El Universal reported that the executive branch of Dominican Republic has urged its senators to speed up the approval of a sales contract for a 49% stake in state owned Refinería Dominicana de Petróleo refinery to Venezuela.

Dominican Republic made the request through finance minister Mr Vicente Bengoa, who met with the Senate's Committee on Finance, which is discussing the agreement.

Mr Bengoa stressed the importance of the contract by saying that the Dominican government will retain 50% of the refinery's stakes. He added that Dominican Republic would receive USD 133.4 million in the purchase of 49% of the shares.

(Sourced from www.eluniversal.com)