Нефтяное соглашение Petrocaribe: история и возрождение

Oil procurement agreement

Petrocaribe was a regional oil procurement agreement between Venezuela and Caribbean member states. The trade organization was founded on 29 June 2005 in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela during Hugo Chavez' presidency. Venezuela offered member states oil supplies on a concessionary financial agreement. Petrocaribe has been part of the "pink tide" in Latin America seeking to achieve post neoliberal development in the region. In 2013 Petrocaribe established links with the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA) aiming to go beyond oil trade and promoting economic cooperation. The deal fell apart by 2019 after dwindling oil production, corruption, and oil price fluctuations took their toll. In November 2022, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became the first country to resume receipt of oil under the PetroCaribe terms. In 2023, Venezuela stated that it intended to revive the trade program.

The agreement was initiated with the aim of having solidarity with other countries in accordance with Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA), and developed from the Caracas Accord. The payment system allows for the purchase of oil at market value for 5% 50% up front with a grace period of one to two years; the remainder can be paid through a 17 25 year financing agreement with 1% interest if oil prices are above US$40 per barrel. The agreement builds on payment terms from the San José Agreement and the Caracas Energy Accord. 12 of the members were from the 15 member Caribbean Community (CARICOM). At the first summit, 14 countries joined the trade organization: Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Venezuela. At the third summit, Haiti and Nicaragua joined the union. Haiti had not been initially invited to the talks, since Venezuela did not recognize its then post Jean Bertrand Aristide government. However, Hugo Chávez actively "courted" newly elected president René Préval when he took office, much to Chevron, Exxon, and the US State Department's chagrin. After Venezuela had invested in developing Haitian infrastructure, and after the Haitian government convinced Chevron to deliver the oil from Venezuela, on 8 March 2008 the first shipment of oil was received. Honduras became the 17th member of the alliance in December 2007, under President Manuel Zelaya, ⁣⁣ but left the organization after the 2009 coup d'état before rejoining it in May 2012. Belize set up the Belize Petroleum Energy Company to coordinate for the project. In April 2011 Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez renewed his offer for Barbados to join Petrocaribe. Panama applied for membership on 3 March 2009 and initially said it would continue to join Petrocaribe under the new president, but Panama remains a non member.

The first summit, which launched the project was held in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. In 2022, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines received a shipment of oil from Venezuela under the terms of PetroCaribe, becoming the first country to resume PetroCaribe ties. In 2023, Venezuela announced its intention to revive PetroCaribe. In July 2023, CARICOM members called for the removal of U. S. sanctions from Venezuela which prohibit them from purchasing oil under the favorable terms of PetroCaribe.