I can see this situation being about re-negotiation. The government sees that they can get more money out of a new deal (for the people of course). They use the issue of the environment as a tool, by saying something like - Venezuela's reward in these projects is not enough to justify any damage to the environment, but if the reward was greater ...... (Can risk be bought?) They use a lower level official to make this announcement so the big officials in the Ministry of Environment don't look like waffling fools.

Hopefully this is the reason for the delay in updates by both KRY and GRZ. For the government to say "No" doesn't take long. Venezuela has shown us what the result will be if neither company wants to renegotiate.

I really think Chavez doesn't want to look like a prick on an international level. I believe he wants to get along with people and other countries but his people should get the best they can.

Has any company been completely screwed over without a chance to work things out?

M