View source for Citgo

{{more citations needed|date=October 2023}}
{{Short description|American oil company and gasoline retailer}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Citgo Petroleum Corporation
| logo = [[File:Citgo logo.svg|Citgo logo]]
| image = File:Citgo HQ.jpg
|image_caption = Citgo's headquarters in [[Houston|Houston, Texas]].
| type = [[Private company|Private]]
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1910}}<ref>{{cite book |url=http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/C/CI006.html |title=Cities Service Company |access-date=2008-08-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102135705/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/C/CI006.html |archive-date=2009-01-02 |work=[[Oklahoma Historical Society#Publications|Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture]] |last=Weaver |first=Bobby D. |year=2009 |isbn=978-0941498753 |publisher=Oklahoma Historical Society}}</ref> in [[Bartlesville, Oklahoma|Bartlesville]], [[Oklahoma]], U.S.
| location = [[Houston]], [[Texas]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| key_people = Carlos E. Jordá (CEO)
| industry = Oil and gasoline
| num_employees = 3,400 (2020)
| products = Fuels, lubricants and petrochemicals
| revenue = [[U.S. dollar|US$]]24.113 billion  (2021)<ref>[https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.citgo_petroleum_corporation.34d01fc01580dde5f04256738c9e26ad.html Citgo Petroleum Corporation]</ref>
| net_income = US$305 million (2024)<ref>{{Cite press release |title=CITGO Reports Results for FY 2019 |url=https://www.citgo.com/press/news-room/news-room/2020/citgo-reports-results-for-fy-2019 |archive-date=2020-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200427220300/https://www.citgo.com/press/news-room/news-room/2020/citgo-reports-results-for-fy-2019 |url-status=dead |publisher=CITGO |access-date=29 March 2022}}</ref>
| owner = [[Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A.]]
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.citgo.com}}
}}
[[File:Citgo_locations_2020_September.png|thumb|right|320px|CITGO branded stations map as of September 2020.]]

'''Citgo Petroleum Corporation''', or '''Citgo''' (stylized as '''CITGO'''), is a [[United States]]–based refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ulmer |first1=Alexandra |last2=Parraga |first2=Marianna |date=July 20, 2017 |title=Exclusive: Russia, Venezuela discuss Citgo collateral deal to avoid U.S. sanctions—sources |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-oil-rosneft-citgo-exclusive-idUSKBN1A52RN |publisher=[[Reuters]] |access-date=25 July 2017}}</ref> Headquartered in the [[Houston Energy Corridor|Energy Corridor]] area of [[Houston]], it is majority-owned by [[PDVSA]], a state-owned company of the [[Venezuela]]n government (although due to U.S. [[Economic sanctions|sanctions]] in 2019, they no longer economically benefit from Citgo).<ref name=TiesCutFormally2019>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-citgo/citgo-formally-cuts-ties-with-venezuela-based-parent-company-sources-idUSKCN1QF2IG|title=Citgo formally cuts ties with Venezuela-based parent company|publisher=Reuters|date=February 26, 2019|first=Marianna|last=Parraga|access-date=June 7, 2019}}</ref>

==History==
{{citations needed section|date=July 2021}}

===Cities Service period===
[[File:Cities Service, 425 Grinnell St, Key West, FL.jpg|thumb|Cities Service station in Key West, Florida, in 1965.]]
[[File:Cities service newspaper ad.png|thumb|left|1922 newspaper ad promoting the new Cities Service Oils.]]
The company traces its heritage back to the early 1900s and oil entrepreneur [[Henry Latham Doherty]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/168035/Henry-L-Doherty |title=Henry L. Doherty |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |date=January 2, 2019 |access-date=2019-01-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 27, 1939 |title=HENRY L. DOHERTY, OIL MAN, DIES AT 69 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1939/12/27/archives/henry-l-doherty-oil-man-dies-at-69-organized-the-cities-service.html |access-date=December 3, 2024 |website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last= |date=1940-01-08 |title=UTILITIES: Death in Philadelphia |url=https://time.com/archive/6762529/utilities-death-in-philadelphia/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |magazine=TIME |language=en}}</ref> After quickly climbing the ladder of success in the manufactured gas and [[electricity|electric]] [[utility]] world, Doherty in 1910 created '''Cities Service Company''' to supply gas and electricity to small public utilities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Henry L. and Grace Doherty Visiting Professorship |url=https://www.fit.edu/giving/what-to-support/scholarships-and-endowments/scholarship-information/name-75499-en.php |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=www.fit.edu}}</ref> He began by acquiring gas-producing properties in the mid-continent and southwest.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weaver |first=Bobby D. |title=Cities Service Company |url=https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=CI006 |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=Oklahoma Historical Society |language=en-us}}</ref>

The company then developed a [[pipeline transport|pipeline]] system, tapping dozens of [[natural gas field|gas pools]]. To make this gas available to consumers, Doherty moved to acquire distributing companies and tied them into a common source of supply. Cities Service became the first company in the mid-continent to use the slack demand period of summer to refill depleted fields near its market areas. Thus, gas could be conveniently and inexpensively withdrawn during peak demand times. In 1931, Cities Service completed the nation's first long-distance high-pressure natural gas transportation system, a 24-inch pipeline 1,000 miles long from [[Amarillo, Texas]] to [[Chicago]].

