Descalabro in CVG face new president
Saturday, 16 2008
Crisis operational and financial breakdown in the management of companies in 2007 the Corporación Venezolana de Guayana (CVG) are the elements that make up the current stage of the holding company and will be served on the table.

Maria Ramirez Hair

The work of the CVG has been questioned in recent years. Few actions have been A new man stands up with the title of president of the Corporación Venezolana de Guayana (CVG), which is described on several occasions as an "empty shell", whose work in Guyana became absent and timid in recent years .

Rodolfo Sanz, current Minister of Basic Industries and Minerals, becomes, in this way, in the eighth president of the Corporation in the so-called "revolutionary era", which started in 1999.

Although his knowledge of the situation of the industries in Guayana could arguably be "null" and their reception was little applause, it is equally true that in less than a month has heard the cry from different edges magnanimous of workers calling for an urgent rescue companies in the holding company.

Crisis operational, financial calamity, high environmental pollution and social work above the rate of production each company CVG deprived of during 2007. The numbers speak for themselves.

The new Prime Minister, then, has as one of its main challenges confront and resolve the current crisis in the core businesses, until recently regarded as the engine of Guyana and the country. Investment, structural changes, the establishment of development policies, among other actions, constitute the major tasks facing the owner of the holding company and minister of Basic Industries and Mining (Mibam).

Aluminum in alarm
In the case of the aluminum industry, the reality is difficult to hide. In CVG Bauxilum, bauxite production dropped from 5 million 800 thousand tons (2006) to 5 million 300 thousand tons in 2007.

The operating profits fell significantly from 450.2 billion bolivars in 2006 to 257.5 billion bolivars in 2007. The net profits were also desmejoradas of 386.1 billion bolivars in 2006 to 199 billion bolivars in 2007.

Regarding CVG Venalum, although the company surpassed the installed capacity, estimated at 430 thousand tons per year, the net production of aluminum fell slightly from 439 thousand tons (2006) to 437 thousand tons in 2007

CVG Alcasa, for its part, had a net loss of 477 billion bolivars 446 thousand in 2007, while in 2006 reached 188 thousand 162 billion bolivars. "All companies showed a drop in their utility, and we show a recovery, a slowdown of debt although it is heavy," he said in early January, the chairman of the state Alcasa, Ramón Betancourt.

In Carbonorca, operating recorded a fall, so that the losses were recorded in 12 thousand 825 billion bolivars in 2007. For its part, the production of green anodes was 164 thousand tons in 2007, while production of anodes cooked stood at 138 thousand tons, 2 thousand tons less than in 2006.

"Social Record"
During the past year, the social record was one of the major achievements of the state, which is recognized even by the presidents of CVG Ferrominera Orinoco, Radwan Sabbagh, who said that "Ferrominera is accustomed to a record production, but during this year we have a record of a social nature, and that part of a plan ".

This assertion, considering that the iron ore production declined in 2007 to 21 million tonnes in 2006 when reached 22.2 million tons. The production of pellets also decreased from 1.8 million tonnes in 2006 to 1.0 in 2007, while the production of briquettes dropped to 780 thousand tons of reduced iron ore.

Reduced exports, but domestic sales reached a record high to fall within 11.9 million tonnes.

New Projects
The hope is encoded in investment plans for companies protected by the Corporación Venezolana de Guayana. All required financial injection and, of course, proper management of resources ensures that the necessary investments. All are priority.

Since the aluminum sector plans require adequate sales and operational improvements in order to increase production and take advantage of high prices of aluminium in the international market. In the specific case of the V Line Alcasa await the response of the high-level commission to study the priorities of the pioneer of aluminum.

Also aspire to the executive branch down 62 2008, aimed at the beginning of the construction of the new line, technological adequacy of the lines III and IV, system optimization phase dense, increasing capacity Production Foundry area and increasing the capacity of the plant to 100 thousand tons Rolling.

The minister president of CVG, Rodolfo Sanz, has personally observed the situation and expressed the need to remove the lines I and II and to promote a new production line.

It requires, in addition, improvement in the extraction of iron ore to supply adequately to the client companies, increased production of pellets to ensure the production of briqueteras de Guayana, among others.

The new role requires perseverance and dedication. Ciudad Guayana has experienced this formula Mibam minister and president of CVG twice, with Victor Alvarez, the man in the black beret, and Joseph Khan, emerged from the womb of the workforce, well said that his "cronies" union leaders. However, few results have been achieved.

The main errors lie in the lack of awareness of businesses in Guyana and sporadic visits to the region. In short, it has become evident that the "revolutionary era" has not improved the conditions of the holding company CVG, and whoever occupies the tutelage of the most important companies of Guyana, must be in the region and act firmly and quickly. On Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from visiting "religious" does not suffice.

Voice work

Correo del Caroní recently issued requests for trade union organizations in each company. They agree, in general, the need to inject funds to make adjustments to operational and environmental.

The leadership Minerven says that even if international prices have helped the price of gold on the market, there is a need for a change in policy, which integrates social and environmental field.

In Venalum and Bauxilum requested improvements to the navigation channel considering that no level for the transport of products. Also, requiring adjustments in the operational areas.

In Alcasa, the main demand is the construction of the V line. They warn that until the first quarter of 2008 would have some stability.

Although all required environmental adaptations, since all are potential factories occupational sick, the case of Carbonorca had notoriety. The leadership of the state ensures that the dust, cocker proceeds of calcined petroleum, it is extremely damaging.