Venezuela Helps Nicaragua Energy
The Venezuelan government s offer to build a refinery along the Nicaraguan western coast, with capacity to process 150,000 barrels daily, has been rated here as highly positive.

Sandinista Parliamentarian coordinator Edwin Castro explained that the facility, to be built in three or four years at a cost of 1.5 billion dollars, represents an important source of jobs.

Job generation is Nicaragua s main problem, the deputy recalled, noting the project will end with the monopoly of Esso oil transnational, owner of the only refinery in the country.

The announcement that Venezuela will build a plant to process oil in Nicaraguan territory was made by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez during an act Sunday in Leon, about 56 miles northwest of Managua.

"This is where we will build the refinery to process Venezuelan oil and you will no longer have energy problems," affirmed Chavez.

Meanwhile, Managua s Mayor Dionisio Marenco sustained this is the largest ever investment project in Nicaragua s history, and will place the country at the doors of energy independence.