30-07-08 The Venezuelan government said that it is taking steps to make Barbados desist from auctioning petroleum areas that would penetrate Venezuela's continental shelf in the Caribbean.
"This is an absolutely irregular situation so we're communicating with the Foreign Ministry, which is taking action," Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez told.

The minister's statement referred to Barbados' offer of 26 offshore blocks for oil and gas exploration, two of which encroach in some of their parts into Venezuelan territorial waters. Ramirez recalled that this type of situation "has occurred in the past," and said that they have always been resolved by "talking and discussing."
"Some countries award concessions that they have no right to, but by discussing it directly things are put in their place, and that is what we're doing," he said.

According to reports, the 26 areas cover an area of some 70,000 sq km (27,000 sq miles) in which would be included the blocks of Botton Bay and Crane Bay, and which would include some 5,200 sq km (2,000 sq miles) of Venezuela's continental shelf. Ramirez said that these are problems that should not be resolved through the press but "through the regular channels of the Foreign Ministry."
"What is most important is that no one has any doubts that we will make our sovereignty respected," the minister said.

The submission of bids for the Barbados project will end in September and the winners of the auction are scheduled to be announced on November 20, 2008.