February 25, 2005
Venezuela will continue to be a reliable oil supplier to the US

(Upstream) - "Venezuela will continue to be a reliable oil supplier to the US, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Alí Rodríguez said.

Venezuela last year was the fourth-largest supplier of crude oil and refined petroleum products to the US, shipping an average 1.5 million barrels per day.

'Venezuela has been, is, and will always be a reliable supplier' to the US, Rodríguez told reporters following a speech at the Washington headquarters of the Organization of American States.

Rodríguez's comments come after other Venezuelan officials complained that Washington was trying to discredit Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, but said the country had no plans to cut oil supplies to the US market (...)

Rodríguez said that just as the US has tried to diversify its suppliers of oil, Venezuela has the right to diversify its markets and is looking to sell more oil to China.

Venezuela's diversification of its markets should not affect the US economy or interests, he said (...)".