🚨🇻🇪🇺🇸 Fire and explosions just shut down Venezuela's 310,000 barrel Cardon refinery as America leans harder than ever on Venezuelan oil With Hormuz choked and Houthi missiles slamming Saudi oil, Venezuela has become America's backyard backup tank... US imports of Venezuelan oil just surged 237% to a nine-year high, and Chevron is pouring in more than $7 billion to pump even more. So what happens when the plants keep catching fire? Cardon's blaze was out in under an hour, but the whole refinery went dark, and parts had already been idle for lack of crude. Venezuela can't replace the Gulf, but it's the closest oil America can reach without sailing past Iranian drones or Houthi missiles, so fixing PDVSA's rotting plants is now a national security job. Source: Reuters / Writer: Daniel