A logical step in the company's program for finding and developing supplies of natural gas was its entry into the oil business. This move was marked by major discoveries at [[Augusta, Kansas]], in 1914, and in El Dorado a year later. In 1928, a Cities Service subsidiary, [[Barnsdall Main Street Well Site#Indian Territory Illuminating Oil Company|Indian Territory Illuminating Oil Company]], discovered the [[Oklahoma City]] field,<ref name="OHS">{{cite web|url= https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=IN019 | title=Indian Territory Illuminating Oil Company|publisher=Bobby D. Weaver, Oklahoma Historical Society|access-date=October 26, 2019}}</ref> one of the world's largest. Another participated in the discovery of the East Texas field, which, in its time, was the most sensational on the globe.

Over three decades, the company sponsored the ''[[Cities Service Concerts]]'' on [[NBC]] radio. The long run of these musical broadcasts was heard on NBC from 1925 to 1956, encompassing a variety of vocalists and musicians. In 1944, it was retitled ''Highways in Melody'', and later the series was known as ''The Cities Service Band of America''.  In 1964, the company moved its headquarters from [[Bartlesville, Oklahoma|Bartlesville]], [[Oklahoma]], to [[Tulsa]].

At the height of Cities Service's growth, Congress passed the [[Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935]], which forced the company to divest itself of either its utility operations or its oil and gas holdings. Cities Service elected to remain in the petroleum business. The first steps to liquidate investments in its public utilities were taken in 1943 and affected over 250 different utility corporations.

At the same time, the government was nearing completion of a major refinery at Rose Bluff just outside [[Lake Charles, Louisiana]], which would become the foundation of the company's manufacturing operation. Using designs developed by Cities Service and the Kellogg Co., the plant was dedicated only 18 months after groundbreaking. A month before Allied troops landed in [[Normandy landings|France]], it was turning out enough 100-[[octane]] [[aviation fuel|aviation gasoline]] to fuel 1,000 daily [[Strategic bombing during World War II|bomber]] sorties from [[England]] to [[Germany]]. Government funding through the [[Defense Plant Corporation]] (DPC) also prompted Cities Service to build plants to manufacture [[butadiene]], used to make [[synthetic rubber]], and [[toluene]], a fuel octane booster and solvent.

[[File:Citgo-Petrol Station.jpg|thumb|Gas station in Bergen, NY]]
In the years that followed, Cities Service grew into a fully diversified oil and gas company with global operations. Its green, expanding circle marketing logo became a familiar sight across much of the nation. During this time CEOs such as [[W. Alton Jones]] and [[Burl S. Watson]] ran the company.

Cities Service Company inaugurated use of the Citgo brand in 1965 (officially styled "CITGO") for its refining, marketing and retail petroleum businesses (which became known internally as the RMT Division, for Refining, Marketing and Transportation). CITGO continued to be only a trademark, and not a company name, until the 1983 sale of what had been the RMT Division of Cities Service to Southland Corporation (now [[7-Eleven|7-Eleven Inc.]]).

===Demise of Cities Service and birth of Citgo Petroleum Corporation===
In 1982, [[T. Boone Pickens]], founder of Mesa Petroleum, offered to buy Cities Service Company. Citgo responded by offering to buy Mesa,<ref name="nocera198210">{{Cite magazine |last=Nocera |first=Joseph |date=October 1982 |title="It's Time To Make a Deal" |url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/its-time-to-make-a-deal/ |access-date=2024-05-22 |magazine=Texas Monthly |language=en}}</ref> which was the first use of what became known as the ''[[Pac-Man defense|Pac-Man]]'' take-over defense; i.e., a counter-tender offer initiated by a takeover target. Cities Service also threatened to dissolve itself by incremental sales rather than being taken over by Mesa, stating that it believed that the pieces would sell for more than Pickens was offering for the whole.  Cities Service Company located what they thought would be a "white knight" to give them a better deal and entered into a merger agreement with [[Gulf Oil]] Corporation.  Late in the summer of 1982, Gulf Oil terminated the merger agreement claiming that Cities Service's reserve estimates were over-stated.  Over fifteen years of litigation resulted.  (For a more detailed discussion of the Cities Service vs. Gulf Oil litigation, see [[Gulf Oil#Demise]].)  Ironically, two years later, Gulf Oil itself would collapse as a result of a Pickens-initiated takeover attempt.

