Caracas, Apr 05 ABN.- The creation of joint ventures to exploit crude oil at the Orinoco Oil Belt with controlling stocks for Venezuela's state run PDVSA confirms the national sovereignty, affirmed together the expert in energy matters, David Paravisini, and the member of the energy commission of the national Parliament, Juan Carlos Dugarte.
“It is evident that Venezuela does not hand in its sovereignty given the fact that oil, according to the laws, contracts and the Constitution, belongs to Venezuela. Our reserves are not being given up,” stressed Paravisini.
The expert said the statements with regard to some complaints of opposition spokespeople who point out an alleged loss of national sovereignty over its main resource due to the accords that allow a minority shareholding of transnational companies in the Oil Belt.
Similarly, he added that the joint ventures being constituted to exploit the Belt have 60% of Venezuelan capital stock, in hands of PDVSA.
Paravisini stressed as well that the 33% of royalties demanded by Venezuela on the selling price enter in the nation for the benefit of all Venezuelans.
Moreover, he stated that the conditions for the production are determined by Venezuela. “Therefore, if it is necessary sometime, those companies will have to adapt to a production rate set by the Venezuelan Government on the basis of our accords in the defense of oil prices,” he explained.
“Only a stubborn or blind person because of anger and ignorance can talk about handing in our sovereignty,” Paravisini concluded.
Meanwhile, Dugarte reminded that in the past, due to the governments of the Fourth Republic period and the former Congress, transnational companies used to give only 1% of royalties for crude oil extraction and did not pay income taxes. “They were stealing our oil,” he said.
“The single company able to commercialize the oil extracted from Venezuelan subsoil is PDVSA,” he stated.
Finally, he added that “the thesis about that we are giving away our sovereignty is completely implausible, far-fetched.” |
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