Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday appointed his economy vice president, Tareck El Aissami, who has been indicted in the United States on drug trafficking charges, as oil minister, amid acute fuel shortages across the country. Maduro named Asdrubal Chavez, cousin of the late President Hugo Chavez, as interim president of state oil firm PDVSA, according to the appointments published in the government’s official gazette. By Luc Cohen, Deisy Buitrago, Angus Berwick. Full Text -> Reuters

 Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Wednesday he would create a presidential commission to restructure the country’s beleaguered oil industry, which will be led by Vice President for the Economy Tareck El Aissami. By Deisy Buitrago, Luc Cohen and Mayela Armas. Full text -> Swissinfo

Economy Vice President El Aissami considered to lead board. Venezuela’s January oil production down 36% from a year ago. By Fabiola Zerpa