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LATINPETROLEUM LatAm NRGProspector

1Q:16

CITGO Petroleum Emerges With Interest In Valero's Shuttered Aruba Refinery FOR SALE: VENEZUELA PDVSA Reports 50% Drop In Recurring Net Income

LATAM ENERGY INVESTOR WATCH LIST BRIEF: VENEZUELA

Venezuela Hikes Price Of 95 And 91 Octane Grade Gasolines PDVSA, EP PetroEcuador Oil Export Prices

HEARD ON THE STREET

Chinese Not Happy In Dangerous Venezuela

LATAM RIG COUNTS

IN THIS ISSUE 15.April.2016

SAMPLER 17-PG VERSION OF LATAM NRGPROSPECTOR ORIGINAL 71-PG VERSION AVAILABLE VIA SUBSCRIPTION ON THIS PAGE: ORIGINAL TABLE OF CONTENTS

5-7 ….. HEARD ON THE STREET Foreign companies in Venezuela starting to institute hiring freezes and make organic staff reductions.

For subscription details write us at: webmaster08@latinpetroleum.com

TRACKER TABLES 64 ….. DIVESTMENT/M&A 65 ….. EQUITY/DEBT ISSUANCES 66-68 ….. ROTARY RIG TRACKER

8 ….. QUOTES

LatAm oil, gas and misc., and onshore and offshore.

Venezuela "exporting corruption."

69 ….. ECUADOR EXPORT PRICE 70 ….. VENEZUELA EXPORT PRICE VS WTI AND BRENT

8-32 ….. NRG BRIEFS Covering Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

26 ….. LatAm Energy Investor Watch List Brief

ON THE COVER …

Venezuela: LatAm country with most attractive crude oil and natural gas reserves, and output potential.

33-34 ….. COMPANY BRIEFS From Crystallex International to Valero Energy.

34-35 ….. RATING UPDATES 35-60 ….. NRG REEL Covering Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela.

49 ….. Citgo Interest Arises In Valero's Aruba Refinery Houston-based Citgo Petroleum could be Valero's last hope to divest of its 235 Mb/d refinery located in San Nicolas, Aruba's second largest city.

60-63 ….. EXECUTIVE SUITE From PEMEX to PDVSA.

Valero Energy's Aruba Refinery in San Nicolas.

Photo credit: LatinPetroleum.com

MISC. TABLES (11) Bolivia Hydrocarbon Investments 2016-2020; Top 5 Foreign Companies To Watch In Venezuela; Venezuela Gasoline Price Hike; PDVSA Venezuela Refining Circuit 2014 vs 2000 (Mb/d) ; PDVSA Capex, and Other Disbursements, Income Statement 20142015; Gran Tierra Acquisition Summary; and Ecopetrol Proven Reserves YE:15.

ABBREVIATIONS HYDROCARBON SECTOR B/d: Barrels per day Bbls: Barrels Bcf: Billion cubic feet Bcfe: Billion cubic feet equivalent Bcm: Billion cubic meters Bln: Billion Boe/d: Barrels per day equivalent EHCO: Extra heavy crude oil E&P: Exploration and Production Faja: Venezuela’s Orinoco heavy oil belt Ft: Feet JV: Joint venture LNG: Liquefied natural gas LPG: Liquefied petroleum gas M3: Cubic meters M2: Square meters M: Meters Mbbls: Thousands of barrels Mcf: Thousand cubic feet Mcfe: Thousand cubic feet equivalent MMbbls: Millions of barrels MMBtu: Millions of British thermal units MMcm: Million cubic meters MMcf: Million cubic feet MMcfe: Million cubic feet equivalent Mscf: Thousands of standard cubic feet MMscf: Millions of standard cubic feet MMscf/d: Millions of standard cubic feet per day MTPA: Million tons per annum MTPY: Million tons per year NGLs: Natural gas liquids PPM: Parts per million Tcf: Trillion cubic feet Tcfe: Trillion cubic feet equivalent Tcm: Trillion cubic meters WTI: West Texas Intermediate Note: All monetary figures are in USA dollars unless stated otherwise.

STATE OIL ENTITIES (COUNTRY) ANCAP: Administración Nacional de Combustibles, Alcoholes y Portland (Uruguay) Cupet: Cubapetróleo (Cuba) Ecopetrol: Empresa Colombiana de Petróleos S.A. (Colombia) ENAP: Empresa Nacional de Petróleo (Chile) Eni SpA: Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi (Italy) PDVSA: Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (Venezuela) PEMEX: Petróleos Mexicanos (Mexico) Petrobras: Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Brazil) PetroEcuador: Ecuador PetroPeru: Peru Petrotrin: Petroleum Company of Trinidad & Tobago Ltd. YPFB: Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (Bolivia)

LATINPETROLEUM.COM www.latinpetroleum.com In the USA LatinPetroleum, Inc., dba LatinPetroleum.com 2825 Wilcrest Drive, Suite 540 Houston, Texas 77042 Texas Charter No.: 800624190 EIN: 26-0435194 In Venezuela (Representative Office) Editores LatinPetroleum, C.A. Avenida Francisco de Miranda Edificio Galerias Venezias, Local 3 Municipio Chacao Caracas, Venezuela For subcription details: webmaster08@latinpetroleum.com Contact: webmaster08@latinpetroleum.com Venezuelan RIF.: J-31464958-2 Venezuelan NIT.: 0493462636 Copyright © 2000-2016. All rights reserved.

HEARD ON THE STREET TOP PETROLEUM * LatAm rig counts: In Mar.2016, 195 rigs were drilling for oil, 20 for gas and 3 miscellaneous.

Additionally, of the 218 rigs active in Mar.2016, 178 rigs were drilling onland while 40 were drilling offshore, according to Baker Hughes.

ECUADOR * Ecuador issues $400 mln in bonds (20 yr maturity) to partially finance budget, reports El Universo. * EP PetroEcuador received the following average export prices in 1Q:16. Napo: $19.44/bbl in Jan.2016; $16.38/bbl in Feb.2016; and $25.12/bbl in Mar.2016. Oriente: $23.25/bbl in Jan.2016; $24.98/bbl in Feb.2016; and $29.52/bbl in Mar.2016, reported the state oil company in an official statement.

MEXICO * Pemex fires 139 engineers and 648 platform workers, reported LaJornada.

VENEZUELA General * FOR SALE ‌ Venezuela: Strategic sectors (petroleum, natural gas, mining/metals, among others); Location: Northern South America w/Caribbean Sea; Resources: Crude, natural gas, gold, aluminum, steel, coal, and others, and great hydroelectric potential); Condition: As-is (Buyer beware: Country in war-torn state); Cash deals preferred; Investors from China and Russia likely to get better deals. * Spain's Repsol looking for a way to export Cardon IV gas offshore to Colombia so that it can later be exported to other markets.

