Wednesday, 17 Mar 2010
Business News Americas reported that workers at Venezuelan steelmaker Sidetur, a subsidiary of local steel company Sivensa, have called on the government to nationalize the plant located in Puerto Ordaz, a Sidetur.

An employee told BNamericas that “President Chávez announced the nationalization of Venprecar and Orinoco Iron, which are both Sivensa subsidiaries, but he still has not said anything about the future of this plant. We also want to be a part of this decision.”

He claimed “By making this request workers have shown their support for the recently announced state steel corporation and cuts ties with a company that doesn't have the slightest respect for workers' basic health conditions.”

In May 2009 the Venezuelan government took over operative and administrative control of briquette producers Venprecar and Orinoco Iron as part of the nationalization process announced by Chávez, although the parties involved had not reached an agreement on the final indemnity. The state took control earlier than planned per Sivensa's request, which claimed that it was not financially secure enough to continue managing the plants.

Sidetur has plants located in Caracas, Guarenas, Valencia, Barquisimeto and Puerto Ordaz with total capacity of 835,000 tonnes per year of semi finished products, 545,000 tonnes per year of rolled products and 67,000 tonnes per year of electro welded products. The Puerto Ordaz plant is considered the most important.