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☆ Venezuela's Maduro Says Election Deal With Opposition Could Collapse
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro warned on Thursday that a deal with the political opposition for elections to be held later this year was in danger of collapse, after what he has described as "conspiracies" against him. Later, U.S. officials said they were "concerned" about the arrests, which included members of the political opposition. KEY QUOTES"Today the Barbados agreements are mortally wounded, they're in intensive care, they were stabbed, kicked," Maduro said in a televised state broadcast. "Hopefully we can save the Barbados agreements and, through dialogue, reach real overarching agreements through national consensus," he added. WHAT'S NEXTThe government's arrest of opposition members could put the agreements at risk, and cause the sanctions to snap back.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Maduro's, Maria Corina Machado, Maduro, Deisy Buitrago, Kylie Madry, Clarence Fernandez Locations: CARACAS, Barbados, United States, Caracas, Venezuela

☆ Venezuela Economy Grew 5% in 2023, Will Reach 8% This Year-Maduro
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Mayela ArmasCARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's economy grew more than 5% in 2023 and growth will reach 8% this year, President Nicolas Maduro said on Monday during his annual address to the government-allied legislature. Inflation reached just under 190% last year, according to the central bank, marking an easing from 234% the year before. "In 2024 we will continue the policy of stoking national production, of recovering national income, of recovering income for workers," Maduro told lawmakers. Oil income has previously been battered by low production due to deteriorated infrastructure and lack of investment. A date for the election has not been set, but it is expected in the second half of the year.

Persons: Mayela Armas, Nicolas Maduro, Maduro, PDVSA, Joe Biden, Julia Symmes Cobb, Deisy Buitrago Organizations: Mayela Armas CARACAS, Reuters, United Locations: State, U.S, United States

☆ Guyana will stay alert after Venezuela vote on territorial dispute -VP
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The U.S. State Department said on Monday it supports a peaceful resolution of the dispute and that the issue could not be solved by a referendum. Venezuelans on Sunday backed the rejection of ICJ jurisdiction over the dispute and the creation of a new state in Esequibo. Analysts have said the vote was an attempt by President Nicolas Maduro to gauge his government's support ahead of a 2024 presidential election. Maduro has assured Caribbean countries that he will not invade the region, Jagdeo said, but Guyana will not let its guard down. "A new era in the fight for our Guayana Esequiba has begun," he added, using the proposed name for the new Venezuelan state.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Jorge Rodriguez, Elvis Hidrobo Amoroso, Bharrat Jagdeo, Maduro, Jagdeo, Esequiba, Mayela Armas, Deisy, Julia Symmes Cobb, Richard Chang Organizations: Venezuelan National, Electoral Council, National Electoral Council, Justice's, International Court of Justice, U.S . State Department, Sunday, ICJ, Conference of, Guyanese, Thomson Locations: Venezuelan, CARACAS, Guyana, Esequibo, Venezuela, Dubai, Caracas, Bogota

☆ Guyana Will Stay Alert After Venezuela Vote on Territorial Dispute -VP
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

CARACAS (Reuters) - Guyana will remain vigilant after a Venezuelan referendum rejected an international court's jurisdiction over a territorial dispute between the neighboring countries, Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo said on Monday. Bilateral tensions over the potentially oil-rich Esequibo region rose in recent weeks ahead of the five-question referendum, which Guyana unsuccessfully asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to bar. Venezuelans on Sunday backed the rejection of ICJ jurisdiction over the dispute and the creation of a new state in Esequibo. Maduro has assured Caribbean countries that he will not invade the region, Jagdeo said, but Guyana will not let its guard down. "A new era in the fight for our Guayana Esequiba has begun," he added, using the proposed name for the new Venezuelan state.

Persons: Bharrat Jagdeo, Nicolas Maduro, Maduro, Jagdeo, Esequiba, Mayela Armas, Deisy, Julia Symmes Cobb, Richard Chang Organizations: International Court of Justice, U.S . State Department, Sunday, ICJ, Conference of, Guyanese Locations: CARACAS, Guyana, Esequibo, Venezuela, Dubai, Venezuelan, Caracas, Bogota

