Venezuelan nationalizations motivated by debt

摘要

Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA is moving to nationalize at least, some drilling rigs owned by foreign, mostly US-based, companies, despite protestations to the contrary, according to Venezuelan oil industry and PDVSA sources. PDVSA President and Energy and Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez told reporters in June that drilling rig companies need not be nationalized. Ramirez said about 50 companies are providing some of the 151 rigs currently active in the country. If PDVSA couldn't get a deal with one, the oil company would be happy to seek another contractor instead, he said.