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Pedro Rafael Tellechea Ruiz (born 5 November 1975) is a Venezuelan military officer, politician, and mechanical engineer, who has held high government positions as Minister of Popular Power for Petroleum and President of Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA). In addition, from 2020 until 2023, he held the presidency of Petroquímica de Venezuela.

He also served as General Manager of the Mixed Company Metanol de Oriente, Metor S.A.; and President of the Venezuelan Aluminum Industry (CVG Venalum).

Early life and education

He was born in the capital city of Caracas as the son of José Rafael Tellechea Oranoz. He graduated in 1992 as a high school student from the Monseñor Jáuregui Military High School in La Grita, Táchira. In 1993, he enlisted in the Military Academy of the Bolivarian Army (AMEB), where he graduated in 1998 with a degree in military science and arts in the promotion of Col. Vicente Campo Elías. Later, after several years, he achieved the rank of colonel in the Bolivarian Army of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB).

Tellechea studied a specialization in public finance at the Universidad Santa María (2002–2004) and a master's degree in naval operations in the postgraduate program of the Military Academy of the Bolivarian Navy (2005–2007). He was sent to Buenos Aires to obtain a degree in mechanical engineering with a specialization in armament at the Higher Technical School of the Argentine Army (currently General Division Nicolás Manuel Savio Army Engineering Faculty) (2008-2013). He worked for a while in the Venezuelan Anonymous Company of Military Industries (CAVIM).

Civil and political career

Tellechea has held various positions in the public administration, initially in Emsoven, and later in the general management of the Mixed Company Metanol de Oriente, Metor S.A.; and the presidencies of the Venezuelan Aluminum Industry (CVG Venalum), Petroquímica de Venezuela (Pequiven) and later Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA). Among his actions, he appointed new management to the subsidiary company Monómeros Colombo Venezolanos S.A., based in Barranquilla, Colombia.

On January 6, 2023, he was appointed president of PDVSA, replacing Asdrúbal Chávez, according to Official Gazette No. 42.542, and initiated a general audit. On March 21, 2023, he was appointed by the government of Nicolás Maduro as the new Minister of the Ministry of Popular Power for Petroleum, a position held by Tareck El Aissami, who resigned via Twitter on the same day following accusations of "corruption and money laundering" by his workgroup. Tellechea stated that the goal for the Venezuelan petroleum industry in 2024 is to produce 1,759,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd). On August 31, 2023, he left the presidency of Pequiven, which was replaced by Ninoska La Concha.

Tellechea was appointed as minister of industry and national production and served until October 18, 2024, when he was replaced by Alex Saab. On October 21, Tellechea was arrested on suspicion of working with the United States to undermine PDVSA.

References

1. Delgado, Antonio Maria (18 October 2024). "Alex Saab, once charged by U.S. with money laundering, named Venezuela's industry minister". Miami Herald. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
2. "Huella digital - Pedro Tellechea, el "hermano de vida" de El Aissami que pasa a ocupar su puesto". Runrun. 2023-03-22. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
3. "DESIGNADO EL CNEL. PEDRO TELLECHEA COMO PRESIDENTE DE PDVSA". PDVSA. 2023-01-08. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
4. "Pedro Tellechea recibe presidencia de Pequiven". Pequiven. 2019-08-27. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
5. "¿Pdvsa pasa a manos más capaces?: Conoce el perfil de Pedro Rafael Tellechea". El Nacional. 2023-01-07. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
6. "Pedro Tellechea deja presidencia de Venalum con un cúmulo de promesas operativas sin cumplir". Correo del Caroní. 2020-09-19. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
7. "Ninoska La Concha nueva presidenta de PEQUIVEN". El Nacional. 2023-01-07. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
8. "PERFIL - Tellechea, el coronel que preside Pdvsa y fue nombrado ministro de Petróleo". Poderopedia. 2023-03-22. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
9. "Promoción 1998". JuanGomez. 2021-03-22.
10. "Conoce quién es el nuevo ministro de Petróleo Pedro Tellechea". La Verdad de Monagas. 2023-03-22.
11. "Pedro Rafael Tellechea el nuevo hombre más poderoso de la industria petrolera venezolana". Bloomberglinea. 2023-03-22.
12. "Pedro Rafael Tellechea Ruiz". Linkedin. 2023-03-22.
13. "¿Quién es Pedro Rafael Tellechea, el nuevo presidente de PDVSA designado por el régimen?". El Diario. 2023-01-06. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
14. "Pedro Tellechea llegó a Monomeros para tomar el control de la empresa". Primicia. 2022-09-20. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
15. "Gaceta Oficial N° 42.542, Decreto N° 4.764, mediante el cual se nombra al ciudadano Pedro Rafael Tellechea Ruiz, como Presidente de la Empresa Estatal Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA); y de su Junta Directiva" (pdf). TSJ. 2023-01-05. Retrieved 2023-05-01. Decreto N° 4.764
16. "Maduro destituye a Asdrúbal Chávez y designa a Pedro Tellechea como nuevo presidente de PDVSA". Finanzas Digital. 2023-01-06.
17. "Venezuela arrests a former oil czar and accuses him of working with the US to undermine the industry". Associated Press. Retrieved 2024-10-21.

• 1975 births
• Living people
• United Socialist Party of Venezuela politicians
• Venezuelan military personnel
• People from Caracas
• Nicolás Maduro ministers