MIAMI, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Venezuela’s chief energy official, Rafael Ramirez, was fined recently for instructing employees at the country’s state-run energy firm to support President Hugo Chavez, the latest in a series of developments that some experts say illustrates the president’s quest to wrest full control of the sector.

MIAMI, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Efforts to nationalize Venezuela’s oil and gas sector has increased government revenue by $5.8 billion a year since 2004, according to President Hugo Chavez.

CARACAS, Venezuela, May 10 (UPI) -- Venezuela bought a controlling stake Thursday in the country's largest private electricity provider, part of the government's widespread nationalization plan.

OSLO, Norway, April 27 (UPI) -- Statoil, Norway's largest oil and gas company, made a $2 billion cash offer Friday for Canada's North American Oil Sands Corp.

CARACAS, Venezuela, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Venezuela's state-run oil company is pressuring two U.S. energy firms to change their contract with Caracas so the government will have control of the assets.

HOUSTON, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Lyondell Chemical Co. has confirmed it paid $2.1 billion to buy Citgo's 41.25 percent stake in the Houston-area Lyondell-Citgo Refining LP refinery.

CARACAS, Venezuela, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Venezuela and China have agreed to jointly drill for crude oil in the eastern part of the South American nation.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- A global roundup of news and developments in the energy industry.

CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Brazil and Venezuela signed a 20-point agreement Monday to bolster economic ties in a pact that concerns both in neighboring Colombia and the United States.