* It only takes a second to reflect on how PDVSA is being run into the ground by analyzing the effectiveness or not of the countless/useless trips around the world by Venezuela's Petroleum and Mining Minister and PDVSA President Eulogio Del Pino to rally support for boosting oil prices. If just half Del Pino's time and effort where expended on PDVSA and listening to its JV partners, the company and Venezuela, for that matter, would probably be in a league of their own and topping the lists as opposed to the opposite. * Many Chinese petroleum and petroleum-related companies with operations in Venezuela are growing increasingly pessimistic about conducting business in the OPEC nation all the while a wave of escalating kidnappings and crimes against Chinese business persons in the country is driving many workers to request for transfers out of the country. Neither of the aforementioned are good signs for cashstrapped Dutch-diseased Venezuela which is counting on China (Asian countries in general) for just about everything (financing, technical support, housing construction, among other things). * The Chinese appear to be unwilling to continue assisting Venezuela and are seemingly not willing to give Venezuela a 2-yr grace period related to loansfor-oil. * Many international oil companies have instituted hiring freezes and are making organic reductions; a number of large producers are reducing staff via early retirement packages. * Venezuela oil output likely to remain stagnate or fall in 2016 as oil producers reduce staff, and as oil field services companies cut operations. * "Houston we have a problem" again: Service cos.

Halliburton and Schlumberger reduce operations in OPEC nation Venezuela. * PDVSA downplays media reports that Schlumberger is reducing operations in Venezuela.

However, Chevron Venezuela has been offering early retirement packages to its employees for a while. So, the question is why wouldn't other energy companies do the same?

QUOTES VENEZUELAN LAWMAKER AMERICO DE GRAZIA ON VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO EXPORT GOLD "The only thing they are exporting is corruption," said Venezuelan lawmaker Americo de Grazia and member of Venezuela's National Assembly Permanent Energy and Petroleum Commission, referring to announcements by the government of Venezuela to export gold and other precious minerals. [LatinPetroleum, 26.Mar.2016]

NRG BRIEFS TOP PETROLEUM VENEZUELA OIL MINISTER DEL PINO SAYS 12 COUNTRIES TO ATTEND OIL MEETING IN DOHA Venezuela's Petroleum and Mining Minister Eulogio Del Pino said that nearly 12 countries have confirmed their presence at the next oil producers meeting scheduled for 17.Apr.2016 in Doha, the capital of Qatar.

One of the goals of the meeting is to convince the other countries to adhere to the agreement announced on 15.Feb.2016 by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Russia and Venezuela to freeze production at Jan.2016 levels while continuing to monitor inventories and prices, reported Venezuela's Petroleum and Mining Ministry in an official statement, citing Del Pino. [LatinPetroleum.com, 2.Apr.2016]

ARGENTINA (ARG) YPF SETS APRIL DATE FOR DEPARTURE OF CEO MIGUEL GALUCCIO YPF's board of directors has scheduled an ordinary general assembly and extraordinary shareholder meeting for 29.Apr.2016 to finalize changes at the helm of the company.

At the meeting set for 11a.m., the directors plan to name Miguel Angel Gutiérrez, an ex-JP Morgan executive to replace YPF CEO Miguel Galuccio, reported the daily Clarin. [LatinPetroleum.com, 29.Mar.2016]

ARGENTINA LOOKS TO SAVE $4 BILLION WITH REDUCTION OF ELECTRICITY SUBSIDY The Argentine government plans to save $4 bln by reducing its electricity subsidy which primarily benefits Buenos Aires and its suburbs.

The government of new Argentine President Mauricio Macri plans to restructure the country's energy scheme after 12 years of a center-left government that supported subsidies that benefitted millions of users but shored up investments in the sector, reports Reuters.

[LatinPetroleum.com, 30.Jan.2016] ARGENTINA IMPUTES FORMER OFFICIAL FOR INVOLVEMENT IN ILLEGAL OIL DEALS Argentina has imputed a former official for his involvement in illegal agreements related to petroleum concessions and his inability to comply with his obligations as a public figure.

The ex-governor Francisco 'Paco' Pérez was imputed for turning over concessions to oil areas to an insolvent company that did not comply with its investments, reports the daily Clarin.

The company in question, Chañares Herrados Empresa de Trabajos Petroleros S.A. (Chasa), in 2011 obtained a concession extension for exploitation of two areas through 2027.

In order to obtain the extension, Chasa proposed investments of $226 mln between 2011-2014 and a total of $1 bln through to 2027.

The company charged $37 mln to the Argentine government under the Petroleum Plus and Gas Plus program, which was the amount it was expected to receive for increasing production and exploitation activities. [LatinPetroleum.com, 29.Mar.2016] ARGENTINA PAYS REMAINING DEBT FOR THE PURCHASE OF NATURAL GAS FROM BOLIVIA Enarsa honored its remaining debt obligations with YPFB with the complete cancellation of its debt with Bolivia for the purchase of natural gas.

"The debt that Argentina had for the purchase of gas from Bolivia has been 100 percent paid up as of 31 March 2016," reported the daily El Diario, citing the YPFB President Guillermo Achá Morales.

The amount Argentina owed Bolivia had reached $300 mln two months ago, said Bolivia's Economy Minister Luis Arce during a meeting with Achá and his counterpart at Enarsa Hugo Balboa.

"Commercial relations between Bolivia and Argentina are framed around a brotherly relationship that permits our country to continue to maintain this market," reported the daily, citing Achá.

Argentina paid $100 mln of the outstanding debt on 6.Jan.2016 and remaining $200 mln on 31.Mar.2016, reported the daily La Razón, citing Bolivia's Vice President Álvaro García Linera.

Argentina consumes close to 150 MMcm/d of natural gas, of which 10% of this demand is covered by imports from Bolivia. In recent months, Argentine imports from Bolivia have fluctuated between 14-15 MMcm/d, according to La Razón.

[LatinPetroleum.com, 30.Mar.2016]

BOLIVIA (BOL) BOLIVIA EXPORT PRICE TO ARGENTINA AND BRAZIL FALLS IN JANUARY 2016 The average price for Bolivia's natural gas exports to Argentina fell to $3.88/MMBtu in Jan.2016, down 37.34% compared to $6.20/MMBtu in Jan.2015, reported the daily La Razón, citing data from Bolivia's Hydrocarbon and Energy Ministry.

The average natural gas export price to Brazil fell to $3.61/MMBtu in Jan.2016, down 33.39% compared to $5.42/MMBtu in Jan.2015, reported the daily.

Bolivia uses West Texas Intermediate (WTI) as the index price for its natural gas exports.

