Venezuela plans cold shoulder for U.S. on natural gas

Domestic needs, S. America to get priority

CARACAS — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says his country’s natural gas is for the domestic market and South America, not for the United States., whose policies he described as unfriendly toward his government.

Venezuela’s natural gas reserves, which total about 151 trillion cubic feet and are the eighth-largest in the world, are first for the domestic market, Mr. Chavez said yesterdayduring his weekly televised talk. The South American market, and specifically Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, come next, he said.

“And if we have any gas reserves left, we will send them to the U.S.,” said Mr. Chavez, who again charged during his broadcast that the U.S. aggression toward his country is because Washington covets Venezuela’s oil and natural gas reserves.

Mr. Chavez has often threatened to end oil shipments to the United States if the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush takes steps to undermine or overthrow his government.

Bloomberg