In the chaos that ensued after Gulf Oil's termination of its deal, Cities Service eventually entered into a merger agreement with, and was acquired by, [[Occidental Petroleum Corporation]]—a deal that was closed in the fall of 1982. That same year, Cities Service Company transferred all of the assets of its Refining, Marketing and Transportation division (which comprised its refining and retail petroleum business) into the newly formed Citgo Petroleum Corporation subsidiary, to ease the divestiture of the division, which Occidental had no interest in retaining. Pursuant to an agreement entered into in 1982, Citgo and the Citgo and Cities Service brands were sold by Occidental in 1983 to [[Southland Corporation]], original owners of the [[7-Eleven]] chain of [[convenience store]]s.

===Venezuelan ownership===
{{see also|Citgo Six}}
[[File:Day Park City Chicago.jpg|thumb|left|A CITGO station in Chicago with the new street image]]
Fifty percent of Citgo was sold to [[Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A.]] (PDVSA) in 1986, which acquired the remainder in 1990, resulting in the current ownership structure.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.citgo.com/about/who-we-are/our-story |title=Our Story |website=Citgo |access-date=30 January 2019 |archive-date=17 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517093231/http://www.citgo.com/about/who-we-are/our-story |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Southland to Sell 50% of Citgo Unit to Venezuela |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-02-06-fi-4954-story.html |access-date=16 October 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=6 February 1986}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Weeks |first1=Sally |title=Venezuela to finalize purchase of 50 percent of Citgo - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/09/10/Venezuela-to-finalize-purchase-of-50-percent-of-Citgo/3133526708800/ |access-date=16 October 2024 |work=UPI |date=10 September 1986 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Krishnan |first1=Harihar |title=Southland completes sale of remaining interest in Citgo - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/01/31/Southland-completes-sale-of-remaining-interest-in-Citgo/8254633762000/ |access-date=16 October 2024 |work=UPI |date=31 January 1990 |language=en}}</ref> In September 2010, in connection with the centennial of its original owner, Cities Service Company, Citgo unveiled a new retail design.<ref>{{cite news |last=Seba |first=Erwin |title=CITGO Launches New Retail Design |url=https://www.cspdailynews.com/fuels/citgo-launches-new-retail-design |access-date=19 January 2020 |work=Convenience Store Products Daily News |publisher=[[Winsight Media]] |date=1 September 2010}}</ref> Within five years, Citgo planned for all locations to display the new street image.<ref>{{cite news| last=Lisanti| first=Linda| title=A Centennial Celebration| work=Convenience Store News| access-date=2012-04-30| date=November 1, 2010| url=http://www.csnews.com/article-a_centennial_celebration-1302.html| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219092240/http://www.csnews.com/article-a_centennial_celebration-1302.html| archive-date=2010-12-19}}</ref> With full ownership of Citgo, PDVSA at its peak controlled 10% of the US domestic oil market, creating a lucrative export chain from Venezuelan oil to American consumers,{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} as the two largest buyers of Venezuelan petroleum are the United States and [[China]], respectively.<ref name=":8">{{Cite book|last=Kline|first=Harvey F.|editor1-first=Harvey F|editor1-last=Kline|editor2-first=Christine J|editor2-last=Wade|editor3-first=Howard J|editor3-last=Wiarda|date=2018-04-24|title=Latin American Politics and Development|doi=10.4324/9780429495045|isbn=9780429495045|url=http://digitool.hbz-nrw.de:1801/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=3990488&custom_att_2=simple_viewer}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In October 2010, then [[President of Venezuela]], [[Hugo Chávez]], announced the intention to have PDVSA sell its Citgo subsidiary calling it a "bad business" and citing low profits since 2006. The minimum sale price was set at 10 billion US dollars; however, PDVSA has been unable to find a buyer at that price.<ref>{{cite news| last1=Pretel| first1=Enrique| last2=Andres| first2=Frank| first3=Jack| last3=Daniel| title=Chavez calls Venezuela-owned Citgo bad business| website=Reuters| access-date=2011-04-11| date=October 26, 2010| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/venezuela-citgo-idUSN255577720101026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last=Tovar| first=Ernesto J| title=Citgo was impacted by sale of assets and financial aid to PDVSA| newspaper=[[El Universal (Caracas)|El Universal]]| location=Caracas| access-date=2011-04-11| date=October 27, 2010| url=http://www.eluniversal.com/2010/10/27/en_eco_esp_citgo-was-impacted-b_27A4659411.shtml| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002134432/http://www.eluniversal.com/2010/10/27/en_eco_esp_citgo-was-impacted-b_27A4659411.shtml| archive-date=2012-10-02| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last1=Crooks| first1=Nathan| first2=Corina| last2=Rodriguez Pons| title=PDVSA Facing Tough Sale of Citgo, Minister Says| magazine=[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]| access-date=2011-04-11| date=October 27, 2010| url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-27/pdvsa-facing-tough-sale-of-u-s-refining-unit-citgo-energy-minister-says.html}}</ref>  It was confirmed in January 2015 that Citgo would not be sold, but rather bonds were sold by Citgo to give a dividend to PDVSA.<ref>{{cite news| last1=Dezember| first1=Ryan |last2=Sider| first2=Alison| title=Plug Pulled on Venezuela's Sale of Citgo| newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]| access-date=2015-03-17| date=January 20, 2015| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/citgo-auction-called-off-venezuela-owned-refiner-plans-debt-sale-1421798363|url-access=subscription }}</ref> The Bonds sold included a $1.5bn five-year bond and a $1.3bn term loan to be fully repaid in three and a half years.<ref>{{cite news| title=PdV pledges 100pc of Citgo in debt transaction| website=[[Argus Media]]| access-date=2015-03-17| date=February 11, 2015| url=http://www.argusmedia.com/pages/NewsBody.aspx?id=991537}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Venezuela's Citgo and the revolution's Praying Mantis School of Business| newspaper=[[Financial Times]]| date=January 29, 2015| access-date=2015-03-17| url=https://www.ft.com/content/620949cd-c11b-3e0f-8f9e-9618f3ee9256 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/620949cd-c11b-3e0f-8f9e-9618f3ee9256 |archive-date=2022-12-10|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

