The U.S. wants Venezuelan oil not because it needs more oil — but because it needs HEAVY oil.

The U.S. wants Venezuelan oil not because it needs more oil — but because it needs HEAVY oil.

Gulf Coast refineries are built for heavy crude. U.S. shale is mostly light.

Venezuela’s oil is dense, sulphur-heavy — closer to tar — hard to extract, hard to refine… yet perfect for those refineries.

The catch: $30–35bn in 2–3 years, $185bn over time, political & contract stability — and oil majors have to fund it.

And… it’s not ours.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/05/venezuelan-crude-oil-appeals-to-us-refineries #press