Iran's Oil Minister Javad Owji has traveled to Venezuela to discuss ways to �strengthen energy relations� between the two friendly nations, according to the Latin American country�s foreign ministry.



In a statement released on Wednesday, the ministry said Owji will meet Venezuelan officials and visit the facilities belonging to the state-run energy firm PDVSA.

�The delegation will be in Caracas until April 14, maintaining intense work schedule, which includes meetings and visits to PDVSA facilities, as well as meetings with government authorities,� the statement read.

Owji has already met with his Venezuelan counterpart, Pedro Rafael Tellechea, who also heads PDVSA, a source at the firm told Reuters, adding that the Iranian oil minister plans to visit the El Palito refinery.

Iran and Venezuela, both subject to illegal US sanctions, signed a 20-year cooperation deal last June during a state visit by President Nicolas Maduro to Tehran. The document covered the energy sector, among other areas of cooperation.

Venezuela, which has the world�s largest crude reserves, has struggled in recent years to produce enough gasoline and diesel due to refinery outages as a result of US bans and a political turmoil which also has its roots in Washington.

Tehran has strengthened ties with Caracas, providing crude and condensate as well as parts and feedstock for Venezuela�s aging 1.3 million barrel per day oil (bpd) refining network.

It has also overseen a project to modernize the largest refining complex in Venezuela.

By Mehr