Trump says Venezuelan oil could replenish depleted U.S. stockpiles. Will it?
Updated on: September 1, 2026 / 6:08 PM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- President Trump plans to use Venezuelan oil to refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which is at its lowest level since the 1980s.
- The U.S. government will take a 35% equity stake in North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP), which has concessions in Venezuela.
- Venezuelan crude is heavy and dense, posing technical challenges for storage in the SPR, which typically holds lighter oil.
- Rebuilding Venezuela's oil industry requires significant investment and time due to decades of underinvestment and sanctions.
- Experts estimate it could take years, possibly five to seven, for Venezuelan production to significantly impact U.S. supply, and suggest a 'molecular swap' for lighter crude as a more feasible solution.