``If the government of the U.S. wants to break relations with Venezuela, and they take the decision, it would cost me nothing to order the closure of the refineries we have in the U.S.,'' Chavez said. ``Then we will see where (the price of) oil will go, or a gallon of gasoline. It would cost me nothing to sell oil to other countries in the world.''
State oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA's U.S. unit, Citgo Petroleum Corp. owns shares in four U.S. oil refineries and two asphalt plants, with a combined daily crude processing capacity of 756,000 barrels. The company also operates a 265,000 barrel-a-day refinery in Houston that's a joint venture with Lyondell Chemical Co. and has more than 13,500 U.S. retail fuel outlets.
Arms Sales
Houston-based Citgo sells 8 billions gallons of gasoline every year, according to the company's Web site.
``We now sell 1.5 million barrels a day of oil to the U.S.,'' Chavez said. ``We have never missed our commitment.''
Venezuela could sell oil now going to the U.S. to India, China and Latin America, Chavez said.
Chavez, who was dressed in a red shirt and wearing his trademark red beret, said the South American country, which is the world's fifth-largest oil exporter, will also seek to build up its defenses by purchasing arms from other countries.
Venezuela earlier purchased 100,000 Russian AK-47s, and Chavez said he wants to buy enough weaponry to put 1 million men and women under arms in the case of an U.S. attack. The government will shortly submit a bill to congress, seeking funds for the purchase, Chavez said. Besides more rifles, Venezuela will also buy rocket launchers, he said.
``We are in contact with countries where the U.S. can't do a thing,'' said Chavez.
The U.S. has attempted to block Venezuela arms purchases from Brazil and Spain.
(FRPT NEEDED HERE.......)
To contact the reporter on this story:
Peter Wilson in Caracas pewilson@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: February 4, 2006 18:56 EST
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