Continental Focus, International Reach

Ramirez Out of Venezuela Oil Ministry and PDVSA

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro fired Rafael Ramirez from his posts of oil minister and as head of state-run oil firm PDVSA. Maduro promoted former PDVSA exploration and production chief Eulogio Del Pino to the company’s top job and Asdrubal Chavez, the cousin of late socialist leader Hugo Chavez, to lead the Ministry of Energy and Mining. Ramirez will move on to the Foreign Ministry, replacing Elias Jaua.

“I talked with Del Pino today. I’ve given him specific instructions for the process of developing a plan to accelerate and consolidate our oil industry, the bastion of our republic,” Maduro said in a televised speech.

Ramirez had been oil minister for 12 years and head of PDVSA for a decade.

Other changes in the government made by Maduro were Finance Minister Rodolfo Marco being named to economy VP, a post also held by Ramirez. The appointment of Marco is seen as a sign that the president is seeking new economic leadership to face down an expected recession this year. The cabinet changes split the leadership of PDVSA from the oil ministry, which for years had been run simultaneously by Ramirez.


« GO BACK