WASHINGTON: Three US oil giants are seeking to work with US President Donald Trump on Venezuela, while Exxonmobil may be barred from operating in Venezuela.
US oil company ConocoPhillips is looking forward to partnering with Trump’s administration regarding Venezuela, the company told RIA Novosti.
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“We look forward to working with the Trump administration on energy policies that promote stability and benefit both the Venezuelan and American people,” the statement said.
Furthermore, ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance has already discussed with Trump strategies to prepare Venezuela for future investments, the statement added.
Shell has expressed its readiness to resume investments in Venezuela’s oil industry, the company told RIA Novosti.
“We are ready to go and looking forward to the investments…,” the statement said.
Shell left onshore oil operations in Venezuela around 1975-1976, when Venezuela nationalised its oil industry.
The company also said it currently has opportunities for investments worth several billion dollars, which are subject to approval by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
US oil and gas corporation Chevron is prepared to contribute to strengthening the US energy security as part of its ongoing business activities in Venezuela, the company told RIA Novosti.
“For more than a century, Chevron has been a part of Venezuela’s past. We remain committed to its present. And we stand ready to help it [Venezuela] build a better future while straightening US energy and regional security,” the statement said.
Chevron’s spokesperson Bill Turenne emphasised that through its presence in Venezuela, Chevron will prioritise employee safety, asset protection, and compliance with the existing US sanctions regime toward Caracas.
Chevron remains the sole US company currently operating in Venezuela, under a licence issued and periodically renewed by the American government.
Trump has said that he may not allow the ExxonMobil oil giant to operate in Venezuela.
On Friday, Trump met with representatives of major oil companies. The meeting, held at the White House, was attended by executives from nearly 20 oil companies, including Chevron, Exxon, Shell, and ConocoPhillips.
During the meeting, ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods called Venezuela “uninvestable,” suggesting he might ban the company from future US-backed involvement.
“I didn’t like Exxon response... I’ll probably be inclined to keep Exxon out. I didn’t like their response. They’re playing too cute,” the US leader told reporters.
Trump had warned American oil companies that at least US$100 billion would need to be invested in Venezuela. Trump emphasised that the US is ready to process and sell oil from Venezuela. According to the US president, the heavy oil from the Latin American country has good applications for road construction.
On January 3, the US launched a massive attack on Venezuela, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and taking them to New York.
Trump announced that Maduro and Flores would face trial for allegedly being involved in “narco-terrorism” and posing a threat, including to the US. During their court appearance in New York, Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In connection with the US operation, Caracas requested an emergency UN meeting, and Venezuela’s Supreme Court temporarily assigned the duties of head of state to Vice President Delcy Rodriguez. On January 5, Rodriguez officially assumed the position of acting president of Venezuela and took the oath before the National Assembly.
The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed solidarity with the people of Venezuela, called for the release of Maduro and his wife, and urged to de-escalate.
