Petroleos: Oil Output Is Fine

The president of Venezuelan state oil giant Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) insisted he did not see any need for OPEC member countries to raise output to cool sizzling oil prices. With prices close to 10-year highs, pressure is growing on the oil cartel from consumer nations to agree to pump more oil at its next ministerial meeting in Vienna on Sept. 10. But PDVSA chief Hector Ciavaldini, reiterating a position expressed by other Venezuelan oil officials such as OPEC President Ali Rodriguez, said supply and demand of crude oil on world markets was well balanced.