June 23, 2006
Chávez offers to build oil refinery in Panama

(El Universal) - "President Hugo Chávez said that while Latin American countries are making efforts to get closer, 'there are some powerful countries making every possible effort to sow discord among people, to undermine confidence, and poison good intentions.'

Chávez' comments came during his speech at the Panama Foreign Affairs Ministry to commemorate the 180th anniversary of the Anfictionic Congress, an initiative of Liberator Simón Bolívar to unify South American countries.

Chávez rejected US lawmakers' claims that he is interfering in Nicaraguan elections.

In a speech that lasted over one hour, Chávez vowed to 'relaunch' bilateral relations with Panama, by using oil in the context of geopolitics.

Chávez said he was willing to build in Panama a refinery and a gas pipeline, 'as soon as possible.' If such plans were implemented, Panama would no longer have to deal with intermediaries to purchase fuel.

A few hours later, during his visit to the Miraflores floodgate, Chávez said the planned refinery could have a 150,000 bpd capacity and become 'a large fuel refining, storage and distribution center.'

Before his Panamanian counterpart Martín Torrijos, Chávez said 'integration is the only way to get out of backwardness,' and ratified he would give 'Venezuelan blood' to defend Cuba ".