Energy Executives Scramble to Head Off Trump Demands

“Top energy executives are weighing telling President Donald Trump that the industry can increase Venezuela’s oil output by hundreds of thousands of barrels per day over the coming months,” CNN reports.

“The pledge would be aimed at setting a realistic initial goal for accelerating the nation’s output, while preempting demands by Trump for the companies to make massive new investments in rebuilding Venezuela’s energy infrastructure.”

“But the promise to hit that mark would come with a set of conditions: The US would first need to lift key sanctions that have suppressed Venezuela’s production, as well as provide some of the supplies necessary to move the nation’s heavier crude oil.”