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### Viewing cable 07MANAGUA1952, NICARAGUA: GOVERNMENT SEIZES EXXON FUEL STORAGE

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
07MANAGUA1952 | 2007-08-21 00:28 | 2011-06-01 08:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Managua

Appears in these articles:
http://www.nacion.com/2011-05-30/Mundo/NotasSecundarias/Mundo2758456.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-05-30/Mundo/NotasSecundarias/Mundo2758467.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-05-30/Mundo/NotasSecundarias/Mundo2758468.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-05-30/Mundo/NotasSecundarias/Mundo2758464.aspx
http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/4103/la-embusa-y-el-gabinete-de-ortega
http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/4104/d-rsquo-escoto-en-onu-ldquo-un-desafio-de-ortega-a-ee-uu-rdquo
http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/4102/estrada-y-la-ldquo-doble-cara-rdquo-ante-ee-uu
http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/3966/la-ldquo-injerencia-rdquo-de-ee-uu-en-el-2006
http://www.nacion.com/2011-05-23/Mundo/Relacionados/Mundo2758764.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-05-23/Mundo/NotaPrincipal/Mundo2758753.aspx
http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/4041/millones-de-dolares-sin-control-y-a-discrecion
http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/4040/la-ldquo-injerencia-rdquo-de-venezuela-en-2006
http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/4047/rodrigo-barreto-enviado-de-ldquo-vacaciones-rdquo
http://www.nacion.com/2011-05-16/Mundo/NotasSecundarias/Mundo2757239.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-05-16/Mundo/NotaPrincipal/Mundo2746658.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-05-16/Mundo/Relacionados/Mundo2757244.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-05-16/Mundo/Relacionados/Mundo2746673.aspx
http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/3991/dra-yadira-centeno-desmiente-cable-diplomatico-eeuu
http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/3968/pellas-pronostico-a-eeuu-victoria-de-ortega-en-2006
http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/3967/barreto-era-ldquo-fuente-confiable-rdquo-para-eeuu

`

    VZCZCXYZ0003
    OO RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHMU #1952/01 2330028
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    O 210028Z AUG 07
    FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1061
    INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
    RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1145
    RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE 5290
    RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
    RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 001952

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    DEPT FOR EEB/ESC, EEB/BTA, WHA/EPSC, WHA/CEN
    SAN JOSE FOR CS/JMCCARTHY
    DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USTR AND OPIC

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2017
    TAGS: EINV ETRD EPET NU
    SUBJECT: NICARAGUA: GOVERNMENT SEIZES EXXON FUEL STORAGE
    FACILITY

    Classified By: Ambassador Paul Trivelli, Reason: E.O. 12958 1.4(b) and
    (d)

    ¶1. (C) Summary:  After close of business on August 17, local
    police showed up at Esso/Nicaragua's Corinto I fuel storage
    facility located at the Port of Corinto and on a judge's
    order seized the facility.  Exxon officials believe that the
    pretext for the seizure was a tax issue involving the
    exemption of value added tax.  It appears, however, that the
    governmnet has not observed due process.  Esso/Nicaragua has
    not been party to an administrative proceeding, did not
    receive a bill for back taxes, nor notified that its property
    would be seized.  Because of safety concerns and the fact
    that the tanks are old and small, Corinto I is largely in
    disuse -- but one tank located there is fairly large and
    still in service, capable of holding 30,000 barrels of diesel
    fuel.  Equally important, Esso/Nicaragua cannot conduct
    operations at Corinto II without the use of its fire fighting
    equipment located at Corinto I.  Without Corinto II, fuel
    shortages in Nicaragua will develop in a matter of weeks.  We
    understand that the Port Authority (EPN) has been placed in
    charge of Corinto I and that welding has been going on all
    weekend.  Petronic and its lessee Glencore have reportedly
    been asked to facilitate the offloading of diesel from a
    Venezuelan ship that arrived in Corinto on August 17.  Please
    see Action Requests for USTR and OPIC in paragraphs 6 and 9,
    respectively.  End Summary.