☆ Venezuelans to vote in referendum on disputed territory with Guyana
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro shows his ballot during a referendum over Venezuela's rights to the potentially oil-rich region of Esequiba in Guyana, in Caracas, Venezuela, December 3, 2023. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria Acquire Licensing RightsCARACAS/GEORGETOWN, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Venezuelans will vote on Sunday in a referendum backed by President Nicolas Maduro's government over a potentially oil-rich territory that is the subject of a long-running border dispute with Guyana. The five-question referendum includes a question rejecting International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction to decide to which country the territory around the Esequibo river belongs. On Friday, the court responded to a request from Guyana to halt the referendum, ordering Venezuela to refrain from taking any action that would alter the status quo, without expressly forbidding the vote. The Sunday vote has caused anxiety in Guyana, with the government urging citizens to keep calm.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Nicolas Maduro's, Maduro, Ricardo Sucre, Benigno Alarcon, Andres, Rocio San, Kim Rampersaud, Vivian Sequera, Julia Symmes Cobb, Will Dunham Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, of Justice, Central University of Venezuela, Center for Political Studies, Andres Bello Catholic University, Kiana, Thomson Locations: Esequiba, Guyana, Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS, GEORGETOWN, Sucre, Rocio San Miguel, Georgetown, Brazil

☆ Venezuela parliament chief rejects 'ultimatums' as US threatens sanctions review
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Venezuela's National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez addresses the media at the Federal Legislative Palace, in Caracas, Venezuela October 24, 2023. Washington eased some oil sanctions last month after an electoral deal between President Nicolas Maduro's government and the political opposition was signed in October. The easing of U.S. sanctions is also conditional on release of political prisoners and "unjustly detained" U.S. citizens. But Rodriguez, who also heads the government delegation in the opposition negotiations, told a press conference on Friday that Venezuela would not accept ultimatums. "Venezuela does not accept ultimatums from anyone, by now everybody should know that, we don't care", he said.

Persons: Jorge Rodriguez, Gaby Oraa, Nicolas Maduro's, Maria Corina Machado, Rodriguez, PDVSA, Deisy Buitrago, Mayela Armas, Sarah Morland, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Federal, REUTERS, Rights, National, U.S, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS, Washington, U.S, Venezuelan, State

The relaxed sanctions could lead to $1.4 billion in additional income for Venezuela over the next six months, analyst firm Sintesis Financiera said in a report. The additional oil income is expected to arrive gradually, partly though the redirection of exports. "The contribution will go to social spending and services." The government has traditionally increased social spending, public sector salaries, food distribution and housing construction projects ahead of elections, though national income has been limited over the last five years because of the sanctions and problems at PDVSA. Public spending has fallen to 15% of gross domestic product from 40% a decade ago, according to economic analysts.

Persons: Gaby Oraa, Nicolas Maduro, Sintesis Financiera, PDVSA, Jose Vielma, PSUV, Ecoanalitica, Oswaldo Ramirez, Jose Guerra, Maduro, Mayela Armas, Deisy, Julia Symmes Cobb, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Venezuelan Finance Observatory, Thomson Locations: Petare, Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS, Venezuelan, United States, Washington

☆ Machado formally wins Venezuela primary, government warns against foreign interference
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado attends an event to receive the credential as winner of the October 22 opposition's primary election, in Caracas, Venezuela October 26, 2023. The country's attorney general said on Wednesday his office has launched a criminal investigation into the primary and members of its organizing commission. Machado, who won about 93% of votes in the primary, met with about 10 foreign diplomats on Wednesday at her party's headquarters, sparking the government's objections. Rodriguez, the government's top negotiator in talks with the opposition, told the diplomats the primary violated electoral rules because it was organized without the help of electoral authorities and violated the Barbados deal. Machado, however, said the investigation into the primary is a "clear" violation of the Barbados deal.

Persons: Maria Corina Machado, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Nicolas Maduro, Machado, Maduro, Jorge Rodriguez, Rodriguez, Jesus Maria Casal, Vivian Sequera, Mayela Armas, Deisy, Julia Symmes Cobb, Rod Nickel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Venezuelan, The U.S . State Department, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS, U.S, Barbados, The

☆ Venezuela Sets Referendum Date on Territory Dispute With Guyana
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelans will vote on Dec. 3 in a referendum on "the rights" over a potentially oil-rich territory in dispute with its neighbor Guyana, authorities said on Friday. Both countries have been involved in a long-running dispute over their borders. Venezuela protested an oil tender announced by Guyana in September, arguing that the offshore areas are subject to dispute and the companies awarded the fields will not have the rights to explore them. The approximately 160,000 square kilometers under dispute along the countries' borders is mostly impenetrable jungle, and known as the "Esequiba region." Venezuela's claims extend over the territory was reactivated in recent years after the discovery of oil and gas near the maritime border.