In a 2016 deal, Venezuela pledged 49.9% of Citgo to Russian oil firm [[Rosneft]] as collateral for a $1.5 billion loan.<ref>{{cite web |title=Exclusive: U.S. investors seek to acquire Russia's Rosneft lien in Citgo |website=[[Reuters]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701141232/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-oil-citgo-exclusive/exclusive-u-s-investors-seek-to-acquire-russias-rosneft-lien-in-citgo-idUSKCN1GA2J4 |archive-date=2023-07-01 |url-status=live |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-oil-citgo-exclusive/exclusive-u-s-investors-seek-to-acquire-russias-rosneft-lien-in-citgo-idUSKCN1GA2J4 |last1=Ulmer |first1=Alexandra }}</ref> Both Republicans and Democrats in the United States urged oversight on this deal, describing Citgo's sale to Russia as a risk to the national security of the United States.<ref name="NEWSoct17"/>

In November 2017, six executives working for Citgo, including five American citizens, were arrested while attending a meeting at the headquarters of PDVSA in Caracas, and as of June 2020 remained imprisoned without consular access and without a trial.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Holland |first1=Steve |title=Detained Venezuelan-U.S. Citgo executives to be tried as 'traitors': Maduro |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-oil-usa/detained-venezuelan-u-s-citgo-executives-to-be-tried-as-traitors-maduro-idUSKBN1DM2OE |access-date=12 January 2019 |publisher=Reuters |date=November 22, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Regan |first1=Trish |title=Trish Regan reveals the names of US hostages being held captive in Venezuela |url=https://video.foxbusiness.com/v/5988581578001/#sp=show-clips |access-date=13 January 2019 |website=[[Fox News]] |date=January 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Scott |title=Video shows the Citgo 6 imprisoned in Venezuela as families implore government for release amid pandemic |url=https://www.click2houston.com/news/world/2020/06/18/video-shows-6-american-oil-executives-jailed-in-venezuela/ |access-date=13 August 2020 |work=Click2Houston |issue=18 June 2020}}</ref> Although granted house arrest in Venezuela in December 2019, the six men were transferred to harsher conditions in [[El Helicoide]] prison following U.S. President Donald Trump's hosting of opposition leader Juan Guaido at the [[2020 State of the Union Address]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilkinson |first1=Tracy |title=Venezuela moves U.S. oil execs to a harsher jail after Trump hosts opposition leader |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-02-12/venezuela-moves-jailed-u-s-oil-execs-to-harsher-facility-after-trump-welcomes-opposition-leader |access-date=13 August 2020 |newspaper=LA Times |date=12 February 2020}}</ref><ref name="TLN1">{{cite news |last1=Zuvanich |first1=Adam |title=Fears of 'Citgo 6' families amplified by pandemic |url=https://theleadernews.com/fears-of-citgo-6-families-amplified-by-pandemic/ |access-date=13 August 2020 |work=The Leader News |date=27 March 2020}}</ref> 