    ¶2. (C) After close of business on August 17, local police
    showed up at Esso/Nicaragua's Corinto I fuel storage facility
    located at the Port of Corinto and on a judge's order seized
    the facility.  Esso/Nicaragua received no document or
    explanation for the action.  Over the weekend, Exxon
    dispatched its Public Affairs Manager for Central America and
    the Caribbean to Nicaragua.  He is seeking a meeting with
    President Ortega and other in the Nicaraguan government.  In
    addition, Esso/Nicaragua has posted lawyers in Managua,
    Corinto, and Chinandega to work the issue.

    The Pretext
    -----------

    ¶3. (C) Exxon officials believe that the pretext for the
    seizure was a tax issue.  About four months ago a customs
    audit picked up on Esso/Nicaragua's failure to properly
    document a tax exemption for a shipment of crude oil.
    Industry insiders tell us that oil shipments often arrive
    before all the paperwork is completed.  In this case, a delay
    in getting a bill of lading from the supplier caused a
    subsequent delay in getting an exemption letter from the
    Ministry of Finance, resulting in incomplete paperwork.
    Normally, the paperwork trail can be repaired and a nominal
    fine paid; life goes on.  This time, Customs claimed that
    Esso/Nicaragua owed $3 million in back value added taxes
    (IVA).  On this pretext, Exxon officials believe, the
    government seized Esso's Corinto I fuel storage facility.

    ¶4. (C) Exxon officials point out that the law permits the
    exemption of IVA on the import of petroleum, and that,
    indeed, there is no mechanism for Esso/Nicaragua to recover
    IVA from the end user.  In July, Energy Minister Emilio
    Rappaciolli penned a letter to Attorney General Hernan
    Estrada fully explaining that under Nicaraguan law, no tax
    was due on the import in question.  In fact, more than one
    piece of legislation designates petroluem product tax exempt.

    The Seizure
    -----------

    ¶5. (C) Exxon officials identified Managua judge Hector Pavone
    as having issued the order to seize Corinto I, the older of
    the two fuel storage facilities that Esso/Nicaragua maintains
    at the Port of Corinto.  Normally, the National Police would
    have carried out the order, but in this case it was left to
    the Municipal Police of Corinto.  According to Exxon
    officials, National Police Chief Granera was aware of the
    act, but declined to take a position on the matter in a
    telephone conversation with them.  "La Prensa" reported this
    morning that a Chinandega judge was also involved, and that
    when questioned following a speech on August 18, President
    Ortega answered that the case was in the courts, revealing
    that he knew more than he was willing to say publicly.  Exxon
    officials believe that President Ortega approved the seizure,
    which is why they want to talk to him.

    Due Process
    -----------

    ¶6. (C) Exxon officials complain that the government has not
    observed due process.  Esso/Nicaragua has not been party to
    an administrative proceeding, received a bill for back taxes,
    nor notified that its property would be seized.  Further,
    Exxon has not received any document notifying the company as
    to why its property was seized.  Indeed, Exxon reports that
    the complaint and request for "presumptive siezure" was filed
    by an individual unknown to them and with no prior legal
    problems with the company.  Exxon officials believe that the
    lack of due process may be the basis for a complaint under
    CAFTA.  Action Request: Post requests USTR to undertake a
    preliminary analysis, based on the facts presented in this
    cable, to advise us whether there is reason to believe that
    CAFTA could be invoked in this case.

    Esso's Fuel Storage Facilities and Oil Imports
    --------------------------------------------- -

    ¶7. (C) Corinto I is Esso's original storage facility at the
    Port of Corinto.  Because of safety concerns and the fact
    that the tanks are old and small, the facility is largely in
    disuse.  However, one tank in Corinto I is fairly large and
    still in service, capable of holding 30,000 barrels of
    diesel.  Corinto I also houses a fire fighting station that
    serves both Corinto I and Corinto II.  This fact is important
    because Esso/Nicaragua cannot conduct operations at Corinto
    II without the protection of its fire fighting station across
    the street in Corinto I.  In contrast, Corinto II has five
    large tanks that can store around 100,000 barrels of diesel
    and 50,000 barrels of gasoline (Note: Volumes need to be
    verified.)

