October
28, 2004
Venezuela and Colombia discussing route
of natural gas pipeline
(AP Worldstream) - "Venezuela
and Colombia are currently discussing
the route of a natural gas pipeline between
the two nations, Venezuela's oil minister
said.
Rafael Ramírez said the two countries
are also discussing the price of the natural
gas to be offered.
The pipeline will connect
Colombia's natural-gas-producing region
in the northeastern La Guajira peninsula
with western Venezuela, where there
is a natural gas deficit. Ramírez
said oil-rich Venezuela is willing to
take a 50 to 60 percent stake in the
project.
The A€157 million
(US$200 million) pipeline is part of
a regional energy network that would
allow access for exports to Asian and
markets in the western United States.
Initially, Colombia will use the 180-kilometer
(110-mile) pipeline to send gas from
its La Guajira peninsula to western
Venezuela.
Eventually, the pipeline
will form part of a network delivering
gas to Central America and Mexico. Venezuela
injects natural gas into its oil reservoirs
to increase pressure underground, helping
to increase production, as well as using
it for a growing petrochemicals industry.
Venezuelan President
Hugo Chávez and Colombian President
Alvaro Uribe signed an agreement to
build the pipeline in July".
