Venezuela not giving up control of oil refinery

Venezuela’s energy minister says the government of President Hugo Chavez is not planning to give up operational control of an oil refinery in the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao.



Rafael Ramirez says Caracas has not abandoned its commitment to its lease of the Isla refinery.



In January, President Chavez warned that his government could reconsider its involvement with the refinery, which has suffered a series of recent shutdowns due to power outages.



Mr Chavez made the comments after Venezuela protested that Curacao allows US military counter-drug flights to operate from its airstrips.