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for their release on humanitarian grounds, stating that they were "wrongfully detained" and that they had been incarcerated without evidence presented against them for over two years.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hansler |first1=Jennifer |title=Pompeo calls for the release of Americans held in Venezuela amid coronavirus outbreak |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/20/politics/citgo-6-coronavirus/index.html |access-date=13 August 2020 |work=CNN |date=20 March 2020}}</ref> On March 9, 2022, one of the Citgo 6 was released following a visit by US officials, including US Ambassador to Venezuela [[James B. Story]], to Venezuela, where they met with Venezuelan President [[Nicolás Maduro]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pozzebon |first1=Steffano |title=Two Americans, including one member of the 'CITGO6,' released from prison in Venezuela |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/08/americas/citgo-6-prison-release-venezuela-intl-latam/index.html |access-date=2 October 2022 |work=CNN |date=9 March 2022}}</ref> Later that year, on October 1, the remaining five members of the Citgo 6 were released following a [[prisoner exchange]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. |last2=Fassihi |first2=Farnaz |title=American Prisoners Are Released From Venezuela and Iran |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/01/us/venezuela-iran-prisoner-swap.html |access-date=2 October 2022 |work=New York Times |date=1 October 2022}}</ref> 

Other Venezuelan oil executives were arrested in what [[Bloomberg News]] described as a "purge" designed to bolster more economic power behind the President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro.<ref>{{cite news| title=Citgo Arrests Tighten Maduro's Grip on Venezuela's Oil Economy| url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-22/citgo-arrests-tighten-maduro-s-grip-on-venezuela-s-oil-economy| access-date=23 November 2017| website=[[Bloomberg News]]| date=November 22, 2017| last=Rosati| first=Andrew}}</ref> [[Asdrúbal Chávez]], cousin of late Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, was chosen as president of Citgo in November 2017.<ref>{{cite news| title=Venezuela taps Chavez cousin as new Citgo president after arrests| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-oil-citgo/venezuela-taps-chavez-cousin-as-new-citgo-president-after-arrests-idUSKBN1DM2XS| access-date=23 November 2017| website=Reuters| date=November 22, 2017}}</ref>

Citgo also has a much earlier connection to Venezuela, dating to the turn of the 20th century. Predecessor Warner-Quinley Asphalt's principal business was competition to the "Asphalt Trust" by means of a bitumen resources concession it held in Venezuela.<ref name=":0" />

====Crisis in Venezuela====
{{further|Crisis in Venezuela (2012–present)}}
Following the death of [[Hugo Chávez]] in 2013, his successor [[Nicolás Maduro]] presided in office through an era of economic depression caused by decreasing oil prices and sanctions.<ref>{{cite press release| url=https://www.moodys.com/research/Moodys-Political-risk-poses-major-challenges-to-credit-in-Latin--PR_371832| title=Moody's: Political risk poses major challenges to credit in Latin America| date=August 29, 2017| publisher=[[Moody's Investors Service]]| access-date=2017-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830060201/https://www.moodys.com/research/Moodys-Political-risk-poses-major-challenges-to-credit-in-Latin--PR_371832| archive-date=2017-08-30| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=FPmarch2013>{{cite news| last1=Corrales| first1=Javier| title=The House That Chavez Built| url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2013/03/07/the-house-that-chavez-built/| access-date=6 February 2015| newspaper=[[Foreign Policy]]| date=March 7, 2013}}</ref><ref name=WHARTON>{{cite web |title=Post-Chavez, Venezuela Enters a Downward Spiral |url=http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/post-chavez-venezuela-enters-downward-spiral/ |website=[[Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania]] |access-date=21 February 2015}}</ref>  The destabilized economy resulted in [[hyperinflation]], an [[economic depression]], [[shortages in Venezuela]] and drastic increases in poverty, disease, child mortality, malnutrition, and crime.<ref name="ELPAISfeb2015">{{cite news |last1=Scharfenberg |first1=Ewald |title=Volver a ser pobre en Venezuela |trans-title=Becoming poor again in Venezuela |url=http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2015/01/30/actualidad/1422646346_475356.html |access-date=3 February 2015 |newspaper=[[El País]] |location=Madrid |date=February 1, 2015}}</ref><ref name="NYThyperinflation">{{cite news |last1=Herrero |first1=Ana Vanessa |last2=Malkin |first2=Elisabeth |title=Venezuela Issues New Bank Notes Because of Hyperinflation |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/16/world/americas/nuevos-billetes-venezuela-new-banknotes.html?_r=0 |access-date=17 January 2017 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 16, 2017 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name=poverty80>{{cite news| title=Chamber of Commerce: 80% of Venezuelans are in poverty| url=http://www.eluniversal.com/noticias/daily-news/chamber-commerce-venezuelans-are-poverty_247647| access-date=4 April 2016| newspaper=El Universal| date=April 1, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404181203/http://www.eluniversal.com/noticias/daily-news/chamber-commerce-venezuelans-are-poverty_247647| archive-date=2016-04-04| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="VENdepression">{{plainlist|{{bullet}}{{cite news| last1=Gillespie| first1=Patrick| title=Venezuela shuts border with Colombia as cash crisis escalates| url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/12/12/news/economy/venezuela-shuts-colombia-border-cash-crisis/| access-date=17 January 2017| work=[[CNNMoney]]| date=December 12, 2016}}
{{bullet}}{{cite news| last1=Gillespie| first1=Patrick| title=Venezuela: the land of 500% inflation| url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/04/12/news/economy/venezuela-imf-economy/| access-date=17 January 2017| work=CNNMoney| date=April 12, 2016}}<br />{{bullet}}{{cite news| last1=Rosati| first1=Andrew| title=Venezuela's Economy Was the Worst Performing of 2016, IMF Estimates| url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-11/goodbye-recession-hello-depression-venezuela-gdp-takes-10-hit| access-date=17 January 2017| work=Bloomberg News| date=January 11, 2017}}}}</ref> As a result of the crisis, Venezuela's debt to [[China]] and [[Russia]] – two political allies – increased.<ref name="NEWSoct17">{{cite news| last1=Valencia| first1=Robert| title=Don't Worry About War with North Korea — Venezuela Is the Real Problem| url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/don-t-worry-war-north-205256520.html| access-date=15 October 2017| magazine=[[Newsweek]]| date=October 14, 2017| quote=In the event that Venezuela is unable to pay off its debt to Russia, the Maduro administration is using CITGO as its guarantee. In April 2017, it was unclear how Venezuela's state-oil company PDVSA—CITGO's parent company—would pay Russian loans. As a result, Russia's state-oil company Rosneft could potentially own CITGO, which is based in Houston. Democrat and Republican legislators sent letters to Trump, members of Congress and senators alerting that this could pose a danger to U.S. national security should Russia acquire the company}}</ref> Due to the financial burden of this debt, Venezuela offered Citgo as collateral for Russian debt in 2016, raising the possibility that the Russian government could own Citgo due to [[Default (finance)|Venezuela's high risk of default]].<ref name="NEWSoct17"/>

