7 News Belize

Belizeans Will See Fuel Savings, Not At The Pump, But in the Public Purse
posted (June 13, 2012)
And while consumers should expect some relief at the gas pump as world oil prices go down - relief may also come in a different way.

That's because Esso is selling over its operation in Belize to a company called PUMA, which is a subsidiary of another multinational called Trafigura.

But unlike Esso, PUMA is interested in fuel from Venezuela under the Petrocaribe agreement.

That initiative has long been inactive, but now PUMA is willing to explore it along with the Government.

It could be beneficial for the public purse, because while the Venezuelan gas is not cheaper than world market prices, Government gets to defer a portion of the cost on long-term, low interest credit from Venezuela. That money can then be routed towards social programmes.

The Prime Minister explained: Prime Minister Dean Barrow - Prime Minister of Belize
"The bulk of our country's fuel imports used to run through Esso, and they refused to deal with Venezuela. They had their own supply sources in the US. The difference now, is that PUMA, which took over the sort of wholesale supply of fuel - if you will - in this country from Esso, PUMA is prepared to source all the fuel for Belize out of Venezuela. If now all our fuel can be imported from Venezuela, then you can see how the amount that the importer pays to us, which we in turn pay to Venezuela - or that amount that we are able to retain as a long-term loan - will increase exponentially, and it is going to be borrowed money, but it will be money that we can use in terms of programs to benefit the people of this country. I can tell you that we are looking at - in terms of when last I saw the figures - we're looking at the possibility of well in excess of $100 million per year, that we would be able to obtain by way of the Petro Caribe arrangements, if we can stitch the steel together."

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