Chevron to up bunker capacity in Panama

PANAMA CITY, May 14 (Reuters) - U.S. petroleum major Chevron (CVX.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Wednesday it will double storage capacity at its Las Minas facility in Panama to 4 million barrels, to meet growing demand for fuel derivatives in Central America.

Las Minas, near Panama's Caribbean coastal city of Colon, provides bunker fuel, lubricants and other derivatives for ships using the Panama canal and nearby ports.

In statement, issued ahead of a meeting with Panama government officials on Thursday, Chevron said it has plans to double the capacity in the short term, and potentially further after that.

Chevron has already invested $13 million to increase capacity at Las Minas, one of several Chevron facilities in the country, to the equivalent of 2.04 million barrels. (Reporting by Andrew Beatty; Editing by Leslie Adler)