In July 2018, Citgo president [[Asdrúbal Chávez]] had his work and tourist visas revoked by the United States and was ordered to leave the country within thirty days.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.lapatilla.com/2018/07/18/extraoficial-autoridades-de-estados-unidos-anularon-la-visa-de-asdrubal-chavez/| title=Extraoficial: Autoridades de Estados Unidos anularon la visa de Asdrúbal Chávez| first=César| last=Batiz| date=July 18, 2018| newspaper=[[La Patilla]]| access-date=2018-07-18| language=es-ES| trans-title=Unofficial: US authorities annulled Asdrúbal Chávez's visa}}</ref>

====2019 U.S. sanctions====
On January 28, 2019, the [[Federal government of the United States|U.S. Government]] imposed sanctions on PDVSA, freezing its assets in the U.S., and barring any U.S. firms and citizens from doing business with it.<ref>{{cite press release|date=January 28, 2019|title=Treasury Sanctions Venezuela's State-Owned Oil Company Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A.|url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm594|publisher=[[United States Department of the Treasury|U.S. Treasury]]|access-date=June 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=January 29, 2019|title=US Sanctions Venezuela's State-owned Oil Company|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/us-imposes-sanctions-on-venezuelan-state-oil-firm-pdvsa/4762484.html|website=[[Voice of America|VoA News]]|access-date=June 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=DiChristopher|first=Tom|date=January 29, 2019|title=Treasury sanctions Venezuela state-owned oil firm in bid to transfer control to Maduro opposition|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/28/treasury-set-to-sanction-venezuela-state-owned-oil-firm-sen-rubio.html|website=[[CNBC]]|access-date=June 7, 2019}}</ref> In February, Citgo cut ties with the PdVSA, and halted payments to them, placing them in a "blocked account". However, the sanctions limited Citgo's ability to refinance debt. In March, at the behest of the [[United States Department of the Treasury|U.S. Treasury]], 35 financial institutions secured a $1.2 billion loan to fund Citgo's daily operations and refinancing, allaying concerns about Citgo's ability to continue operating in the U.S.<ref name=TiesCutFormally2019/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Ahmann|first1=Tim|last2=McWilliams|first2=Gary|title=U.S. acts to keep Citgo operating in face of Venezuela sanctions|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-citgo/u-s-acts-to-keep-citgo-operating-in-face-of-venezuela-sanctions-idUSKCN1QV308|website=Reuters|access-date=June 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=March 29, 2019|title=An Embattled CITGO Secures Long-Term Financing|url=https://csnews.com/embattled-citgo-secures-long-term-financing|magazine=Convenience Store News|access-date=June 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Luck|first=Marissa|title=Citgo gets $1.2B loan amid concerns over Venezuela sanctions|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/Citgo-gets-1-2B-loan-amid-concerns-over-13726273.php|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|access-date=June 7, 2019}}</ref>