[LatinPetroleum.com, 27.Mar.2016] BOLIVIA EXPORTED 14.13 MMCM/D TO ARGENTINA IN EARLY MARCH 2016 Bolivia exported an average 14.13 MMcm/d of natural gas to Argentina during 1-6.Mar.2016, volumes below the minimum 16.4 MMcm/d established by a Purchase and Sales Agreement (PSA) between the two nations.

The PSA signed in 2006 between YPFB and Enarsa is good for 21 years and covers the years 2007-2028, reports the daily La Razón.

The first amendment to the contract was signed in Mar.2010 and established that during the summer months (1.Jan thru 30.Apr) that the minimum volumes to be sent from Bolivia to Argentina would be 16.4 MMcm/d while the maximum volumes would be 23.4 MMcm/d. [LatinPetroleum.com, 11.Mar.2016]

ARGENTINE AMBASSADOR SAYS COUNTRY TO CONTINUE BUYING BOLIVIAN NATURAL GAS Argentina plans to continue buying natural gas from Bolivia, reported the daily El Diario, citing Normando Álvarez García, the new Argentine Ambassador to Bolivia.

García said Argentina was interested in strengthening commercial ties with Bolivia and also interested in buying electricity from its neighbor, without providing details of volumes or dates.

[LatinPetroleum.com, 15.Mar.2016] BOLIVIA TO CONTINUE SEARCH FOR OIL DESPITE RESULTS OF LLIQUIMUNI WELL Bolivia plans to continue its search for crude oil despite the negative results at the Lliquimuni Centro X1 well located north of La Paz. The YPFB Petroandina SAM joint venture, comprised of YPFB and PDVSA, initiated drilling operations at the Lliquimuni Centro X1 exploration well on 30.Dec.2014. Activities at the well concluded 440 days later after reaching a depth of 4,562 meters. The well turned up the presence of hydrocarbons in non-commercial volumes, reported the daily La Razón.

"We will continue with exploration activities north of La Paz," reported the daily, citing Bolivia's Hydrocarbon and Energy Minister Luis Alberto Sánchez. "We are not going to tire in our search for hydrocarbons; although the first well was not successful, the news is no daunting since we continue our exploration activities with other wells."

The Madre de Dios basin, located between the departments of La Paz, Beni y Pando, is one of the major hydrocarbon producers in the world, according to Sánchez. For this reason, Bolivia will continue activities in the area until it finds productive wells, he said. [LatinPetroleum.com, 24.Mar.2016] BOLIVIA USING $55/BBL BUDGET OIL PRICE FOR 2016-2020 The Bolivian government plans to use an estimated oil price of $55/bbl under its Economic and Social Development Plan 2016-2020 (PDES by its Spanish acronym), reported the daily La Razón.

Bolivia is projecting public investments of $48.574 bln during 2015-2020 with an estimated benchmark WTI oil price of $45/bbl in 2016 and $55/bbl during 2017-2020.

"The oil price estimate is reasonable and conservative because it is very difficult for oil prices to rise to $100/bbl," reported the daily, citing Economic Analyst Armando ร lvarez with Bolsa Boliviana de Valores (BBV by its Spanish acronym).

The WTI benchmark oil price is used to calculate the natural gas price that Bolivia uses to export its gas to Argentina and Brazil and is used by the Bolivian government to calculate budget income from royalties and income taxes as well as its fuel subsidy. [LatinPetroleum.com, 30.Mar.2016] COST OF CAMC RIGS FALLS TO $55 MILLION FROM $60 MILLION YPFB President Guillermo Achรก announced that the cost of three rigs purchased from China's National Construction and Agricultural Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CAMC) has been reduced to $55 mln from $60 mln due to a tax penalties, reported the daily La Razรณn.

The official said that the 13 rigs purchased by YPFB in 1995 for $11 mln today offer services in Bolivia at a high cost.

"These three rigs were purchased for $60 mln but discounting for penalties the cost will fall to $55 million," said Achรก.

CAMC -- which sold the rigs and other equipment -- is being investigated after journalist Carlos Valverde reported on insider influences between the Bolivian government the Chinese company due to a sentimental relation between Bolivia's President Evo Morales and Gabriela Zapata, a former CAMC executive.

Closed contracts executed between CAMC and Bolivia exceed $500 mln, reported the daily.

In 2014, the Chinese company provisionally turned over the rigs to YPFB which after inspection by the Bolivian state oil company were said to be lacking other essential parts and materials. The penalties applied for the missing parts and materials amounted to $4.4 mln, reported the daily.

[LatinPetroleum.com, 15.Mar.2016] BOLIVIA'S TARIJA DEPARTMENT REVENUES TO FALL

BY MORE THAN 20 PERCENT IN APRIL 2016 Natural gas export revenues from the Tarija department in Apr.2016 are expected to fall by more than 20% due to low oil prices, reported the daily La Razรณn, citing Tarija Coordination Secretary Waldemar Peralta.

The department's budget for 2016 was calculated using an estimated oil price of $45/bbl, said Peralta.

Typically, the payment of royalties is delayed by three months, said the official.

"That's why in April when we receive payments deferred from January, we're going see more than a 20 percent reduction in revenues."

[LatinPetroleum.com, 15.Jan.2016]

BRAZIL (BRA) PETROBRAS INITIATES PROCESS TO DIVEST OF TERRESTRIAL FIELDS Petrobras announced that its executive directorate approved the initiation of a rights cession process related to exploration, development and production of oil and gas in a terrestrial complex as well as assets related to the concessions, announced the state oil company.

The initiative, which forms part of Petrobras' Divestment Plan, will be realized through a competitive process. [LatinPetroleum.com, 2.Mar.2016] BAKER HUGHES AWARDED CONTRACT EXTENSION

BY STATOIL IN BRAZIL Baker Hughes was awarded a contract extension

by Statoil in Brazil. Baker Hughes negotiated a 3-yr contract extension with Statoil for the provision of directional drilling, MWD, LWD, surface logging systems, and drill bits for the Peregrino offshore field in Brazil's Campos Basin. Under the new terms, which extend the contract until Mar.2019, Baker Hughes will provide 100% of the drill bits for the Peregrino field. [Baker Hughes, 28.Jan.2016] PETROBRAS OFFERS CLARIFICATION ON NEWS: INVESTMENT IN 2016 As announced on 5.Oct.2015, the estimated investment for 2016 is $19 bln, which represents a decline in relation to the estimate for 2015, reported Petrobras in an official statement.

As disclosed on 29.Jun.2015, in its 2015-2019 Business and Management Plan, the company plans investment in gas reception and treatment in Comperj. [Petrobras, 7.Jan.2016]

COLOMBIA (COL) COLOMBIA PRESIDENT DOWNPLAYS NEED TO RATION ENERGY Colombia doesn't need to ration energy use at the moment, announced the country's President Juan Manuel Santos.

