Venezuelan exports of natural gas to Colombia are unlikely in the short term, despite state-owned PDVSA’s claims to have increased its gas production in 2015 by 334,000 Mcf/d or 4.3% year on year. The increase was attributed to the startup of long-delayed production at the offshore Perla gas field operated by Spain’s Repsol and Italy’s ENI in partnership with PDVSA. The production figures were disclosed by analysts and company sources. In July, Eulogio Del Pino, who wears the hats of PDVSA president as well as minister of oil and mining, said incremental production gains at Perla would enable the country to begin exporting gas to Colombia “soon.” According to Del Pino, Perla is already producing 600,000 Mcf/d. “Enough gas exists to meet domestic demand and to be able to export,” Del Pino said. The optimism of Del Pino, however, is not shared by analysts, who question the official production […]