Venezuela plans to refine Ecuadorean oil, official says

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CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuela's state oil company plans to process Ecuadorean crude at its refineries to help supply Ecuador's domestic demand, an official said.

"The plan we are discussing with Ecuador is to place its crude in our refining system," Rafael Ramirez, president of state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela S.A., said Thursday. "We can process (Ecuador's) oil to meet its domestic requirements."

He said PDVSA could also sell products produced from Ecuadorean crude in the international market. Oil is Ecuador's main export product, but the country has no oil refineries.

Ramirez said Venezuela's Citgo refinery network in the United States and the Isla refinery in Curacao can easily process Ecuadorean crude.

Trinidad & Tobago Express