However, XM, an affiliate of ISA, has been pressuring the government to decree energy rationing for six weeks with the aim to reduce energy demand by about 5%, reported the daily El Espectador.

The measure would apply to all residential areas of Colombia and could be extended to cover industries. [LatinPetroleum.com, 8.Mar.2016] VENEZUELAN NATURAL GAS AND QUIMBO AMONG COLOMBIA'S ENERGY PROBLEMS The inability of Venezuela to fulfill its natural gas export obligations to supply Colombian thermoelectric plants and delays at the Quimbo hydroelectric plant due to a judicial order are two factors Colombia must consider in dealing with its energy crisis.

Colombia was counting on electricity from Quimbo and 39 MMcf/d of natural gas from Venezuela before the energy crisis began, reported the daily El Tiempo, citing energy experts.

Quimbo has a capacity to generate 5% of the country's electricity demand while the gas from Venezuela assisted Colombia to cover 3% of its demand for natural gas, according to the daily.

[LatinPetroleum.com, 4.Jan.2016] COLOMBIA CHARGED EXCESSIVELY FOR REFICAR REFINERY UPGRADE A project to modernize and increase the refining capacity of the Reficar refinery to 165 Mb/d from 80 Mb/d was part of a project to assist Colombia achieve auto-sufficiency in the production of combustibles. However, the project which initially had an estimated cost of $3.993 bln ended up costing the country $8 bln and was 27 months behind schedule, reported the daily El Tiempo.

The company in charge of the project was Chicago-based Chicago, Bridge and Iron (CB&I).

Information seized from the company's 37 hard drives revealed that 440 of the 2,460 contracts signed related to the refinery had markups of over 100% while 25 had markups that exceeded 1000%, reported the daily.

Brief History The Reficar refinery was inaugurated in 1957 by International Petroleum Co.. In 1974 the refinery changed hands and became a property of Ecopetrol.

In 2001, the idea of a project to increase its productive capacity was floated within Colombia and work towards this end commenced in 2006-2007 with the entrance of partner Glencore. In 2009, Glencore pulled out of the project, citing economic problems, and the company's interest was acquired again by Ecopetrol.

Later, CB&I, a company specialized in the construction of energy infrastructure projects, entered the picture and commenced plans to move forward with a project to increase the refinery's capacity. [LatinPetroleum.com, 7.Feb.2016] ECOPETROL TO SUE CB&I FOR WORK RELATED TO CARTAGENA REFINERY Ecopetrol will go to an international arbitration court in an attempt to recuperate an estimated $2 bln from Chicago Bridge and Iron Company (CB&I) which it claims overcharged for the construction of the Cartagena refinery.

The costs overruns for the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Contract (EPC) were reportedly over $4 bln, reported the daily, El Espectador.

Ecopetrol is seeking compensation of at least $2 bln for the following reasons: 1) delays and nonreasonable costs in the engineering process, 2) programmed work that was deficient and inadequate, 3) low productivity in all jobs performed, 4) deficient handling of materials, 5) deficiencies in the purchase of goods and equipment, 6) managerial deficiencies with providers, 7) non-reasonable fabrication module costs, 8) errors in negotiating, administration, control and closing of sub-contracts with CB&I, 9) inadequate handling of labor relations associated with the project and 10) unjustified delays in the mechanical termination of the project.

[LatinPetroleum.com, 15.Mar.2016] REFICAR REFINERY EXPORTS COULD GENERATE $1.5 BILLION A YEAR IN REVENUEs The export of products from Colombia's Reficar refinery could generate annual revenues of nearly $1.5 bln, reports the daily El Tiempo.

The Reficar refinery has the capacity to produce light combustibles and products of use by the petrochemical sector. [LatinPetroleum.com, 6.Mar.2016]

ECOPETROL COULD RECEIVE 1.5 BILLION PESOS FOR PROPILCO DIVESTMENT Ecopetrol's board of directors approved the initial sale of the company's 100% interest in Polipropileno del Caribe S. A. (Propilco S. A.).

Ecopetrol must obtain approval from the Colombian government in order to move forward with the divestment, reported the daily El Tiempo, citing Law #226 launched in 1995.

The divestment plan is part of Ecopetrol's goal to obtain funding from the divestment of non-strategic assets with the aim to maintain is exploration and production activities.

Ecopetrol reported that Propilco had accumulated shareholder equity of 1.25 bln Colombian pesos in the 3Q:15 and assets of 1.8 bln pesos. Between Jan.Sep.2015, Propilco reported sales of 1.35 bln pesos and net income of 95,000 pesos, reported the daily.

[LatinPetroleum.com, 28.Jan.2016] COLOMBIA ACHIEVED AVERAGE PRODUCTION OF 1,005,500 B-D IN 2015 Colombia achieved average oil production of 1,005,500 b/d in 2015, reported the daily Portafolio, citing the country's Oil and Energy Minister Tomás González.

The Andean country reported average oil production of 993,800 b/d in Dec.2015, up 0.46% compared to 989,000 b/d in Dec.2014.

Colombia's natural gas production average 1,035.2 MMcf/d in Dec.2015, up 0.08% compared to Nov.2014. [LatinPetroleum.com, 15.Jan.2016] ECOPETROL ABLE TO CONTINUE OPERATING WITH OIL BETWEEN $30 AND $40 A BARREL Despite the pull back in oil prices, Ecopetrol is able to continue operating with oil prices between $30/bbl and $40/bbl, announced an official with the state oil company.

"The price range at which we produce cash flow is between $20 a barrel and $30 a barrel and the price range at which we produce income is between $30 a barrel and $40 a barrel," reported the daily El Tiempo, citing Ecopetrol Juan Carlos Echeverry.

[LatinPetroleum.com, 4.Jan.2016]

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (DOM) TAIWAN COMPANY TO INVEST $110 MILLION IN SOLAR ENERGY IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC The Taiwan company General Energy Solution announced plans to invest $110 mln on the first large-scale solar energy plant in Dominican Republic.

The Monte Solar Plant, located 70 kilometers north of the Dominican capital of Santa Domingo, will have 132,000 solar panels and a capacity to generate 30 MW under the first phase of development. Under the second phase of development, the plant will raise its capacity to 60 MW, reported AP, citing the Dominican Republic's National Energy Commission.

The plant, built by General Energy Solution, uses technology from the Germany company Soventix Caribbean. [LatinPetroleum.com, 29.Mar.2016]

ECUADOR (ECU) PETROECUADOR TO MODERNIZE INSTRUMENT MAINTENANCE LABORATORY PetroEcuador announced plans to modernize the instrument maintenance laboratory at the Libertad Refinery as well as improve the automatization of measurement controls and controls related to the storage tanks. [LatinPetroleum.com, 31.Mar.2016] PETROAMAZONAS INITIATES ACTIVITIES TO EXTRACT OIL FROM ITT PetroAmazonas initiated activities to drill the first well at the Ishpingo-Tambococha and Tiputini (ITT) field or Block 43, part of which is located in the Yasuní National Park.

