Guatemala seeks new opportunities
Central America’s energy crisis has forced the Guatemalan government to begin looking at the possibility of the exploration of new oilfields as well as negotiate deals with Venezuela’s Petrocaribe and PDVSA, Alfredo Pokus, Guatemalan deputy hydrocarbon minister said today.
"We are trying to have these talks in a short a time as possible because oil has already surpassed $132 and we all are affected, not only the industry," Pokus told Siglo XXI newspaper.
Under Petrocaribe’s current energy and economic collaboration programme, the company grants up to 60% credit on invoice to be paid in 23 year with an interest rate lower than the one used in the international market plus a two-year grace period without interest making this an interesting proposition to the Central American nation, said Prensa Latina news agency.
Guatemala already suffers hardship caused by the world economic crisis that has provoked a rise in prices in electricity, domestic gas and extra-urban transportation tickets, with negative effect in the economy of low-income families.