Citgo Petroleum Corporation, the Venezuelan state oil giant Pdvsa's refining arm in the United States, met last Saturday in New York with more than 200 groups that have benefited from the Venezuela-sponsored program to provide discounted heating oil to the poor in the United States.

Citgo CEO Félix Rodríguez told official TV channel Venezolana de Televisión in an interview that the meeting was intended to assess both the outcome of the energy program and the needs of the beneficiaries.

"We are in the Bronx, a place with a great meaning for this plan, as (Venezuelan) President (Hugo) Chávez visited this area some months ago and vowed both Citgo and the Venezuelan Government would supply oil to the poor," Rodríguez said as quoted by official news agency ABN.

Rodríguez announced that Citgo representatives have heard many opinions encouraging them to reinforce the program to supply discounted heating oil to the poor, as the Americans believe this project fosters integration.

"Many people think this program should be kept, as it helps maintain the peoples together," Rodríguez added.

The Venezuelan Government program to provide discounted heating oil to the least favored Americans started last November 2005, when an agreement was initialed with the authorities of Boston. The project was then extended to New York, Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, Delaware, Connecticut and Philadelphia.