Curacao, Guangdong Zhenrong resume refinery talks

Market: Crude oil, Oil products
27/01/17

Dutch-controlled Curacao and China's state-run Guangdong Zhenrong have resumed suspended talks on a lease and upgrade of the island's 325,000 b/d Isla refinery, Curacao government officials tell Argus.

The MAN party that won Curacao's general election in October 2016 had asked the government to suspend the talks with Guangdong Zhenrong until it took office last month in December 2016.

Guangdong Zhenrong and the government agreed in principle in November 2016 to implement a $5.5bn project to upgrade the refinery that is now managed by Venezuela's state-run oil company PdV.

PdV's lease expires at the end of 2019.

"The discussions have resumed and the government has been given documents indicating Guangdong Zhenrong can meet its obligation to finance 85pc of the project with support from the China Development Bank," one local official said. "We are confident in the company's ability to deliver this project."

But there are indications of tension in relations between Guangdong Zhenrong and PdV.

The Venezuelan company uses the refinery to process its crude into gasoline, naphtha, diesel, jet fuel, asphalt, base oils and lubricants, and to blend its diluted extra-heavy crude with light crude for export, partly to China. The Chinese firm wants Venezuela to continue supplying the refinery after 2019, and has asked Curacao's government to mediate its discussions with PdV.

"This should not be seen as a problem between the companies," a government official said. "They need to get to know each other, and we are in a good position to ensure successful discussions and a smooth transition to the Chinese firm when PdV's lease dies."

Guangdong Zhenrong has not responded to a request from Argus for details. PdV has not commented.

The Chinese firm will give the government its development plan for the refinery by the end of April, and has until the end of June to sign a 40-year lease agreement starting in 2020, the Curacao officials say.

In addition to upgrading the refinery, Guangdong Zhenrong plans to expand oil storage and build a regasification terminal.

Curacao is 65km off Venezuela's coast.

Isla is currently off line until 9 February for programmed maintenance.

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

News

07/05/25

Asian airlines divert, cancel flights to avoid Pakistan

Singapore, 7 May (Argus) — Asian airlines have announced diversions or cancellation of flights to avoid the Pakistani airspace, against the backdrop of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Most regional airlines' flights have been avoiding the airspace above Pakistan and neighboring west India regions since 6 May, according to data from FlightRadar24. Just a handful of flights flew over Pakistan shortly after Pakistan's Airports Authority issued a safety notice to pilots, known as Notam, announcing the reopening of airspace over Lahore and Karachi on 7 May. Pakistan announced a 48-hour closure of its airspace on 6 May, suspending all domestic and international flights following India's attacks on nine targets in Pakistan . India's flag carrier Air India has cancelled all its flights to and from domestic stations including Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amrisar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot, until at least noon of 7 May. Singapore Airlines Group's Singapore Airlines (SIA) and budget arm Scoot have also been avoiding Pakistani airspace and using alternative flight paths since 6 May, according to the group. Two major Taiwanese airlines also announced their protocols in response to the situation. Taiwan's Eva Air said on 7 May that flights to and from Europe region might be influenced because of the closure of Pakistan's airspace. Fellow Taiwanese airline China Airlines have also cancelled or diverted at least six flights between Taiwan and Europe since 6 May in response to the escalating tensions. Escalating conflicts could cause prolonged disruptions on flight schedules between the Middle East and Pakistan, as well as between Asia and Europe. This comes at a time when regional airlines are already negatively impacted by flight disruptions in the Middle East . Pakistan is a typical jet fuel importer in South Asia. The country has imported around 6,600 b/d jet fuel in the first quarter of 2025, according to Pakistan's Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC). Pakistan's state-owned PSO has a market share of 99pc of the country's jet fuel market. By Lu Yawen Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Find out more