The company initiated initial development drilling activities from the Tiputini C platform, reported the daily El Comercio, citing PetroAmazonas Manager José Icaza and Strategic Sectors Minister Rafael Poveda.

Brief Chronology Exploration work from Shell led to the discovery of the Tiputini field in 1949. Much later, PetroEcuador discovered the Ishpingo and Tambococha fields between 1992-1993.

In 2007, Ecuador's President Rafael Correa presented his plan, the Yasuní-ITT Initiative, which called for leaving the ITT crude in the ground in exchange for compensation from international companies or organizations.

In 2013, Correa called for an end to the Yasuní-ITT Initiative and announced that exploitation of oil in the area would generate estimated revenues of $18 bln over 30 years.

Ecuador's Assembly declared petroleum extraction in Blocks 31 and 43, both located in Yasuní, a matter of national interest. Plans to extract crude in Yasuní were announced by YE:15.

[LatinPetroleum.com, 30.Mar.2016] KOREAN AND CHINESE COMPANIES CONTINUE TO DISCUSS PACIFIC REFINERY PROJECT Korean and Chinese companies as well as banks continue to negotiate construction of the estimated close to $13 billion Pacific Refinery (Refinería del Pacífico in Spanish).

Negotiations continue optimistically and the preliminary works such as construction of an aqueduct that will span from La Esperanza to the location of the new refinery are in the works, reported the daily El Universo, citing Strategic Sector Coordinating Minister Rafael Poveda.

The aqueduct, which is expected to be operational in Sep.2016, will pass through some cities in Manabí.

The cities are expected to benefit from the construction of the aqueduct, said Poveda.

[LatinPetroleum.com, 30.Mar.2016] PETROECUADOR TO DIVEST OF 6,000 TONS OF SCRAP LEFT OVER FROM ESMERALDAS MODERNIZATION PetroEcuador announced plans to sale 6,000 tons of scraps left over after the modernization of the Esmeraldas refinery.

"With the aim to recycle the scrap obtained during the modernization process of the Esmeraldas refinery, PetroEcuador will initiate a bid process for the recycling of the 6,000 tons of scrap," announced Ecuador's Hydrocarbon Ministry in a statement on its website.

The Esmeraldas refinery has capacity to process 112 Mb/d of crude. The refinery is the largest of the country's three refineries and is located in the city of Esmeraldas, some 180 kilometers northeast of the nation's capital city Quito. [LatinPetroleum.com, 29.Mar.2016]

MEXICO (MEX) BIG TRANSPARENCY ISSUES FACING PEMEX IN PLATFORM LEASING CONTRACTS The lack of transparency in platform leasing contracts and modifications of clauses represent a disadvantage for Pemex, reported the daily LaJornada.

This year, Pemex Exploration and Production, or PEP, contracted 63 platforms (54 jack ups and 9 submersible platforms) in order to increase hydrocarbon reserve and production levels. Sixtynine percent of the platforms, or 44, were obtained by a direct award while 19 were obtained by international bidding process. [LatinPetroleum.com, 26.Mar.2016] PEMEX SIGNS CONTRACT TO BOOST NITROGEN ACQUISITONS Pemex signed a nitrogen services and supply contract with the aim to recuperate 800 MMbbls of petroleum over the next 11 years through the application of well pressure maintenance.

The contract was signed with Compañía Nitrógeno de Cantarell S.A. de C.V., a company of The Linde Group, reported the daily LaJornada.

Pemex, which has been conducting alternative fluid studies of the Cantarell field since 1997, has proved that nitrogen gas is the best injection material to recuperate petroleum.

[LatinPetroleum.com, 11.Jan.2016] SEVEN COMPANIES TO INVEST $2.1 BILLION ON SOLAR AND WIND ENERGY PROJECTS Mexico's Federal Electricity Commission (Comisión Federal de Electricidad or CFE by its Spanish acronym) will buy solar and wind energy from seven companies that won the first long-term bid for clean energy and electric energy certificates.

The seven winning companies will invest around $2.116 bln over the next 3-years to develop different projects, reported the daily LaJornada.

The winning companies include: SunPower Systems México, Enel Green Power México, Parque Eólico Reynosa III, Gestamp Wind México, Recurrent Energy México, Alten Energías Renovables and Energía Renovable del Istmo, announced Mexico's Electricity Undersecretary César Hernández and the director of Mexico's National Energy Control Center (Centro Nacional de Control de Energía or Cenace by its Spanish acronym).

A total of 69 companies participated in the bidding and submitted more than 200 proposals.

The bidding is expected to translate into the acquisition of 5,385 GWh and 5.3 million clean energy certificates (CEL). Wind plants will be installed in Aguascalientes, Coahuila and Guanajuato while solar energy plants will be installed in Tamaulipas and Zacatecas.

A total of 56% of the sales offered were related to solar energy and 44% wind energy, reported the daily, citing Hernández. Installed capacity is expected to rise to 1,720 MW, of which 1,100 MW is expected to come from solar energy and the remaining 620 MW from wind energy.

Using an exchange rate of 17.33 Mexican pesos per US dollar, the prices for an integrated package from CEL, the MWh was between $35.50/MWh and $47.90/MWh with an average of $41.80/MWh. [LatinPetroleum.com, 29.Mar.2016]

PERU (PER) OIL OPERATORS WORRIED ABOUT CREATION OF MARINE RESERVE IN NORTHERN PERU A proposal by Sernanp to create a marine reserve in northern Peru worries oil companies from Piura and Tumbes which fear it may threaten their exploration activities.

The companies include Karoon, BPZ (Alfa Energy), Savia and Gold Oil; operator of five offshore lots, reported the daily El Comercio.pe.

Creation of the marine reserve creates uncertainty about the future of petroleum sector investments in northern Peru, the daily reported, citing Peru Hydrocarbon Society President Rolando Egúsquiza. Officials with the country's National Mining, Petroleum and Energy Society shared similar comments about the new marine reserve initiative.

The creation of the Pacific Tropical Sea Reserve (Mar Pacífico Tropical, in Spanish) could interfere with BPZ's exploration project in the south of Lot Z-1, announced a representative with the company.

"We are working with an EIA rough draft to drill in the area. However, the creation of a protected area would affect the capacity of our parent company, Alfa Energy, to compete with other projects worldwide that don't have to encounter similar problems," reported the daily, citing BPZ representative Carmen Castellanos.

The marine reserve also threatens to affect Australian company Karoon, which plans to drill some of the deepest submarine wells in Peru in Lot Z-38, reports the daily.

