09-04-08 Petroleos de Venezuela, or PdVSA, will seek a new operator to replace ExxonMobil in their Chalmette oil refinery partnership, Venezuela's oil minister said.
"We're seeking a new operator for the Chalmette, Louisiana, refinery, another operator other than Exxon," Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez told in congress after meeting with lawmakers to discuss a new levy on oil companies.

PdVSA and Exxon each own half of the Chalmette plant, an asset that is now part of compensation talks between the partners stemming from President Hugo Chavez's decision last year to nationalize a series of oil projects, including one controlled by Exxon.
Ramirez also confirmed the government will create a new oil tax to obtain a portion of the gains oil companies derive from sudden increases in oil prices. As planned, a 50 % tax rate would kick in after Brent crude hits an average of $ 70 a barrel in a particular month.

The taxable portion of a company's revenues would be the money obtained from oil sold at pricesexceeding that $ 70 threshold. When oil prices exceed $ 100 a barrel, the tax rate would go to 60 %.
"We believe the $ 70 Brent threshold is fair," Ramirez said. Lawmakers are expected to approve the law proposal in a second and final reading.