Year: 2005

Publication type: Executive Reports

Public files

The workshop “Present and Future of the Refining Business in LatinAmerica and the Caribbean” held during March 30-31, 2004 in Kingston,JAMAICA was convened by ARPEL and hosted by the Petroleum Corporationof Jamaica (PCJ) to address primarily the status and needs of upgradingof oil refineries in the Region. The main issues up for discussion included:

• The need to upgrade facilities in order to increase operations efficiency and enhance profitability;
• Considerations of appropriate octane enhancers if MTBE is to bephased-out, including the Brazilian experience with Ethanol as a'lessons-learned' for other refiners to consider;

This Brochure compiles the relevant aspects addressed as well as theconclusions and recommendations that came out during the Workshop.

Companies participating in the Workshop represent approximately 80 % ofthe refining capacity of the Region. The refining sector is animportant part of the sustainable economic development of the Region.For this reason alone, this Workshop was important, and its conclusionsare expected to form a part of future regional strategies.