Nicolas Maduro supporters rally in Venezuela
Protests have erupted in Caracas, Venezuela, following the attack and indictment of President Nicolás Maduro by the United States.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright is scheduled to meet oil executives at a conference in Miami on January 7, just days after the United States captured the head of Venezuela, home to the world’s largest oil reserves.
President Donald Trump said on January 5 that US companies may invest to improve Venezuela’s low production numbers. Chevron is currently the only major U.S. oil company operating in Venezuela.
“Secretary Wright remains in close contact with U.S. oil companies and is scheduled to meet with several at the Goldman Sachs Energy Conference in Miami on Wednesday,” Energy Department spokesman Ben Diederich told USA TODAY in a statement.
U.S. oil companies have historically had a presence in Venezuela, but many withdrew in 2007 when then-leader Hugo Chávez tried to seize assets as part of a nationalization drive. The country’s crude oil production has been in sharp decline since 2012.
The Energy Department did not say which companies would meet with Wright on Wednesday. Mr. Chevron and Mr. Hess are among the many names that have publicly announced their intention to attend the meeting.
“ConocoPhillips is monitoring developments in Venezuela and their potential impact on global energy supply and stability,” Dennis Nass, a spokesperson for the Houston-based energy producer, told USA TODAY in a statement. “It is too early to speculate about future business activities or investments.”
Chevron spokesman Bill Turenne told USA TODAY the company is not speculating about future investments.
