Sanz still sending in Mibam
Saturday, December 13, 2008

Rumors have always accompanied changes in the management of Rodolfo Sanz headed the Ministry of Basic Industries and Mining (Mibam) and the Corporación Venezolana de Guayana, positions desired by other factors of power within the ruling party. But this Friday the minister called upon the media to discuss various issues related to industrial and labor problems in Ciudad Guayana, which makes it clear that he is still commanding.

* The minister promised to publish a list of defaulters with the Guayana Regional Fund

* For the miners, the head of Mibam told them that "the state can not work under pressure"

* Assess the assets of Ceramics Carabobo and the possible nationalization

* "Officially we have not declared any break in production of state enterprises"

Maria Ramirez Cabello
mramirez@correodelcaroni.com
Picture William Urdaneta

Accompanied by the chairmen of the companies with basic and a long agenda of items to be clarified, the minister of Basic Industries and Mining (Mibam), Rodolfo Sanz, denied that the protected by the Venezuelan Guayana Corporation (CVG) will enter into a "recess productive" during the month of December, rejecting the rumors about the shipment of human resources for collective vacations.

At the press conference where he boarded the mining case, the rumors collective vacations, the request of the Pioneers Steelworkers, "stability" of Sidor and shareholders class "B", the debts of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and clinics, Sanz said that "for now" continues to head the office, and called on those who criticize his administration, to compare their work with the work of previous years and to recognize their achievements.

The holder of the office of Basic Industries and Mining denied that the Siderurgica del Orinoco "Alfredo Maneiro" (Sidor) is due to financial misfortune, ensuring that a company is "stable, with no debts and will end the year with a positive cash flow" .

In his capacity as chairman of the steel specified that in the second quarter of 2008, the steel showed a record surplus in the order of U.S. $ 253 million dollars, due to Ternium "did not buy the quantity of raw material needed, no paid debts to suppliers "and therefore, there was a decrease of the box.

In that sense, confirmed that there is no cash surplus for the third quarter of the year, so that shareholders class "B" will have to wait for the results of the fourth quarter, which was declared in January.

"What they have not (sic) surplus does not mean that the company is broken," said Sanz, who asked co-owner of the steel accept the balance sheets because they were certified by the same company that endorsed the results of previous quarters.

"I'm not going to reverse accounting reports because that is illegal," he said.

Regarding the request of shareholders "B" to be included in the interim operating committee, Sanz said that until we complete the transition this will not be possible. "They have talked to them and explained the whole situation," he said.

"Do not ask me to settle in four months, the situation of Sidor, as neither a wizard or a sorcerer can or can resolve the complex situation in Sidor. That's going to take time," he said.

Lina Marcano, director of Finance, confirmed this information and assured that in coming days will be delivered in response to comments submitted by shareholders on the balance sheets.

It is worth noting that the press was going to do initially at the headquarters of the CVG, parent, but the arrival of shareholders "B" to the gates of the entity changed the plans. So, the journalists were taken to the mansion of CVG Ferrominera Orinoco, in the country B.

Mining sector
In the lengthy meeting with the media, the minister took up the case Sanz miner, assuring that "if in one sector can be presented a positive balance, it is."

The official gave an account of what has been the conversion mining since he came to office. He assured that for nine months had a job of verifying the tickets delivered to the miners, two years ago, "without par value, but mental" to determine the existence of 6072 tickets, of which 5891 were canceled at the end of the month November, for a total of 58 million 910 thousand strong bolivars obtained through additional appropriations. "It was left to pay 181 tickets equivalent to 1 million 810 thousand bolivars strong," he said.

The date of payment of the tickets were two thousand miners without tickets and two thousand more tickets, not registered with the dates of Mibam, which demanded their payment and threatened to "burn the city" if its demand was not met.

"The state can not work under pressure," he said, assuring that in the case of the miners who had tickets, not under Mibam census, shall be audited, but not promised to pay them because they lack the resources and would be "illegal" . To those who claim the payment of compensation without a ticket in hand, invited them to participate in productive projects.

It also stressed the supply of credit in the Paragua, El Callao and Sifontes, and said it will check the destination of these resources. In case there is no diversions will be a second disbursement.

He warned further that shortly publish a list of defaulters with the Guayana Regional Fund, signed by himself.

Sanz admitted the mistake of having organized the miners to a public place for payment, but said that "a filthy hands what capan once. Do not repeat that mistake again commit."

The minister and president of the CVG and Sidor requested patience and understanding to the miners and urged them not to engage in acts of violence.

Without collective vacations
"Nobody is proposing to close the productive areas of business for people to go on vacation," said the minister Sanz, by refusing to be given leave to the staff of collective enterprises in the aluminum sector.

However, he mentioned that in the case of the administrative areas, it is customary to provide some days off, but "we have not officially decreed recess productive in any of the companies in the state."

The holder of the CVG rejected statements by the former candidate for governor of Bolivar state, Andres Velasquez, who reported on the alleged extent of collective vacations in an interview on RCTV International. Sanz called it "the defeat of all time" and ordered to rest.

Despite the announcement, CVG Bauxilum had sent their workers reporting recess labor administrative staff of nine working days, from Dec. 17, 2008 until January 4, 2009.

The minister acknowledged that Sanz aluminum companies have a difficult situation, and due to falling prices and demand in the international market could be "complicated". He said that currently ton of aluminum is sold at U.S. $ 1,500, when its production cost is U.S. $ 3200 per tonne.

"It's a global economic reality, the crisis is affecting these companies," he said, acknowledging the technological obsolescence of industries and high labor costs representing an investment of 52% of the structure.

He said that at the end of the year, will give suggestions to improve productivity.

At the meeting, not missing a call to the owners of the media to "tell the truth," because he believed "lie shamelessly."

No answer
Considering that this was only asking a question by the media, several questions were left in the air as plans to invest in companies in the aluminum sector, the forecasts for the global crisis, support for activities of collecting signatures in favor the constitutional amendment in place to prioritize in productivity, or what were the representatives of the State in Sidor who never complained during 10 years, among many other questions asked the Guyanese.

Pioneers and SMEs

Regarding the request of the Pioneers Steelworkers, who require the sale of shares type "C" of Siderurgica del Orinoco, the minister Rodolfo Sanz said that was not raised to sell shares "to anyone."

In that regard, he mentioned that will propose the delivery of special pensions to a significant number of former workers, who also invited to submit projects that would benefit from the funding from Regional Guiana.

On the debts of small and medium sized enterprises and clinics, owner of Basic Industries and Mining said the state is doing everything possible effort "to cancel them. "Let's see what we can do ... probably call the company representatives to come together," he said, without specifying concrete plans for payment.

In relation to the possible nationalization of Ceramic Carabobo, reported that the appraisal was conducted on company assets, and the study of economic feasibility, to determine appropriate action.

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