Persons: Deisy Buitrago, Isabel Woodford, Alistair Bell Organizations: International Court of Justice Locations: CARACAS, Guyana, Venezuela

[1/4] Maria Corina Machado, candidate of the Vente Venezuela party for the opposition primaries and Freddy Superlano, leader of the Voluntad Popular party, raise their arms as they pose for pictures after a press conference, in Caracas, Venezuela October 13, 2023. The primary is the first held by Venezuela's opposition in over a decade. Favorite Maria Corina Machado is barred from holding public office, in a move criticized by the opposition and the U.S alike, and it is not clear what will happen if she wins the primary. Two other candidates - former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles and ex-lawmaker Freddy Superlano - have already withdrawn their candidacies because of similar disqualifications. The U.S. government has conveyed to Maduro bans must be lifted for all opposition presidential candidates by the end of November in exchange for sanction relief, a senior U.S. official said on Wednesday.

Persons: Maria Corina Machado, Freddy Superlano, Leonardo Fernandez, Nicolas Maduro, Henrique Capriles, MARIA CORINA MACHADO, Machado, CARLOS PROSPERI Prosperi, Prosperi, Solorzano, Deisy Buitrago, Vivian Sequera, Mayela Armas, Oliver Griffin, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Voters, U.S, World Bank, Inter, American Development Bank, International Monetary Fund, Accion Democratica, Criminal Court, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Venezuela, Caracas, CARACAS, U.S, Guarico

☆ US easing Venezuela oil sanctions after election deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Matt Spetalnick | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at the Miraflores Palace, in Caracas, Venezuela June 12, 2023. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Wednesday broadly eased sanctions on Venezuela's oil and gas sector in response to a 2024 election deal reached between the Venezuelan government and the country's opposition. Treasury is prepared to amend or revoke the authorizations at any time if representatives of President Nicolas Maduro fail to follow through on their commitments in the deal with the opposition, it added. The changes include the issuance of a six-month general license for the oil and gas sector in Venezuela and another general license authorizing dealings with Minerven – the Venezuelan state-owned gold mining company. The frontrunner in an opposition primary scheduled for Sunday, Maria Corina Machado, is barred from office for 15 years as of June.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Ebrahim Raisi, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Biden, Minerven, Maria Corina Machado, Donald Trump, Maduro, Matt Spetalnick, Marianna Parraga, Mayela Armas, Vivian Sequera, Josie Kao, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Venezuelan, U.S . Department of, Treasury, Treasury Department, U.S . State Department, Reuters, Washington, Biden, Thomson Locations: Miraflores, Caracas, Venezuela, Venezuelan, U.S

[1/2] Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at the Miraflores Palace, in Caracas, Venezuela June 12, 2023. It was not immediately known how soon the U.S. might act or how far it could go with sanctions relief. U.S. sources have also said any relaxation of sanctions would be reversible if Maduro fails to meet his election commitments. Maduro, president since 2013, is expected to run for re-election but has not yet formalized his candidacy. The U.S. imposed sanctions on Venezuela to punish Maduro's government following a 2018 election that Washington considered a sham.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Ebrahim Raisi, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Joe Biden's, Maduro, Maria Corina Machado, Jorge Rodriguez, Rodriguez, Gerardo Blyde, Machado, Maduro's, Washington, Deisy Buitrago, Vivian Sequera, Matt Spetalnick, Julia Symmes Cobb, Will Dunham, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European Union and United Nations, Reuters, U.S, Petroleum, Thomson Locations: Miraflores, Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS, WASHINGTON, U.S, Washington, Maduro, Barbados, Qatar, Houston

The opposition considers the bans unlawful, and Washington has rejected any roadblocks to opposition candidates' race to the presidency. The agreement to be signed on Tuesday would lift all public office bans, one opposition source told Reuters, but its wording is too vague to inspire confidence that Maduro will honor the deal. Four other opposition sources agreed, with one saying the deal was largely negotiated by the United States. "We all have our doubts, but we're exhausting our options," said another opposition source. The U.S., which is expected to loosen some sanctions in recognition of the government-opposition deal, will act only once the deal has been signed, sources told Reuters on Monday.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela Milton Rengifo, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Maria Corina Machado, There's, Maduro, What's, Benigno Alarcon, Andres, Alarcon, it's, Marianna Parraga, Mayela, Deisy Buitrago, Julia Symmes Cobb, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Maduro's, United, Andres Bello Catholic University, Mayela Armas, Thomson Locations: Venezuela, Miraflores, Caracas, Rights CARACAS, HOUSTON, Barbados, Washington, United States, U.S, Doha, Houston

☆ BRICS expansion hopefuls seek to rebalance world order
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Joe Bavier | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/6] People walk past the Sandton Convention Centre, which will host the upcoming BRICS Summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa August 19, 2023. The wealthy West's domination of international bodies, such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank. DEVELOPING WORLD DISCONTENTWhile BRICS has not divulged a full list of expansion candidates, a number of governments have publicly stated their interest. Others want changes at the World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Its BRICS trade has indeed increased steadily since it joined, according to an analysis by the country's Industrial Development Corporation.