On June 6, 2019, the U.S. Treasury expanded the sanctions, clarifying that exports of [[diluent]]s to Venezuela could be subject to sanctions.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rampton|first=Roberta|date=June 6, 2019|title=U.S. tightens Venezuela oil sanctions, indicates more actions to come|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-usa/u-s-tightens-venezuela-oil-sanctions-indicates-more-actions-to-come-idUSKCN1T731E|website=Reuters|access-date=June 7, 2019}}</ref>

====2020 bond====
In 2020, Citgo borrowed money in the form of a bond, and used 50.1% of the company's equity as collateral. If the bond is not repaid, the institutional investors that lent the money will obtain ownership of the 50.1%.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-oil-citgo-exclusive/exclusive-u-s-investors-seek-to-acquire-russias-rosneft-lien-in-citgo-idUSKCN1GA2J4|title = Exclusive: U.S. Investors seek to acquire Russia's Rosneft lien in Citgo|newspaper = Reuters|date = 27 February 2018|last1 = Ulmer|first1 = Alexandra}}</ref>

====Possible bankruptcy====
In May 2024, Bloomberg reported that opposition-appointed executives of Petroleos de Venezuela were considering placing Citgo into [[Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] protection to slow down or completely block the sale of oil assets under the company's control. The opposition's plan would help it retain control of its most important overseas asset, which is up for auction.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-22/citgo-s-venezuelan-parent-said-to-weigh-bankruptcy-to-slow-sale|title=Citgo's Venezuelan parent said to weigh bankruptcy to slow down sale|date=May 22, 2024|access-date=May 30, 2024|website=Bloomberg|language=en}}</ref>

====Legal action against Citgo====
On May 30, 2024, two former Citgo executives who were imprisoned by the Venezuelan government, sued Citgo for over $400 million, claiming that their imprisonment was a conspiracy and was wrongful, refused to keep them protected from harm, and increased emotional distress on both of them.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/court/2024/05/30/489180/houston-area-brothers-sue-citgo-for-400-million-over-imprisonment-in-venezuela/|title= Houston-area brothers sue Citgo for $400 million over imprisonment in Venezuela|last=Zuvanich|first=Adam|date=May 30, 2024|access-date=May 30, 2024|website=Houston Public Media|language=en}}</ref>

==Controversies==
===United States–Venezuela relations===
{{further|United States–Venezuela relations}}
[[File:7-11 Citgo message.jpg|thumb|right|Sign on a 7-Eleven gas station pump]] [[Texaco]] sold some Citgo gas stations in the southeast when [[Chevron Corporation|Chevron]] gained exclusive rights to the [[Texaco]] brand name in the U.S. in June 2006. On September 27, 2006, the [[7-Eleven]] chain of convenience stores announced its 20-year contract with Citgo was coming to an end and would not be renewed. 7-Eleven spokeswoman Margaret Chabris said "Regardless of politics, we sympathize with many Americans' concern over derogatory comments about our country and its leadership recently made by Venezuela's president. Certainly [[Hugo Chavez|Chavez]]'s position and statements over the past year or so didn't tempt us to stay with Citgo."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/28/AR2006092800262.html| title=7-Eleven Drops Citgo As Gas Supplier| last=Koenig| first=David| newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]| date=September 28, 2006| agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

7-Eleven stations subsequently went either unbranded or switched to competitor brands, most notably [[Marathon Petroleum|Marathon]], which owned rival chain [[Speedway (store)|Speedway]] at the time. (Marathon coincidentally sold Speedway to 7-Eleven in 2021.) Marathon purchased Citgo's assets in [[Ohio]] during this time and led to the near-complete withdrawal of the Citgo brand from the state except in the [[Youngstown, Ohio|Youngstown]] area, which were supplied by Citgo terminals in neighboring [[Pennsylvania]] due to its proximity to the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 22, 2007 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/10/22/daily1.html |title=Marathon buying Ohio Citgo terminals |work=Columbus Business First}}</ref> In the years since, Marathon has had periods of considering buying Citgo outright, with the Venezuelan ownership being a major roadblock.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://cspdailynews.com/mergers-acquisitions/marathon-now-interested-citgo-assets | title=Marathon Now Interested in CITGO Assets? }}</ref> In 2024, the Folk Oil Company of Homer, Michigan began rebranding 43 PS Marts from Sunoco to Citgo.  The rebranding spans south east Michigan and Northwest Ohio.

