Reference News Network, January 15 report: According to the CNN website on January 14, a U.S. government official said that the United States has completed the sale of the first batch of Venezuelan oil, with the transaction amounting to $500 million.
The official added that more oil sales will take place in the coming days and weeks.
The report said that since the U.S. attack on Venezuela and the forced control of its president Maduro earlier this month, President Trump has clearly stated that he plans to use Venezuela's vast oil reserves.
Trump said on the 9th that the U.S. oil industry would invest at least $10 billion to rebuild Venezuela's severely damaged energy sector. It is currently unclear where the figure of $10 billion comes from.
The report said that the plan of the U.S. government to monetize Venezuelan oil was questioned by U.S. energy company executives on the 9th.
ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods said when discussing the obstacles to doing business in Venezuela: "We can't invest. A series of legal and commercial frameworks must be established to understand what kind of investment returns we might get."
Other executives also expressed reluctance to do business in this troubled Latin American country. After the White House meeting on the 9th, Trump and his senior aides did not receive major commitments from companies regarding investments of billions of dollars.
The report also said that details about the first oil sale are still unclear, but White House spokesperson Tyler Rogers said in a statement: "President Trump's team is facilitating positive dialogue with oil companies that have been ready and willing to make unprecedented investments to restore Venezuela's oil infrastructure." (Translation by Lu Di)
The refinery in Punta Cardón, Venezuela (AP)
Original: toutiao.com/article/7595515837394600482/
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