of St. Vincent Electricity Service Ltd. Mr. Thornley Myers. |
Minister of Public Works, Utilities, Transport and Posts Honourable Dr. Earl Asim Martin said that the meeting had also been attended by Grenada and the countries had come together with respect to the pooling of shipping resources so that this activity would be more cost effective.
Minister Martin also noted that the individual islands had to enter specific agreements with Shell West and SOL. The next meeting, he said, was scheduled for July 23, 2006, and would include the signing of the joint venture and supply agreements with the various islands.
The Minister responsible for Utilities stated that before the final Petro Caribe agreement could be reached there were additional internal arrangements that had to made in each country.
This would include the fact that some power stations including that in Grenada is privately owned.
He said Grenada also has to make arrangements for airport storage. St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on the other hand, has to construct a new power station which will add to the country's storage capacity as well as review the Texaco contract in order to facilitate Petro Caribe.
He further noted that Antigua also had a specific issue considering that their storage tanks are presently filled with SOL products which have to be consumed before further arrangements can be made.
The Minister did express the hope that most internal and external arrangements would be complete by September of this year enabling the first shipment of Petro Caribe petroleum to St. Kitts and Nevis.
Pertaining to local preparations, the Minister responsible for utilities said that storage capacity was almost finalized in the Federation.
He cited that the Federation is discussing storage with SOL that will soon be formalized in a written agreement.
~~Adz:Left~~The Minister revealed that the company has agreed to provide storage at an already negotiated price. He added that because the power station in St. Kitts and Nevis is publicly owned, the transactions can take place in quick time without legal ramifications.
