New York, Jan 11 (EFE).- President Donald Trump suggested Sunday that he may leave ExxonMobil, the largest U.S. oil company, “out” of his plans to revive Venezuela’s energy sector after a comment he said he disliked from the company’s chief executive, Darren Woods.
“I didn’t like Exxon’s response. We have a lot of people who want in. I would probably lean toward leaving Exxon out. I didn’t like their response. They’re trying to be smart,” Trump told reporters traveling with him as he boarded Air Force One in West Palm Beach, Florida.
On Friday, Trump met with executives from major global oil companies. While most voiced support for investment, Woods said Venezuela is “uninvestable” under the country’s current “structures and commercial frameworks,” according to accounts of the meeting.
During the meeting, Trump said there would be “at least $100 billion of their own capital, not government money,” to rebuild Venezuela’s infrastructure.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday that Exxon’s view was “atypical,” adding that “at least a dozen” companies are ready to return to Venezuela following the U.S. military operation that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro a week ago.
In comments to Fox News, Wright said U.S. companies Chevron and Shell, Spain’s Repsol and Italy’s Eni would “immediately ramp up” investment in Venezuela, but he did not name Exxon.
Trump on Saturday declared a “national emergency” to place revenues from Venezuelan oil sales into U.S. Treasury accounts, a move that would prevent Venezuela’s foreign-debt creditors from laying claim to the funds. EFE
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