US imports of Venezuelan crude have fallen to near historic lows and five Gulf Coast refineries now import nearly every barrel the imperiled South American nation exports here, new US Energy Information Administration data shows. Five refineries import most of Venezuelan crude sent to US Gulf Coast refiners lobbying against sanctions Refineries eye new imports from Canada, Africa, South America But as the Trump administration readies sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector, these refineries have begun importing more crude from some previously unexpected markets, including Chad, Colombia and Iraq, and are working on contingency plans as a potential US embargo looms large, analysts tell S&P Global Platts. “All of these refiners, and the others that import Venezuelan crude, have actively developed plans in case sanctions are enacted,” said John Auers, executive vice president of Turner, Mason & Company. “While they have all reduced Venezuelan imports, partly because less is available […]