Venezuelan Energy Minister Announces New PDVSA Board Members

Venezuela's Energy Minister Alvaro Silva announced a new board of directors for PDVSA. Ali Rodriguez, presently OPEC's secretary general, will be the company president and will remain in his Vienna post until a replacement is found. The board members are Vice President Jorge Kamkoff, previous Vice President, Vice President Jose Rafael Paz, previous Pequiven's Director, Board's Director Ludovico Nicklas, previous Director of Exploration and Production, Board's Director Nelson Navas, previous PDVSA Gas Director. External Board's Director Clara Coro, Energy Minister Director of Economic planning and Venezuela's OPEC delegate, external Board's Director Hugo Hernandez Rafalli, president of the Venezuela's Petroleum Chamber, and external Board's Director Ret.General Arnoldo Rodriguez Ochoa previous PDVSA's external Board's Director. "This team is of the highest quality and all aspects of meritocracy are respected," Rodriguez told a press conference at the presidential palace. After a seven week battle between the government and PDVSA's employees over the previous board appointees, it seems that this new appointed board will have the employees full support, according to a source. "This team is of the highest quality and all aspects of meritocracy are respected," Rodriguez told a press conference at Miraflores presidential palace. The PDVSA employees protest over the politicization of the previous company president and board of directors ended in April 11 with massive labor union and civil society protest march that ousted for 48 hours Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez. Visit to

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