News

India launches attacks on Pakistan

06/05/25

News

06/05/25

India launches attacks on Pakistan

Houston, 6 May (Argus) — India's military said it launched attacks today against nine targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir in retaliation for an April terrorist attack that killed dozens. India's ministry of defense said its strikes were a "precise and restrained response" to a 22 April incident near Pahalgam in Kashmir where 26 tourists were killed. They were focused on "terrorist infrastructure sites", the ministry said on the social media site X in a post Tuesday at 4:49pm ET. "Importantly, no Pakistani military facilities were hit, reflecting India's calibrated and non-escalatory approach," the ministry said. The government of Pakistan said on its own X account that five sites had been hit in the attacks. "Pakistan has every right to respond forcefully to this act of war imposed by India, and a forceful response is being given," the Pakistan government wrote. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Trump unlikely to lift tariffs on Canada

06/05/25

News

06/05/25

Trump unlikely to lift tariffs on Canada

Washington, 6 May (Argus) — President Donald Trump suggested today he would not lift tariffs on imports from Canada and told Canadian prime minister Mark Carney that the US-Canada-Mexico (USMCA) free trade agreement needs to be renegotiated. Trump, who hosted Carney at the White House today, told reporters that there was nothing Canada's leader could tell him to change his mind on stiff tariffs he imposed on Canadian steel, aluminum, cars and auto parts. "It's just the way it is," Trump said. While Trump has altered his tariff levels repeatedly, his administration has imposed a 25pc tariff on Canada-sourced steel and aluminum, and a 25pc tariff on some cars and autoparts imported from Canada. Any product that qualifies for duty-free treatment under the USMCA is exempt from tariffs Trump imposed. The 10pc tariff Trump imposed on Canadian crude and other energy imports only lasted from 4-7 March, causing turmoil in North American energy markets. But even the remaining tariffs are a significant hindrance for the integrated North American auto industry, executives in Canada and the US have said. Trump today described the USMCA, which he negotiated during his first administration, as merely a "transitional deal" and suggested that it could be either terminated or renegotiated completely. The USMCA includes a provision calling for it to be reviewed by all three countries in 2026. The existing free trade agreement is "a basis for broader negotiations," Carney said, adding that "some things about it are going to have to change." Carney made his first trip to Washington just a week after winning the 28 April parliamentary election, following a campaign centered around his opposition to Trump's policies. Trump and Carney offered polite compliments to each other, but there was little visible chemistry between the two men. Trump doubled down on his suggestion that Canada could become the 51st US state, prompting Carney to tell him that "as you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale." "Having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign in the last several months, it's not for sale," Carney said. "Never say never", Trump retorted. Trump also repeated his past claims that "we don't do much business with Canada. From our standpoint, they do a lot of business with us." "We are the largest client of the United States," said Carney. "We have a tremendous auto sector between the two of us." By Haik Gugarats Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Trump to end military campaign in Yemen: Update