    ¶8. (C) Both Corinto I and II handle refined or partially
    refined petroleum products.  While Esso's refinery supplies
    most of the country's liquid fuel needs, Nicaragua still
    imports about 25% of its supply.  If Corinto II falls out of
    operation because of the lack of firefighting equipment or
    any other reason, fuel shortages will follow in a matter of a
    weeks.  Esso/Nicaragua has already cancelled a vessel
    scheduled to arrive on August 23.  Exxon officials warn that
    if Corinto II falls out of opertiona, gasoline shortages will
    develop first wiht premium gasoline.  As premium users buy
    available regular gasoline, shortages of regular gasoline
    will also occur.  Exxon does not want to say this publicly,
    however, for fear of creating consumer panic.

    ¶9. (C) All crude petroleum is piped into Esso's Managua
    refinery via pipeline through Puerto Sandino, nearer Managua.
     Esso/Nicaragua managers believe that the refinery,
    pipelines, and storage facilities are covered by Esso's OPIC
    political risk insurance policy for Nicaragua, but must
    check.  Action Request: Post requests OPIC's insurance
    division to inform us about the extent of OPIC political risk
    insurance coverage for Esso/Nicaragua.

    Subsequent Government Action
    ----------------------------

    ¶10. (C) At first, the government's fuel distribution asset
    holding company, Petronic, did not appear to be directly
    involved, nor did Petronic's lessee Glencore.  Now, post
    understands that Petronic and Glencore have been asked to
    facilitate the offload of diesel from a Venezuelan ship that
    arrived in Corinto on August 17, but with no place to
    offload.  We understand that the Port Authority (EPN) has
    been placed in charge of Corinto I and that welding has been
    taking place there all weekend.  Normally, government
    permission for such work must be given in advance, along with
    an environmental impact assessment.  Unsure about the status
    of the old tanks, Exxon officials are worried about safety.

    ¶11. (C) A few weeks ago, Ortega announced that Venezuela
    would only export finished product to Nicaragua in the near
    to medium-term.  In the past several months, the government
    has tried to convince Esso/Nicaragua to accept shipments of
    Venezuelan finished product.  Moveover, Exxon operates under
    tight restrictions on the type of vessels it uses (e.g.,
    doubled hulled ships -- as a consequence of the Exxon Valdez
    incident) and on delivery times.  When Venezuela missed its
    delivery time a few months ago, Esso/Nicaragua was forced to

    purchase elsewhere.  The Venezuelan vessel showed up later
    anyway, and reportedly wound up paying a demurrage of
    $400,000.  Exxon officials told us that it could conceivably
    negotiate an arrangement with Venezuelan Oil Company PDVSA to
    accept crude petroleum via Exxon vessels.  Such an
    arrangement would serve Exxon's interest in sticking to tight
    logistical schedules and making maximum use of limited
    storage facilities in Nicaragua.

    Exxon Action
    ------------

    ¶12. (C) On August 20, Exxon officials briefed the Ambassador
    on the state of play.  They believe that the seizure is
    unlawful and possibly a violation of CAFTA.  The company
    wants to meet with President Ortega, Vice President Morales,
    and Energy Minister Emilio Rappaciolli to press for the retun
    of the facility.  In addition, Exxon's Washington office has
    contacted Nicaraguan Ambassador to Washington Arturo Cruz.
    The Embassy issued a statement indicating the seriousness
    with which we view the seizure and the impact that this has
    on the investment climate, as well as encouragement for a
    quick resolution.  The Ambassador has talked to both Minister
    of Foreign Affairs Santos and Minister of Energy Rappaciolli,
    expressing our deep concern.  We continue to work the issue.
    TRIVELLI

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