Former Minister of Economy Juan Ariel Jiménez clarified that the debt for oil imports and related expenses with Venezuela stands at US$214.3 million, according to the Public Credit Agency, not the US$350 million claimed by Venezuela’s Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello.
Jiménez noted that US$54.3 million of this total is related to the PetroCaribe program.
Jiménez emphasized that, in the broader context, this debt is relatively minor for the Dominican Republic.
Yet, he also pointed out that Venezuela faces restrictions from the US government on international financial transactions. As a result, even if the Dominican government were willing to settle this debt, it would face significant difficulties in executing these payments. Additionally, the debt must be properly documented, and it remains to be seen whether Venezuela can provide the necessary paperwork, as reported in El Dia.
President Abinader, speaking during the 9 September 2024 press conference, said since he has been President, the country has not purchased a single gallon of fuel from Venezuela. Last import of crude was in December 2015, and the last of finished products — avjet and diesel — was in 2017.
He delegated to Leonardo Aguilera, president of the Dominican Petroleum Refinery, who explained during the weekly press conference that Asdruval Chavez, president of PDVSA, had come to Santo Domingo with a technical team for conversations at the Dominican Petroleum Refinery, but no agreement was reached. Aguilera then traveled to Venezuela to meet with the president of PDVSA, but no agreement was reached either. Asdrúbal José Chávez Jiménez was president of PDVSA until 6 January 2023.
Read more in Spanish:
La Semanal
Diario Libre
El Dia
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
10 September 2024