The United States Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, pointed out that the US government wants to “sell Venezuelan oil and deposit the money in accounts controlled by the US”, highlighting that the intention is to direct part of this oil to the domestic market. He spoke publicly for the first time since the removal of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro from power, during an interview given this Wednesday at Goldman Sachs’ annual energy conference in Miami.
Wright added that the US government wants to sell Venezuelan oil to American refineries and also put Venezuelan oil on the global market. The secretary also highlighted that controlling sales is seen as an instrument of political pressure. “The US needs to control oil sales to change Venezuela,” he declared, adding that “Venezuela will not change unless the United States exerts leverage.”
In his assessment, “the US has great power of influence if it controls Venezuelan oil”.
Wright also indicated prospects for increased production. During the event, he estimated that Venezuela’s oil production could grow by several hundred thousand additional barrels in the short to medium term. To this end, according to him, Washington intends to create a favorable environment for the entry of American companies.
The energy secretary also highlighted that the US wants to “import parts, equipment and services to rebuild the Venezuelan oil industry” and explained that “the oil that Venezuela will deliver to the United States will come from stocks”, as announced on Tuesday by President Donald Trump, as he stated during the conference.
