TEHRAN – Iranian Petroleume Minister Javad Owji and his Venezuelan counterpart Pedro Rafael Tellechea held talks on the promotion of cooperation between the two sides.
Owji has traveled to Venezuela to discuss ways to “strengthen energy relations” between the two friendly nations, according to the Latin American country’s foreign ministry.
In a statement released, the ministry said Owji met Venezuelan officials and visit the facilities belonging to the state-run energy firm PDVSA.
“The delegation, maintained intense work schedule, which included meetings and visits to PDVSA facilities, as well as meetings with government authorities.”
Owji has already met with his Venezuelan counterpart, who also heads PDVSA, a source at the firm told Reuters, adding that the Iranian oil minister plans to visit the El Palito refinery.
Iran and Venezuela, both subject to illegal U.S. sanctions, signed a 20-year cooperation deal last June during a state visit by President Nicolas Maduro to Tehran. The document covered the energy sector, among other areas of cooperation.
Venezuela, which has the world’s largest crude reserves, has struggled in recent years to produce enough gasoline and diesel due to refinery outages as a result of U.S. bans and a political turmoil which also has its roots in Washington.
Tehran has strengthened ties with Caracas, providing crude and condensate as well as parts and feedstock for Venezuela’s aging 1.3 million barrel per day oil (bpd) refining network.
It has also overseen a project to modernize the largest refining complex in Venezuela.