- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

French Oil Giant Total Could Stay in Venezuela Despite US Sanctions - CEO

© AFP 2023 / MARTIN BUREAUA picture shows the logo of French oil company headquarters Total, on October 21, 2014 in La Defense buisness district, near Paris
A picture shows the logo of French oil company headquarters Total, on October 21, 2014 in La Defense buisness district, near Paris - Sputnik International
Subscribe
The United States continues to pile pressure on Venezuela amid the ongoing political crisis raging in the country. Washington has blocked all assets of the PDVSA state oil company, saying it will only lift the sanctions once Caracas transfers control over the company to the opposition.

Total CEO Patrick Pouyanne expressed his belief on Monday that the French oil corporation could continue functioning in crisis-torn Venezuela despite sanctions imposed by Washington. He added that Total will analyse the situation before reaching a decision.

"First, we have to understand what are exactly the sanctions… we will evaluate but I think you can stay — maybe you will have some conditions to stay," Pouyanne said during an energy forum in Egypt's capital, Cairo.

His comment comes after Reuters reported earlier in the day that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has requested OPEC denounce the US sanctions on Venezuela in a letter.

"Our country hopes to receive the solidarity and full support of the member countries of OPEC and its ministerial Conference, in the fight we are currently having against the illegal and arbitrary intrusion of the United States in the internal affairs of Venezuela," Maduro wrote.

READ MORE: US to Ease Sanctions on Venezuelan PDVSA If Guaido Assumes Control — Treasury

I seek "your firm support and collaboration to jointly denounce and face this shameless dispossession of… important assets of one of the members of OPEC", the letter said.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a meeting with deputies of Venezuela's United Socialist Party (PSUV) and ministers at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, in this handout picture provided by Miraflores Palace on January 22, 2016 - Sputnik International
World
Venezuela's Maduro: Next OPEC Meeting May Take Place in First Quarter of 2017
In the letter, he asked the OPEC to determine potential solutions based on "the impact that this action has on the global energy market, and the risk it represents for the other countries… of this organisation".

Earlier, the United States blocked all assets belonging to Venezuela's PDVSA state-owned oil company in its jurisdiction and imposed a ban on trading with the firm.

Before the sanctions, US refiners had purchased an average of 500,000 barrels of Venezuelan crude oil per day.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала