Venezuelan oil refinery partly paralysed

Venezuela's state oil company says the failure of an air-circulation system has affected production at the South American country's largest refinery, but the problem will not affect oil shipments.

Petroleos de Venezuela SA says the problem prompted the shutdown of some units at the Paraguana Refining Complex in the northwestern state of Falcon.

The complex has the capacity to process approximately 900,000 barrels of crude oil a day and produces 200,000 barrels of gasolene daily.

Venezuela is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and a major supplier of heavy crude to the United States.

Officials are investigating the cause of Friday's failure.

- AP