An oil refining plant in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, November 4, 2021. United States Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Wednesday, January 7, the US would control Venezuela's oil sales until further notice following the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro in a US military operation on January 3. YURI CORTEZ / AFP
United States Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Wednesday, January 7, that Washington will control sales of Venezuelan oil "indefinitely," a day after President Donald Trump announced Venezuela's interim leaders had agreed to US-managed marketing of 30 to 50 million barrels of crude. "We're going to market the crude coming out of Venezuela, first this backed-up stored oil, and then indefinitely, going forward, we will sell the production that comes out of Venezuela into the marketplace," Wright said at a Goldman Sachs energy event in Miami.
Days after the US toppling of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, which has left Maduro's deputy and other allies in charge, Wright suggested sanctions on the country's oil sector would be waived to facilitate the export of its oil. The US would be "the supplier" of the diluting agents needed to get Venezuela's extra-heavy crude oil ready for shipment, he said.
