PDVSA to purchase tankers from Brazil

The Venezuelan state oil firm Pdvsa’s marine affiliate PDV Marina is initialing a purchase agreement to buy from Brazilian shipyard Eisa Maua Jurong eight Panamax tankers and two others products tankers. Negotiations with Brazil, which started last year, are taking place under PDV Marina expansion plans, which include investment of $2.6 billion in 2006-2012. Such plans comprise procurement of 42 new tankers from several foreign shipyards.

In 2005, PDV Marina initialed a $112 million purchase agreement with Argentinean R?o Santiago shipyard. Following the purchase agreement with Brazil, with the first tanker expected to be delivered in 2008, Venezuela is to sign a similar agreement with China State Shipbuilding Corp., for the building of at least another 10 tankers.

Iran is also among the likely builders of another four tankers while two asphalt tankers have been ordered from Spain, but some restrictions emerged that prevented the operation.