Repsol
YPF has not exported oil from Bolivia without authorization- spokesman
By
Elio Ohep
Petroleumworld
Caracas
Petroleumworld.com
02 10 06
Repsol YPF
said it has not exported oil from Bolivia without authorization,
denying accusations by Jorge Alvarado Bolivia's oil company YPFB,
published in Wednesday, El Mundo daily newspaper( Spain).
El Mundo said
that Repsol YPF falsified documents to export 160,000 bbl of Bolivian
crude into Argentina and Chile over 2004-2005, to avoid paying
taxes.
Repsol,
in a statement, denied the smuggling charges and said any crude
it exported from Bolivia over the period was "fully documented."
'We deny
the accusations,' a Repsol YPF spokesman said
He said that
Repsol YPF's activities in Bolivia are carried out 'with complete
transparency,' adding that 'the Bolivian government is permanently
informed.'
'All
of Repsol YPF's (oil) exports were verified and stamped by the
custom authorities,' he noted.
Meanwhile,
foreign oil companies operating in Bolivia, dismissed charges
made by Bolivia's President Evo Morales on Monday that they are
"conspiring" against the Bolivian government.
Monday said Monday that he has learned from his military and political
advisers of a "conspiracy" among certain oil majors
to topple his government.
But the oil companies flatly denied any involvement .
"In
no way have companies been involved in plotting against this
government," Bolivia's Hydrocarbons Chamber, representing
about 100 private
companies in the country's oil and gas sector, said in a statement
late
Wednesday.
"The Chamber is concerned about these statements." the
statement said.
Morales,
who took office last month, is moving to nationalize Bolivia's
estimated 48 Tcf of gas reserves and increasing royalties, taxes
and eliminating any tax loopholes.
Morales,
campaigned to nationalization the Bolivian hydrocarbons industry.
-
Elio Ohep, editor@petroleumworld.com, 58 412 996 3730, Caracas.
Petroleumworld
02 09 06
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