"Yes, we are facing new illegal sanctions from the US. We were exporting about 500,000 bpd to the US. PDVSA will redirect exports to other customers in Europe and Asia", the technical adviser at Venezuela’s oil company PDVSA and Petroleum Ministry, Ronny Romero, told Sputnik.
The official, who is also Venezuela’s representative to OPEC, added that Caracas would do everything possible to minimise the effects of US sanctions on the oil and gas giant on the market.
When asked about how European and Asian customers could be convinced to buy oil from Venezuela, risking sanctions from Washington, he stated that currently, Washington's sanctions apply only to US entities.
"Anyway, Russia and China don’t care about US sanctions", he added.
Romero stressed that Venezuela would "do our best in order to not affect the market”.
The statements come after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro criticized US sanctions on Venezuelan state energy giant PDVSA on 5 February and said that the restrictions were tantamount to illegal seizure.
READ MORE: Venezuelan Lawmaker Refutes Claims Alleging Opposition Plans to Privatise PDVSA
Venezuela is currently facing large-scale anti-government protests with opposition leader Guaido having declared himself the country's interim president on 23 January. Nicolas Maduro has blamed the United States for plotting to overthrow him and expressed the belief that Guaido was being instructed by Washington.
