Venezuelan President Closes Aluminum Plant
by Rod Hughes from press reports
President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez said yesterday that he is closing a Venezuela-owned aluminum plant in the Costa Rican town of Esparza for “geopolitical, economic and technical” reasons, denying that he is making the move out of anger at critical statements made by President Oscar Arias of Costa Rica.
The Costa Rican president has distanced himself from Chavez since the former’s inauguration last May. The Costa Rican government expressed doubt that Chavez is giving his real reasons for the plant closing, claiming that Alunasa is a profitable concern. Chavez did admit to having been stung by some of Arias’s criticisms.
The plant closure would throw 400 employees out of work in the small town in which it is located.
Chavez has been taking special pains to court countries with socialist governments such as that of President Daniel Ortega in Costa Rica’s northern neighbor, Nicaragua. Some observers here speculate that he might relocate the plant in Nicaragua.