Persons: James Oatway, Rob Davies, South, bode, Vladimir Putin, Steven Gruzd, BRICS, Ramón Lobo, Gruzd, Lucinda Elliott, Deisy, Yousef Saba, Gustavo Palencia, Lamine Chikhi, Ahmed Eljechtimi, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Sandton, REUTERS, United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, BRICS, Observers, South African Institute of International Affairs, U.S ., Reuters, United, Emirates, World Trade Organization, Argentine, New Development Bank, Russia, Industrial Development Corporation, South, Thomson Locations: Johannesburg, South Africa, JOHANNESBURG, Iran, Argentina, Brazil, Russia, India, China, Ukraine, Venezuela, Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, United Nations, United States, Montevideo, Caracas, Dubai, Tegucigalpa, Lamine, Algiers, Rabat

☆ Colombia AG's office says ELN plotting to attack top prosecutor
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Francisco Barbosa, Colombian Attorney General speaks during an interview with Reuters in Bogota, Colombia March 24, 2023. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez/File PhotoBOGOTA, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Colombia's attorney general's office is investigating an alleged planned attack by National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels against top prosecutor Francisco Barbosa, it said on Tuesday. Barbosa has publicly opposed many of Petro's peace promises, including a pending law which would reduce prison sentences for crime gangs who surrender, recognize their crimes and offer reparations to victims. According to three sources, "In July there took place a meeting in Venezuela between five high commanders of the ELN...to produce an attack with snipers," the attorney general's office said in a statement. The attorney general's organized crime division is investigating and corroborating the information, the statement added.

Persons: Francisco Barbosa, Luisa Gonzalez, Gustavo Petro, Barbosa, Rolo, general's, Julia Symmes Cobb, Deisy Buitrago, Leslie Adler Organizations: Colombian, Reuters, REUTERS, National Liberation Army, Thomson Locations: Bogota, Colombia, BOGOTA, Venezuela, Venezuelan, Caracas

CARACAS, July 21 (Reuters) - Venezuela is not willing to halt productive operations during contract audits that have led to the arrest of businessmen and officials, and to disputes with customers and partners of state company PDVSA, the country's oil minister said on Friday. Earlier this year, contracts with some crude oil buyers were also temporarily suspended while PDVSA reviewed billions of dollars of late payments and pending invoices. "Our goal is to explore, produce, refine and export every product we can," Oil Minister Pedro Tellechea told journalists on the sidelines of a conference in Caracas. Investigations related to the review of unpaid bills have been transferred to the office of Venezuela's General Attorney, Tellechea said. Tellechea also said the country does not currently have suspended contracts, but did not elaborate on the status of exports.

Persons: Wilmer Ruperti, Pedro Tellechea, Tellechea, Maroil, PDVSA, Deisy Buitrago, Mayela Armas, Vivian Sequera, Marianna Parraga, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Oil, Investigations, Reuters, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, Venezuela, PDVSA, Geneva, Caracas, France, China

CARACAS, July 21 (Reuters) - Venezuelan expects to sign licenses by year-end for developing the nation's vast natural gas reserves, oil minister Pedro Tellechea said on Friday, even amid U.S. sanctions. Most of the South American country's gas reserves remain undeveloped after decades of insufficient investment, contract changes and - in recent years - U.S. sanctions to oust President Nicolas Maduro. But new officials running the oil ministry and PDVSA want to encourage new investment and unfreeze projects. Oil major Shell Plc (SHEL.L), which produces in Trinidad, could operate the Dragon gas field in Venezuela if Maduro's government extends it a license, Trinidad officials have said. Venezuela is producing 831,000 barrels of crude per day (bpd) this month and expects to increase to 1 million bpd by year-end.

