High Stakes: Chavez Plays The Oil Card

[babsbunny]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/10/business/worldbusiness/10showdown.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

CARACAS, Venezuela, April 9 — With President Hugo Chávez setting a May 1 deadline for an ambitious plan to wrest control of several major oil projects from American and European companies, a showdown is looming here over access to some of the most coveted energy resources outside the Middle East.

Skip to next paragraph

Moving beyond empty threats to cut off all oil exports to the United States, officials have recently stepped up the pressure on the oil companies operating here, warning that they might sell American refineries meant to process Venezuelan crude oil even as they seek new outlets in China and elsewhere around the world.

[scarletwoman]

1. Interesting and informative article. Thank you for posting it. (nt)