"These difficulties are for us a chance for exemplary economic development in Venezuela. We have a challenge, which is an additional increase in oil production by 1 million barrels. Thus, our economy will receive additional financial resources … We have a plan to increase the extraction of gold three times, as well as gas, steel, iron and aluminum," Maduro said in an interview with the Lebanese al-Mayadeen broadcaster.
Venezuela's oil industry has recently been subject to the US sanctions, introduced by Washington to exert pressure on the Venezuelan authorities amid political crisis in the country.
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The United States and a number of other countries formally recognized Guaido as interim president. Russia, China and several other countries supported Maduro as the legitimate president of Venezuela.
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On 28 January, the United States announced the imposition of sanctions on Venezuela’s state-owned oil and natural gas company PDVSA, blocking the company's assets worth $7 billion remaining under the US jurisdiction. According to the White House' forecast, the company will lose another $11 billion in oil supplies. In addition, Washington introduced a ban on making deals with the company.
