On 14/1, a US official told CNN that the country had sold its first Venezuelan oil shipment for 500 million USD.

The US president met with leaders of major oil companies on 9/1, urging them to invest in rebuilding Venezuela's "deteriorating" energy sector.

Chevron, the only major US oil company currently operating in Venezuela, is seeking to ease restrictions on its existing license.

US president Donald Trump believes rebuilding Venezuela's oil industry will require significant investment, but US companies could be reimbursed by the government.

US actions in Venezuela continue to fuel safe-haven gold demand, while boosting energy stocks in the US.

Safe-haven demand pushed global gold and silver prices up in the first session of the week, while crude oil prices fell.

An Australian startup is developing an industrial algae cultivation machine, with the ambition to provide raw materials that replace petrochemical products for the plastics, food, and other sectors.