"The Sernanp administers eight protected areas that belong to 12 petroleum lots and activities there haven't been affected," reported the daily, citing Sernanp Manager, Pedro Gamboa. "To the contrary, we are working in harmony with the operators there. This is the same thing that we want to do with operators in the Pacific Tropical Sea Reserves."

Perú-Petro estimates that offshore operators in Piura and Tumbes could invest up to $900 mln on exploration activities through 2020. The figure could rise to $4 bln if Karoon confirms the existence of petroleum in Lot Z-38 and decides to move forward with exploitation activities. [LatinPetroleum.com, 29.Mar.2016]

URUGUAY (URY) URUGUAY SENATE APPROVES MARTA JARA AS NEW ANCAP PRESIDENT The Senate of the Southern Cone nation Uruguay approved the appointment of Marta Jara as the new president of ANCAP. The senate also approved on 8.Mar.2016 the appointment of Juan Carlos Herrera as the company Vice President and Laura Saldanha as a member of the company's board of directors, reported the daily LaRed21.

"It is important to see how we transform a crisis into an opportunity," reported LaRed21, citing Jara.

"To be at the head of the company is an enormous challenge and a large responsibility."

Executive profile Marta Jara Otero was born in Montevideo in 1964. She is married and has two children, reports the daily LaRed21.

Jara is a chemical engineer graduated from the Buenos Aires University. She has a Masters in Strategic Financial Management obtained at Kingston University. Jara has over 21 years of international experience, having spent the last 15 years specializing in natural gas and liquefied natural gas. She has participated in regasification terminal projects in Mexico, including one in Altamira in 2004 and another at Ensenada in 2008 as well as having worked in Argentina and Venezuela (Shell Venezuela).

From 2009-2012, she worked with Shell Mexico and focused on joint ventures and the commercialization of natural gas.

In 2012, Jara assumed the position of General Manager at Gas Sayago. [LatinPetroleum.com, 14.Mar.2016] ARGENTINA SAYS IT WANTS TO BUY GAS FROM PUNTA DE SAYAGOS Argentina's Vice President Gabriela Michetti and the Argentine Ambassador in Uruguay Guillermo Montenegro assured Uruguay's President Tabaré Vázquez that Argentina would be a buyer of the gas coming from the regasification plant at Punta de Sayago.

"Argentina will be one of the buyers of gas to come from the regasification plant," reported the daily LaRed 21, citing Montenegro.

[LatinPetroleum.com, 25.Feb.2016] URUGUAY LOOKS TO INJECT $1.2 BILLION INTO STATE OIL COMPANY ANCAP Uruguay plans to inject $1.2 bln into its state oil company ANCAP destined for activities at the Teja refinery, ALUR and biodiesel production plants, reported the daily LaRed21. [LatinPetroleum.com, 11.Feb.2016] STATOIL BUYS 35% INTEREST IN BLOCK 15 IN URUGUAY FROM TULLOW OIL Norway's Statoil bought a 35 percent interest in the Block 15 offshore exploration project from Tullow Oil. "With this transaction we are increasing our exposure to growth potential in this geologic configuration," reported the daily El Pais, citing Statoil Exploration Vice President Nicholas Alan Maden.

Tullow maintains a 35 percent interest in the block, reported the daily El Pais.

[LatinPetroleum.com, 24.Mar.2016]

VENEZUELA (VEN) LATAM ENERGY INVESTOR WATCH LIST BRIEF Venezuela: LatAm Country With Most Attractive Crude Oil and Natural Gas Reserves, and Production Potential

Investment Considerations: OPEC member country Venezuela holds the world's largest crude oil reserves and consistently ranks among the world's top 5 largest exporters of crude oil to the USA. Blessed with an immense hydrocarbon (conventional and non-conventional crude oil reserves and associated and non-associated natural gas reserves) resource base, Venezuela has attracted companies the world over to participate in the development and expansion of the country's hydrocarbon industry.

Under an ambitious business plan, Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA aims to nearly double the country's production of crude oil with a special focus on production increases from the prolific Orinoco Heavy Oil Belt or Faja. However, declines in light oil production, and a shortage of diluent is creating havoc on PDVSA's export strategy which includes exports of the following blends: 1) upgraded or syncrude from the countries' four upgraders, 2) a diluted crude oil (DCO), a blend of Faja heavy oil plus naphtha, 3) a blend of Faja heavy oil plus imported light oil, and 4) a blend of Faja heavy oil plus Venezuela light oil.

The country also has enormous natural gas production potential offshore at the Rafael Urdaneta project (Cardon IV) where natural gas production commenced in 2015. Additional reserve and production potential can be found at Mariscal Sucre and Deltana projects offshore.

Investment Constraints A takeover and nationalization trend that started to take shape in 2005 under then President Hugo Chávez is still a constant threat under President Nicolas Maduro. The continued uncertainty that surrounds the petroleum sector has effectively spooked investors and is a constant concern, while uncertainties regarding sanctity of contracts remain a constant. Currency controls and multi-official exchange rates also complicate the financial scenario while cash constrained PDVSA doesn't have financial or administrative capacity to move forward the small-to-large projects. Rumors of widespread corruption at PDVSA only help to feed doubt among potential investors about their partner (potential partner to be) and the host country in general.

Other considerations: The pull back in oil prices has severely hampered PDVSA's ability to maintain investment or attract investments from JV partners. Yet, Venezuela is still desperately reaching out to foreign oil companies and countries such as Russia, China, India and others for investment capital, technology and know-how.

The prolonged economic and political crises point to a doubtful and pessimistic scenario for positive progress in the country's petroleum sector in 2016. If either crisis is extended, the outlook for the oil sector will likely follow suit in coming years even with a slight recovery in oil prices.

The upside potential across all energy sectors in Venezuela is too hard for Big Oil to turn down.

However, the present day economic and political scenarios, coupled with the low oil price scenario, is forcing Big Oil to take an extended 'wait-and-see' attitude in the only 'Middle Eastern' country, oil resource speaking, in South America.

TABLE 1: TOP 5 INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES TO WATCH IN VENEZUELA CNPC (China) Rosneft (Russia) Repsol (Spain) Chevron Corp. (USA) Eni (Italy) Source: LatinPetroleum

PDVSA TO SHUT CARDON CATALYTIC CRACKER FOR MAINTENANCE PDVSA plans to shut the Catalytic cracker at the 310 Mb/d capacity Cardon refinery for major maintenance, according to oil union official Iván Freites.

"The stoppage is scheduled for 75 days," said Freites in a phone interview with LatinPetroleum.com. [LatinPetroleum.com, 1.Apr.2016] PDVSA SAYS OPERATIONS AT JOSÉ TERMINAL ARE NORMAL PDVSA announced that operations at its José Antonio Anzoátegui storage and shipping terminal are normal and that it maintains exports of its different crudes to international markets.

