Cuba’s Cienfuegos Refinery to be Reactivated in December 2007

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas). According to Cuba’s Venezuelan Ambassador, Rodriguez Araque, the Cienfuegos refinery located in Cienfuegos province, Cuba will be reactivated in December 2007.

The rehabilitation of the Cienfuegos refinery is part of Venezuela’s Plan Siembra Petrolera implemented by President Hugo Chavez in 2005 in order to gain new markets around the world and benefit the country by the year 2030. For details, view related August 7, 2006 news article - PDVSA to Build Three New Refineries in Venezuela. In April 2006, Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA, and Cuba’s CUPET formed a joint venture called PDV-CUPET SA so as to reactivate the Cienfuegos refinery which will have a processing capacity of 65, 000 (barrels per day) b/d with a total investment of $83 million. This refinery aims to produce 15, 000 b/d of gasoline; 14, 000 b/d of diesel fuel; 7, 000 b/d of jet fuel; and 1,000 b/d of liquid petroleum gas. Construction work has already started and it is planned to be ready by December 2007.

Cienfuegos’ reactivation will help cover the country’s internal gasoline demand and will allow the country to export around 9,000 b/d of gasoline. Moreover, it will help Venezuela strengthen its position in the world, especially at a time when product demand, quality, and availability are more difficult to find than ever.

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