March 2, 2005
Lukoil mulls oil refining deals with Venezuela

(Reuters) - "Russian oil giant Lukoil may build a refinery in Venezuela and is considering supplying Venezuela's U.S. refineries with Russian crude, its chief executive said. 'I will travel to Venezuela on May 23 with concrete proposals. We hope to get an approval from Venezuelan President and the oil ministry, so the contract could be ready by the year-end,' Vagit Alekperov told reporters.

'We have got an offer to build a refinery in Venezuela for further re-export of products to the United States'. He said Lukoil was also discussing with Venezuelan state oil firm PDVSA a deal to supply its U.S. refineries, known as Citgo, with Russian crude to boost sales of products to Lukoil's U.S. 2,700 filling stations. He also said Lukoil may team up with state oil firm Rosneft to bid for new deposits in Russia's north at a state auction later this year".