06/05/25

News

06/05/25

Trump to end military campaign in Yemen: Update

Updates with details throughout, including Houthi response. Washington, 6 May (Argus) — President Donald Trump said today he will end the US military campaign against Yemen's Houthis, claiming that the militant group pledged to stop attacks on commercial ships passing through the Red Sea. The Houthis reached out with a request to stop the US bombing campaign, and the US will do so immediately, Trump told reporters at the beginning of his meeting with Canada's prime minister Mark Carney on Tuesday. "They don't want to fight anymore," Trump said. "They have capitulated ... And I will accept their word, and we are going to stop the bombing of the Houthis effective immediately." US secretary of state Marco Rubio, who also attended the meeting with Carney, added that if the Houthi attacks "are going to stop, then we can stop." Oman mediated a ceasefire agreement between the US and the Houthis, Oman's foreign minister Badr Albusaidi said in a social media post following Trump's remarks. "In the future, neither side will target the other, including American vessels, in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, ensuring freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping." It was not clear from Albusaidi's statement whether the Houthis committed to stop their attacks on all vessels passing near Yemen's coastline. The Houthis claimed in late 2023 that, out of solidarity with Gaza's Palestinian population, they would attack any ship that was owned by an Israeli company or made calls at an Israeli port. But the Houthi attacks were indiscriminate, effectively crippling the regular passage of oil, LNG and other commercial vessel traffic through Red Sea waterways. The militant group paused its attacks on commercial shipping following the ceasefire in Gaza in January, but resumed them in March, after Israel stopped allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza. The Houthis also launched attacks against Israel, drawing retaliatory strikes by the Israeli Air Force, and on US naval vessels in the Red Sea. There was no explicit confirmation of a ceasefire from Houthi-controlled information outlets. A Houthi spokesman reposted a social media post suggesting that "America stopped its aggression in Yemen" and that "the one who retreated is America." Another media channel used by the group said that "the Israeli and American aggression will not pass without a response and will not deter Yemen from continuing its position in support of Gaza". US president Donald Trump's administration listed its military campaign against Yemen-based Houthis, which began on 15 March, as a key foreign policy accomplishment in his first 100 days in office even though the militant group continued to launch missile and drone attacks — most recently on 4 May against Israel's main airport. Israel responded to the 4 May attack with air strikes on Yemen's port of Hodeidah and, today, on the main airport in Yemen's capital Sanaa. Israel also vowed to retaliate against Tehran, which is the main provider of weapons to the Houthis. The US separately warned Iran to discontinue its military support for the Yemeni militant group. The Trump administration is engaged in talks with Iran to address Tehran's nuclear program, with Iranian officials hoping to use the diplomatic negotiations to press for relief of oil and other sanctions against Iran. Trump said he will visit Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar next week and is widely expected to also visit Israel on the same trip. "Before then, we're going to have a very, very big announcement to make, like, as big as it gets, and I won't tell you on what," Trump said. "But it will be one of the most important announcements that have been made in many years about a certain subject, very important subject." By Haik Gugarats, Nader Itayim and Bachar Halabi Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

US onshore crude output likely peaked: Diamondback

06/05/25

News

06/05/25

US onshore crude output likely peaked: Diamondback

New York, 6 May (Argus) — US onshore crude production has likely peaked as activity slows in response to the recent decline in oil prices, according to Diamondback Energy. The leading US independent estimates that the US hydraulic fracturing crew count is already down 15pc this year, while the frack crew count in the Permian basin has fallen by about 20pc from its January peak. Moreover, the US oil rig count is expected to be almost 10pc lower by the end of the second quarter with further declines seen. "As a result of these activity cuts, it is likely that U.S. onshore oil production has peaked and will begin to decline this quarter," Diamondback's chief executive officer Travis Stice said in a letter to shareholders. Given the shale sector has matured from the rapid growth seen in the early days of the shale boom, "this is not one of the types of declines that can be offset by improved efficiencies," Stice later told analysts on a conference call. Diamondback Energy also set out plans to cut spending and drill and complete fewer wells in the aftermath of the price slump, which has been driven by the economic fall-out over President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff policy, as well as the Opec+ group's plan to accelerate the return of barrels to the market. Capital spending is now seen at $3.4bn-$3.8bn this year, a decline of 10pc from the midpoint of previous expectations. The company will drop three rigs and one full-time completion crew in the second quarter, and expects to hold steady at those levels through most of the third quarter. If oil prices remain weak or fall further, Diamondback could reduce activity further. Or if prices rebound above $65, it could ramp activity back to previous levels. Under normal circumstances, it would use a period of lower service costs to build more drilled but uncompleted wells. But well casing, its biggest drilling input cost, has increased by 10pc in the last quarter due to steel tariffs. "To use a driving analogy, we are taking our foot off the accelerator as we approach a red light," said Stice. "If the light turns green before we get to the stoplight, we will hit the gas again, but we are also prepared to brake if needed." The impact on oil output is expected to be minimal given volumes have outperformed year to date. The company now sees annual oil production in a range of 480,000-495,000 b/d, down just 1pc from the midpoint of prior guidance. By Stephen Cunningham Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more