Caracas.- People’s Minister of Energy and Petroleum and President of PDVSA Rafael Ramírez, as he was leaving the Second Petrocaribe Experts and Ministers Conference, said that the member countries’ relations went from oil supply to focusing on four major areas, namely oil, gas, electric power and alternative energy sources.

The first item in the agenda focused on reviewing progress made by Petrocaribe. In each country, oil supply, infrastructure projects and social development among others, were assessed. Subsequently, Venezuela made a proposal to create the Petrocaribe Energy Security Treaty, which according to Ramírez means a quantum leap for Petrocaribe.

The four major areas were analyzed, starting with oil. In this regard, Petrocaribe intends to continue to deepen and expand refining and petrochemical projects based on refining needs. Further, the area of gas was analyzed, including development, infrastructure, liquefaction facilities and gas pipelines under construction. Regarding electric power and energy saving, important progress has been made in the heart of the Caribbean. In this connection, the meeting highlighted a Venezuelan initiative to replace 27 million incandescent light bulbs with energy saver light bulbs. The move helped save 150 megawatts of installed capacity. Additionally, the conference hailed Cuban support to the Caribbean through its energy revolution and addressed wind power and alternative energy sources.    

All of the Petrocaribe member countries, Nicaragua, as a guest country, and Haiti -a country that has been participating in the integration initiative and is becoming an official member of the group- attended the meeting.