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### Viewing cable 06CAIRO6325, GOP SCHIZOPHRENIC ON VENEZUELAN FUEL IMPORTS

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06CAIRO6325 | 2006-10-11 15:00 | 2011-05-31 00:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Cairo

`

    VZCZCXRO5901
    OO RUEHROV
    DE RUEHEG #6325 2841500
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    O 111500Z OCT 06
    FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1938
    INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
    RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 1057

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 001999

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2016
    TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER UNSC MOPS PHUM ARABL EG SU
    SUBJECT: GOP SCHIZOPHRENIC ON VENEZUELAN FUEL IMPORTS

    REF: A. PANAMA 1293
         ¶B. PANAMA 1213
         ¶C. PANAMA 1518

    Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission L. Arreaga for reasons 1.4 (b) a
    nd (d)

    ¶1. SUMMARY.  (C) GOP Energy policy remains divided as the
    Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MICI) pursues divergent
    paths to ensure an affordable supply of petroleum for Panama.
     MICI Vice-Minister Jose Paredes stated publicly that the new
    Panamanian state run oil company would not distribute fuel,
    but serves as the vehicle by which the GOP could negotiate a
    refinery, importation of gas and fuel, and join regional
    energy initiatives with Central America, Colombia and
    Venezuela (Refs A & B).  A high-ranking MEF official,
    however, told Econchief that he expects nothing substantive
    to come of the talks with Venezuela nor the GOP's proposed
    company.  MICI announced in July that fuel storage capacity
    would be made available to the Venezuelan-Panamanian
    consortium, Lucky Petrol and Codetrap (Ref C) via tanks that
    are currently part of a GOP concession to Chevron.
    Chevron-Texaco country manager confirmed to Econoff that its
    Fuel and Marine Marketing (FAMM) division is negotiating with
    MICI to transfer 11 of its 19 tanks in Panama to the GOP.

    -----------------------------------------
    VENEZUELAN FUEL: IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TANKS
    -----------------------------------------

    ¶2. (SBU) Codetrap (Ref C) representatives say they expect an
    initial shipment of 40,000 barrels of gas and diesel from
    Venezuela, with subsequent shipments reaching the authorized
    quota of 250,000 barrels.  The Secretary of the
    Venezuelan-Panamanian Chamber of Commerce told the press that
    the elimination of the middleman would result in fuel prices
    15% below the current market.  Industry sources told Econoff
    that to their knowledge, no such shipments have occurred or
    are scheduled to occur.  In order to receive such a shipment,
    Codetrap needs storage facilities for the fuel.

    ¶3. (C) A Chevron-Texaco (C-T) executive told Econoff that its
    FAMM division owns 19 tanks in Panama, all located on GOP
    leased land.  Five are in Cristobal (Atlantic Coast) and
    fourteen in Balboa (Pacific Coast).  C-T is currently using
    five (all located in Balboa).  Three tanks are scheduled to
    be demolished, having been out of service for more than 30
    years.  The C-T executive told Econoff that the remaining 11
    tanks are noncompliant with environmental and C-T corporate
    guidelines and that FAMM presented a formal proposal to MICI
    in mid-August to transfer the tanks to the GOP.  FAMM and a
    C-T environmental team are currently working in parallel to
    prepare them for the transfer.  The C-T executive did not
    provide an estimate of when the tanks might be operational.

    --------------------------------------------- ------
    OIL EXECUTIVES TROUBLED BY POSSIBLE GOP RUN COMPANY
    --------------------------------------------- ------

    ¶4. (SBU) Petroleum industry representatives met with Paredes
    in July to express their concerns about the legislation
    authorizing the creation of a state run petroleum company.
    The American Chamber of Commerce Hydrocarbons committee sent
    a formal letter to Minister of Trade Alejandro Ferrer in
    August.  The letter highlighted the destabilizing impact of a
    state run company on Panama's free market investment climate,
    the unfair competition, the low fuel prices enjoyed by Panama
    compared to its neighbors, the historical ineffectiveness of
    state run fuel companies in Latin America to deliver
    competitive prices, and the stability and security of fuel
    supply enjoyed by Panama from its private sector hydrocarbons
    suppliers.  Industry representatives told Econoff that have
    yet to receive an adequate reply from the GOP.  A senior MEF
    official told Econchief that the GOP recognizes the inherent
    conflict in regulating a market in which they are a
    participant. He does not expect any substantive development
    of the state run company.

    -------
    COMMENT
    -------

    ¶5. (SBU)  GOP energy policy continues to be managed
    incohesively across two ministries.  Although some GOP
    leaders appear anxious to pursue Venezuelan fuel imports and
    an active GOP involvement in the market, others continue to
    seek a private sector solution.  Although the average
    Panamanian citizen would probably view fuel from Venezuela
    favorably, it is unlikely this can occur prior to the October
    22 Canal referendum given the refurbishment needed by the
    proposed storage tanks.
    EATON

`