Persons: Pedro Tellechea, Nicolas Maduro, Tellechea, Spain's, Maurel, Deisy Buitrago, Mayela Armas, Vivian Sequera, Marianna Parraga, Alison Williams Organizations: Eni, Shell, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, Caracas, United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Trinidad, China

☆ Venezuela ex-spymaster arrives in US to face drug charges after extradition
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MADRID/NEW YORK, July 19 (Reuters) - The former head of Venezuela's military intelligence, Hugo Carvajal, arrived in the United States on Wednesday to face drug trafficking charge after being extradited from Spain, his lawyer said. Carvajal is expected to make an initial appearance in Manhattan federal court on Thursday morning, said his lawyer, Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma. Prosecutors say Carvajal in 2006 coordinated the shipment of 5,600 kg (1,235 pounds) of U.S.-bound cocaine to Mexico from Venezuela. Carvajal is also wanted in Venezuela on charges including treason and financing terrorism. "I hope the United States ... delivers to Venezuela a criminal like Hugo Carvajal," Jorge Rodriguez, the president of Venezuela's Maduro-aligned legislature, told reporters on Wednesday.

Persons: Hugo Carvajal, Carvajal, Zachary Margulis, El, Hugo Chavez's, Nicolas Maduro, Chavez, Maduro, Jorge Rodriguez, Venezuela's, Emma Pinedo, Luc Cohen, Deisy Buitrago, William Maclean, Mike Harrison, Daniel Wallis Organizations: MADRID, of Human, U.S, Washington, Thomson Locations: United States, Spain, Manhattan, Madrid, The U.S, Mexico, Venezuela, New York, Caracas

☆ Venezuela presidential opposition hopefuls call for unity, private investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The debate, the first between opposition hopefuls since 2011, was held as they await a ruling by the country's top court which could suspend the Oct. 22 nominating contest. Venezuela's often divided opposition is seeking to dislodge President Nicolas Maduro, who has ruled the country since 2013. Three of the most high-profile of the 14 opposition hopefuls, Maria Corina Machado, Henrique Capriles and Freddy Superlano, have already been barred from holding public office. "We need leadership who will take the fight to the end." The hopefuls said private investors must feel confident returning to Venezuela, whose economy contracted for eight consecutive years until 2022, when it showed incipient growth which is already waning.

Persons: Maria Corina Machado, Tamara Adrian, Andres Caleca, Cesar Perez Vivas, Carlos Prosperi, Read, Luis Ratti, Nicolas Maduro, Maduro, Henrique Capriles, Freddy Superlano, Universidad Catolica Andres Bello, Machado, Superlano, Capriles, Delsa Solorzano, Vivian Sequera, Mayela Armas, Deisy, Julia Symmes Cobb, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: la, Movimiento por Venezuela, Centro Democratico, Accion Democratica, Universidad Catolica, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, United States, Venezuela

HOUSTON/CARACAS, July 7 (Reuters) - Venezuela's opposition is crafting a proposal for the country to redirect about 200,000 barrels per day of its oil exports to a trustee to pay creditors with claims on the nation's foreign assets. A negotiation team representing Venezuela in late 2022 began formal talks with some creditors, including miner Crystallex and oil producer ConocoPhillips (COP.N), to avoid the loss of Citgo. A license by the U.S. Treasury Department would be required and Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA would not have access to cash flow from those exports, Medina said. One of the opposition's arguments is that PDVSA is currently forced by U.S. sanctions to sell its oil in Asia at deep discounts. Energy analysts estimate the U.S. Gulf Coast has more room for processing Venezuela's heavy sour crude grades.

Persons: Horacio Medina, Nicolas Maduro, Medina, PDVSA, refiners Citgo, Marianna Parraga, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: HOUSTON, Petroleum, ConocoPhillips, United Nations, Maduro, U.S . Treasury Department, Valero Energy, PBF Energy, Treasury Department, Chevron Corp, PDVSA, Chevron, . Energy, Gulf, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, Venezuela, Venezuelan, United States, China, Houston, Washington, American, Asia, Chevron, Caracas

☆ Venezuela blasts U.S. for critique over barred opposition candidate
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CARACAS, July 1 (Reuters) - Venezuela's government on Saturday said it rejected the U.S. stance around the South American country's upcoming elections, calling it "interference," a day after the U.S. criticized Venezuela's decision to disqualify an opposition candidate. Maria Corina Machado, one of the favorites to win the Venezuelan opposition's nomination for president in an October primary, has been barred from holding public office for 15 years. In response, the U.S. State Department said Venezuelans should be able to act freely in the 2024 presidential elections, and disqualifying Machado "deprives" them of political rights. The Washington-based Organization of American States also rejected the decision to bar Machado and called for free and transparent elections. Reporting by Deisy Buitrago; Writing by Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Daniel WallisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Venezuela's, Maria Corina Machado, disqualifying Machado, deprives, Machado, Deisy Buitrago, Daina Beth Solomon, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Venezuelan, U.S . State Department, American, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, U.S, United States, Washington

