Petrocaribe Summit Opens in Cienfuegos, Cuba

Following a closed door meeting of energy ministers and experts on
Thursday, the heads of state will review the progress in the accords
previously adopted in the context of Petrocaribe as well as study and
sign a proposed declaration on the projects within the region.
Bilateral meetings to discuss specific agreements are also foreseen.

Rafael Ramirez, Venezuela’s oil and energy minister, told the press
Thursday that the 4th Petrocaribe summit and the interest of other
countries to join are a demonstration of the strengthening and
institutionalization of Petrocaribe.

The Jagua Hotel, the banner tourist resort in Cienfuegos, is the
headquarters for the forum. To accommodate the event, the Guanaroca
Hall was equipped with all the technical facilities needed.
Hundreds of workers and several institutions and organizations have
been hard at work for months to make possible the reactivation of the
Camilo Cienfuegos Oil Refinery, which now coincides with the
Petrocaribe summit. The complex is a project of the joint
Cuban-Venezuelan company PDVCUPET S.A., established within the
framework of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA).

Also on Thursday afternoon-evening, the final touches were being put on
the new Simon Bolivar housing project where 100 "petro-houses" will
supply the needs of a like number of families. The project is a
donation from the people and government of Venezuela.