PDVSA, as the state oil company is known, announced that 70% of the exports leave the José terminal, which is equivalent to 1.496 MMb/d, reported the daily El Universal.

The José terminal, located in the eastern region of Venezuela, is comprised of 3 docks and 2 monobuoys capable of handling an average 56 tankers each month. The terminal receives tankers such as VLCC (capacity: 1.9 MMb/d), Suezmax (Capacity: 1 MMb/d) and Aframax (Capacity: 0.6 MMb/d). [LatinPetroleum.com, 26.Mar.2016] PDVSA ADVANCES WITH MODERNIZATION OF JOSE ANTONIO STORAGE AND SHIPPING TERMINAL PDVSA continues to advance with the modernization, expansion and automization of its José Antonio Anzoátegui Storage and Shipping Terminal or TAECJAA by its Spanish acronym.

The terminal, located in the Jose Industrial Condominium (CIJAA, by its Spanish acronym) north of Anzoátegui state, is the first of its kind in Venezuela and third in cargo capacity and exports in the continent, reported PDVSA in an official statement. [LatinPetroleum.com, 25.Jan.2016] VENEZUELA CHEMICAL SECTOR WORKING AT 2030% OF INSTALLED CAPACITY Venezuela's chemical sector is working at between 20% and 30% of its installed capacity and companies operating in the sector have accumulated debts, reported El Nacional, citing Venezuelan Chemical and Petrochemical Industry Association President Francisco Acevedo.

Acevedo didn't provide details of the outstanding debts that the chemical companies have accumulated. [LatinPetroleum.com, 23.Jan.2016] VENEZUELA WORKING TO MOVE AWAY FROM OIL RENTIER STATE MODEL Venezuela is working to move away from its oil rentier state model, the country's Vice President Aristóbulo Istúriz said during an interview broadcast

by Televen television station.

"Venezuela must develop other productive economic sectors and move away from its dependency on the petroleum sector," said Istúriz.

"Venezuela's oil rentier model has been a failure for some time but was extended by 'strong' oil prices."

The official admitted that Venezuela imports nearly everything and needs to develop national productive capacity.

"Venezuela must produce foreign revenues from different sectors other than the petroleum sector," said Istúriz. [LatinPetroleum.com, 30.Jan.2016] PDVSA GAS EXECUTES CONVERSION OF 2 UTGS TO NATURAL GAS FROM DIESEL PDVSA Gas executed a project to adjust two turbo-driven generators (UTG) at the Josefa Joaquina Sánchez Bastidas Complex in Vargas state to use natural gas instead of diesel.

The project will mark a change to PDVSA Gas' energy matrix since it entails the conversion of the two UTGs that use diesel into units that will use natural gas. The use of natural gas will free up an estimated 14,620 b/d of diesel, according to PDVSA. PDVSA Gas will supply the gas to the complex, in the Arrecifes sector of Vargas state, via the UTG Josefa Rufina I and Margarita I (type Barcaza) with the aim to generate 342 MW. The UTGs currently generate 140 MW of energy with the use of diesel.

With the conversion to natural gas they will generate an estimated 202 MW of additional energy, which will be supplied to Venezuela's national energy grid.

[LatinPetroleum.com, 14.Mar.2016] MARISCAL SUCRE PRODUCTION POTENTIAL ESTIMATED AT 600 MMCF/d OF NATURAL GAS The Mariscal Sucre natural gas project offshore the coast of Venezuela has a production potential of 600 MMcf/d of natural gas.

The offshore project will supply markets in Colombia, Ecuador, Central American and the Caribbean, reported the daily Globovision, citing PDVSA President Eulogio Del Pino.

[LatinPetroleum.com, 3.Mar.2016] VENEZUELA GASOLINE SUBSIDY COSTS VENEZUELA $12.592 BILLION PER YEAR Venezuela's gasoline subsidy costs the country $12.592 bln per year, which represents the difference between the production cost and the sale price, announced PDVSA President Eulogio Del Pino in a television broadcast on Venezuelan state television.

In Feb.2016, Venezuela announced it would increase the price of its 95 octane gasoline to 6 Venezuelan bolivars/liter from 0.097 bolivars/liter and its 91 octane gasoline to 1 bolivar/liter from 0.070 bolivars/liter.

"Venezuela continues to have the lowest petrol cost in the world," said Del Pino.

Money collected from the gasoline price hike will be destined to social missions, said Del Pino, who also serves as Venezuela's oil minister.

Venezuela, which has 1,642 service stations nationwide, did not change the price of its diesel.

TABLE 2: VENEZUELA GASOLINE PRICE HIKE (IN VENEZUELAN BOLIVARS) Gasoline Grade

New Price

Old Price

95 Octane 91 Octane

6 bsf/liter 1 bsf/liter

0.097 bsf/liter 0.070 bsf/liter

Source: Venezuela Petroleum and Mining Ministry

[LatinPetroleum.com, 29.Feb.2016] VENEZUELA PRODUCING 2.9 MMB/D OF CRUDE OIL Venezuela is producing 2.9 MMb/d of crude oil, of which 510 Mb/d is being consumed in the domestic market, reported the daily Globovision, citing PDVSA President Eulogio Del Pino. [LatinPetroleum.com, 29.Feb.2016] PDVSA AIMS TO BOOST PETRO SAN FELIX PROCESSING CAPACITY PDVSA aims to increase the processing capacity of the Petro San Félix upgrader located in the Orinoco Heavy Oil Belt or Faja, reported Venezuela's Petroleum and Mining Ministry in an official statement.

During 2016-2019 the company plans to increase the upgrader's production processing capacity to 240 Mb/d from 180 Mb/d, incorporate two two-phase separators, an oven as well as construct two 40 Mb/d capacity cleaning tanks.

PDVSA also aims to incorporate 113 wells with the potential to produce 800 b/d each associated with 16 basic production units, representing a production potential of 90.40 Mb/d.

The Petro San Félix (before known as Petrozuata) upgrader was inaugurated on 13.Feb.2001 in the presence of late President Hugo Chávez.

The upgrader upgrades 9-degree API crude into a lighter 19-degree API crude at the José Antonio Anzoátegui Industrial Complex (CIJAA by its Spanish acronym). [LatinPetroleum.com, 12.Feb.2016]

PDVSA GETS TWO NEW APPOINTEES TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS PDVSA incorporated two new members to its Board of Directors, according to Venezuela's Official Gazette No.40,675.

According to the document, Ana María España Girardi was appointed as Vice President of Finance and Internal Director while Sergio Antonio Tovar Amaro was appointed as Internal Director over Planning.

