Chavez promises new refinery in blow to vote rival

[Say_What]

<clips>

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday promised to build a 200,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) refinery in the oil-producing heartland of his main challenger in this year's presidential election.

Chavez made the promise at an electoral rally in the Western state of Zulia, scoring points off Zulia's Governor Manuel Rosales. But he was vague about when the refinery would be built, saying only that it would be started soon.

His rival Rosales has vowed to dole out 20 percent of the country's oil income to Venezuelan families but still lingers way behind popular leftist Chavez in polls for the December 3 presidential vote.

Chavez also said crude production from Zulia state, home to Lake Maracaibo where Venezuela's oil industry was born, would increase from one million barrels per day (bpd).

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=winterOlympics&storyID=2006-09-06T212129Z_01_N06476833_RTRUKOC_0_US-ENERGY-VENEZUELA-REFINERY.xml


Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez speaks to supporters during a re-election campaign rally in Caracas September 1, 2006. Chavez will run for re-eleccion in December polls. REUTERS/Francesco Spotorno (VENEZUELA)

[Psephos]

1. Black gold. Texas Tea. Don't vote for him; vote for me. n/t

[eccles12]

2. Chavez is doing what iran should be doing.

Chavez is one smart cookie!