Machado, a 55-year-old industrial engineer and former lawmaker, is leading polling for the 13-candidate primary, convened to select a unity candidate to face socialist President Nicolas Maduro in a 2024 election. A previous ban placed on her has been expanded because Machado supported sanctions by the United States on the Maduro government and backed former opposition leader Juan Guaido, the letter said. The ban does not affect Machado's ability to run in the primary because the opposition is holding it without state support. The opposition has said for years that bans are used by the ruling party to prevent political change. Machado's fellow primary candidate Henrique Capriles, who has twice run for president for the opposition, was barred from public office for 15 years in 2017.

Persons: Maria Corina Machado, Machado, Nicolas Maduro, Juan Guaido, Jose Brito, Maria Corina Machado Parisca, Brito, Henrique Capriles, Mayela Armas, Vivian Sequera, Julia Symmes Cobb, Daniel Wallis, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Venezuelan, American States, U.S, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, United States, Venezuela, Washington

Roszarubezhneft's five joint ventures now must rely on PDVSA-designated intermediaries that take a large share of the revenues for their services, the people said. The joint ventures are owed about $3.2 billion from sales handled by PDVSA, one of the people said. Roszarubezhneft, Russia's oil ministry, PDVSA and Venezuela's oil and foreign affairs ministries did not reply to requests for comment. It also could help PDVSA make progress toward its goal of raising Venezuela's oil output by 40% this year. Oil production at the five joint ventures has dwindled as U.S. sanctions have hampered investment and maintenance work, and deterred many buyers of Venezuelan crude.

Persons: PDVSA's Jose Antonio, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, PDVSA, Rosneft, Nicolas Maduro's, Roszarubezhneft, Alexandra Ulmer, Marianna Parraga, Vivian Sequera, Daniel Flynn Organizations: REUTERS, Chevron, PDVSA, Reuters, Washington, U.S . Treasury, National Security, State Department, Nicolas Maduro's United Socialist Party, Assembly, Thomson Locations: PDVSA's, Anzoategui, Caracas, Moscow, Venezuela, U.S, Russia, Ukraine, Roszarubezhneft, Venezuela's, Rosneft

☆ Catalytic cracking unit at Venezuela's Cardon refinery shut down
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CARACAS, June 2 (Reuters) - The catalytic cracking unit at Venezuela's Cardon refinery, the country's second-biggest, has broken down and paused operations since the middle of the week, four people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Friday. Venezuela's refining network has the capacity to process 1.3-million-barrels per day but it suffers frequent production problems. The fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) plant refines oil into other products with greater commercial value, such as gasoline. The refinery restarted one distillation unit on Friday after a failure, while a second unit remains shutdown. The catalytic cracking unit at Amuay, Venezuela's largest refinery, has been shutdown for repairs since March, impacting production of gasoline.

Persons: PDVSA, Deisy, Oliver Griffin, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Reuters, Paraguana Refining, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, Cardon, Venezuela's, Amuay, Caracas

☆ Claims pursuing Citgo's assets surpass $20 billion, supervisory board says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HOUSTON/CARACAS, May 31 (Reuters) - A group of Venezuela-related expropriation claims at U.S. courts pursuing Citgo Petroleum's assets surpass $20 billion, making it difficult for the Houston-based refiner to compensate them all, the chief of a board supervising the company said on Wednesday. Once one of Citgo's U.S. parent companies, Citgo Holding, pays off its debt entirely later this year, the firm will have room to get new financing, an extra tool for negotiating some compensations, Medina added. "We already have lined up $21 billion (in claims)," he said when comparing those to Citgo's assets, including its 769,000-barrel-per-day refining network, which have been valued at some $11 billion. A growing number of companies are seeking to be part of the case and participate in an eventual auction of shares. A U.S. court of appeals in May granted a temporary stay preventing six companies from joining a proposed court auction, giving Venezuela a small relief in the legal fight.

Persons: Horacio Medina, Medina, Citgo, Marianna Parraga, Gary McWilliams, Daniel Wallis Organizations: HOUSTON, U.S, Citgo, Houston, Crystallex, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, Venezuela, Caracas, U.S, Medina, Delaware, Louisiana , Illinois, Texas, United States, Houston

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