The rest of the board is comprised of the following members: Eulogio Antonio Del Pino Díaz, President of PDVSA and Venezuela's Petroleum and Mining Minister; Orlando Enrique Chacín, PDVSA Vice President of Exploration and Production and Internal Director; Jesús Enrique Luongo, PDVSA Vice President of Refining, Commerce and Supply and Internal Director; Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez, PDVSA Vice President of International Affairs and Internal Director; Aracelis Coromoto Suez de Vallejo, Internal Director; Antón Rafael Castillo, Internal Director. Additionally, the External Directors include: Rodolfo Clemente Marco Torres, Wills Rangel and Ricardo Menéndez Prieto. [LatinPetroleum.com, 15.Jan.2016] PDVSA PRESIDENT SAYS VENEZUELA PRODUCTION COST AT $13 A BARREL Venezuela's average production cost is $13 a barrel, reported PDVSA in an official statement, citing company President Eulogio Del Pino.

Del Pino downplayed rumors that the nation's production cost was $20 a barrel and added that in 2016 that he envisioned a 28% reduction in costs.

"This year we are planning for an additional reduction, to the order of 28 percent, which would reduce production costs to below $10 a barrel," said Del Pino, who also serves as Venezuela's Petroleum and Mining Minister.

"We are preparing to maintain the profitability of PDVSA during a year complicated by oil prices," said Del Pino. [LatinPetroleum.com, 25.Jan.2016] PETROMONAGAS PRODUCES AND UPGRADES MORE THAN 130 MB/D OF EHCO Petromonagas currently produces and upgrades more than 130 Mb/d of extra heavy crude in Venezuela, reported Rosneft.

Besides Petromonagas JV Rosneft also has the interest in the following joint ventures with PDVSA in Venezuela: -- Project Carabobo-2,4 (JV PetroVictoria): Partners include PDVSA (60% WI) and Rosneft (40% WI).

-- Project Junin-6 (JV PetroMiranda): Partners include PDVSA (60% WI) and Rosneft (32% WI through NOC in which Rosneft holds 80%).

-- JV Boqueron: Partners include PDVSA (60% WI) and Rosneft (40% WI).

-- JV PetroPerija: Partners include PDVSA (60% WI) and NOC (40% WI).

Original oil in place for these projects is estimated at over 20.5 bln tons. [Rosneft, 20.Mar.2016] VENEZUELA REFINING CAPACITY: 14 YEAR COMPARISION PDVSA's refining processing capacity in Venezuela has changed little when comparing to two data points (years): 2014 vs 2000.

TABLE 3: PDVSA VENEZUELA REFINING CIRCUIT 2014 VS 2000 (MB/D) 2000

2014

Paraguana Refining Complex Amuay Cardon Total CRP (Falcon)

625 305 930

645 310 955

Puerto La Cruz (Anzoátegui) El Palito (Carabobo) Bajo Grande (Zulia) San Roque (Anzoátegui) TOTAL REFINING CAPACITY

195 130 15 5 1,275

187 140 16 5 1,303

Source: PDVSA

In 2014, the last year data is available on PDVSA's domestic refineries, the company had a total in country processing capacity of 1,303 Mb/d compared to 1,275 Mb/d in 2000. Venezuela's Paraguaná Refining Complex (CRP, by its Spanish acronym) located in Falcón state -- the largest such complex in LatAm and the Caribbean and ranked among the top five worldwide -- has only increased its processing capacity by 2.2% or 28 Mb/d, primarily due to a lack of capital investments in the complex by cash-strapped PDVSA. Futhermore, a lack of investment in maintenance in the massive complex as well as PDVSA's other refineries has left them in a poor state of operations, leading to increased accidents, increased worker discontent, and less than optimal utilizations rates due to a lack of replacement parts, among other issues, said oil union official Ivan Freites in an interview from Falcón state in Western Venezuela.

[LatinPetroleum, 30.Mar.2016]

PDVSA REPORTS 41 PERCENT DECLINE IN CAPITAL INVESTMENTS IN 2015 VS. 2014 PDVSA reported capital investments fell 41% to $14,486 mln in 2015 vs. $24,418 mln in 2014, according to figures from Venezuela's Petroleum and Mining Annual Report for 2015.

PDVSA was expected to report capital investments of around $20,000 to $25,000 mln in 2015, according to comments from PDVSA President Eulogio Del Pino who said in late 2015 that the company was 'maintaining investments'.

[LatinPetroleum, 22.Mar.2016] TABLE 4: PDVSA CAPEX 2014-2015 ($MILLIONS)

Exploration Production Refining Commerce, Supply PDVSA Gas Non-petroleum sector Electric projects Other affiliates TOTAL INVESTMENTS

2015

2014

$240 $8,785 $1,791 $110 $784 $1,768 $351 $656 $14,486

$198 $12,908 $1,364 $523 $4,349 $3,551 $652 $872 $24,418

Source: Venezuela Finance Vice Presidency Note: Preliminary figures for 2015 for Jan.-Dec. Vs actual figures for same period in 2014.

TABLE 5: PDVSA DISBURSEMENTS 2014-2015 ($MILLIONS) 2015

2014

Operating cost Other cost and expenses Sub-Total Cost and Expenses

$34,437 $13,816 $48,253

$30,015 $23,636 $53,651

Investments Social development

$14,486 $2,815

$24,418 $1,970

TOTAL

$65,554

$80,039

Source: Venezuela Finance Vice Presidency Note: Preliminary figures for 2015 for Jan.-Dec. Vs actual figures for same period in 2014.

PDVSA REPORTS 50% DECLINE IN RECURRING NET INCOME PDVSA reported recurring net income fell 50% to $6,947 mln in 2015 vs. $13,935 mln in 2014, according to figures from Venezuela's Petroleum and Mining Annual Report for 2015.

As a result, the company's recurring net income margin fell to 7.8% in 2015 vs. 11.5% in 2014, based on LatinPetroleum.com calculations.

[LatinPetroleum, 22.Mar.2016] TABLE 6: PDVSA INCOME STATEMENT ($MILLIONS) 2015

2014

Revenues

$88,554

$120,892

Purchases of oil, net Operating expenses Depreciation, depletion Royalties Financial expenses Affiliate participation Other expenses Total Expenses, Costs

$23,429 $19,756 $9,099 $7,063 $4,650 ($216) $12,550 $76,331

$34,317 $27,116 $8,038 $13,466 $4,001 $94 $9,427 $96,459

Operating Profit Pre-Social Social contributions Operating Profit Post-Social

$12,223 $3,559 $8,664

$24,433 $5,321 $19,112

Income taxes After Tax Income

$1,717 $6,947

$5,177 $13,935

Discontinued operations NET INCOME

$1,506 $8,453

($2,860) $11,075

Employee benefits TOTAL INTEGRAL INCOME

$0 $8,453

$1,390 $12,465

Source: Venezuela Finance Vice Presidency Note: Results not audited by outside auditing firm.

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