Citgo launched a national ad campaign in the fall of 2006 emphasizing the company's [[corporate social responsibility]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.brandweek.com/bw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003314396| title=Citgo To Gush About Its Charitable Side| magazine=[[Adweek]]| date=October 25, 2006| access-date=2007-04-04| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927045907/http://www.brandweek.com/bw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003314396| archive-date=2007-09-27| url-status=dead}}</ref> National television ads featuring [[Joseph Patrick Kennedy II|Joe Kennedy]] also aired through February 2007 featuring ordinary Americans thanking Citgo and Venezuela for providing discounted [[heating oil]] to low-income people.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/23/AR2007022302000.html| title=Is Citgo Program for Poor, or for Chávez?| first1=Jeffrey H.| last1=Birnbaum| first2=Steven| last2=Mufson| newspaper=The Washington Post| date=February 24, 2007}}</ref>

===Environmental and safety concerns===
During the 2000s, Citgo faced several legal actions over the operation of its [[Corpus Christi, Texas]] [[oil refinery]]. In 2007, it was convicted of a violation of the [[Clean Air Act (United States)|Clean Air Act]] for operating an oil-water separator without proper [[pollution]]-control equipment. It was found not guilty of a charge of emitting illegal levels of [[benzene]] into the environment.<ref>{{cite news| last=Clanton| first=Brett| title=Citgo trial on dirty air tests federal law| newspaper=Houston Chronicle| access-date=2011-04-11| date=June 23, 2007| url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/4914124.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last=Seba| first=Erwin| title=Citgo found guilty of violating U.S. Clean Air Act| website=Reuters| access-date=2011-04-11| date=June 27, 2007| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/trial-citgo-idUKN2735127220070627}}</ref> In 2009, a fire at the [[alkylation]] unit of the same plant resulted in the release of toxic [[hydrofluoric acid]] and the injury of two workers, one with severe burns.<ref>{{cite news| last=Seba| first=Erwin| title=Citgo Corpus refinery alky unit shut after fire| website=Reuters| access-date=2011-04-11| date=July 19, 2009| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-refinery-operations-citgo-idUSTRE56I1T320090719}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last=Seba| first=Erwin| title=Fire still burns at Citgo Corpus Christi refinery| website=Reuters| access-date=2011-04-11| date=July 20, 2009| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/refinery-operations-citgo-idUKN2013253620090720}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last=McFarland| first=John| title=Feds urge new safety changes at Corpus Christi refinery| agency=Associated Press| newspaper=The Dallas Morning News| access-date=2011-04-11| date=December 10, 2009| url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/state/headlines/20091210-Feds-urge-new-safety-changes-at-2682.ece}}</ref> In February 2011, the company was fined over $300,000 for the incident.<ref>{{cite news| last=Seba| first=Erwin| title=Citgo fined for 2009 Corpus Christi blast, fire| website=Reuters| access-date=2011-04-11| date=February 24, 2011| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/citgo-fine-fire-idUKN249507320110225}}</ref>

In 2015, [[Amazon Watch]] said 11 percent of crude oil processed at the Corpus Christi refinery and 1 percent processed at the Lake Charles refinery was sourced from the [[Amazon rainforest]].<ref>{{cite journal |date=September 2016 |title=From Well to Wheel: The Social, Environmental, and Climate Costs of Amazon Crude |url=https://amazonwatch.org/news/2016/0928-from-well-to-wheel |journal=[[Amazon Watch]] |access-date=30 January 2019}}</ref>

=== Oil Spill ===

==== Citgo Refinery - Calcasieu River Oil Spill - Calcasieu River, LA - June 2006 ====
On June 19, 2006, over 99,000 barrels of waste oil and millions of gallons of untreated oily wastewater overflowed from storage tanks and discharged into a containment area in CITGO’s Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex. An estimated 54,000 barrels of waste oil and an undetermined amount of oily wastewater flowed out of the containment area and into the Indian Marais, the [[Calcasieu River]], and adjoining waterways in the Calcasieu Estuary.

Approximately 150 linear miles of shoreline habitats were affected by the spill, including hundreds of acres of marsh, intertidal, and subtidal sediments. The oil directly impacted fish, benthic organisms, and several species of birds, including secretive marsh birds such as rails and larger birds such as gulls.

The released oil was in a highly volatile and acutely toxic form, requiring initial closure of oiled areas to responders and natural resource damage assessment teams. The highly toxic compounds in the oil were soluble, resulting in significant mixing into the water column. Between June 23 and June 28, numerous fish kills were observed in and around the floating oil.

In the days following the spill, fishing and other recreational activities in the area were shut down.

On August 31, 2021, the U.S Department of Justice finalized a Consent Decree valued at $19.69 million to restore natural resources injured by the Citgo Refinery oil spill.

This Consent Decree settled claims of injuries and will go towards restoration projects that benefit habitats, fish, wildlife, and outdoor recreational activities impacted by the oil spill.

On February 24, 2022, the trustees released the Final Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan,<ref>https://losms-api.losco.org/api/File/OpenOrDownload/Public/11154</ref> with selected projects to restore the resources injured by the spill. The selected restoration projects include

* Restoring 392 acres of saline marsh, including tidal creeks, in shallow open water in Cameron Parish, Louisiana,
* Creating approximately 18 acres of oyster reef habitat in Cameron Parish, Louisiana and,
* Contributing to an ongoing large project to create suitable nesting habitat for coastal island nesting birds in Terrebonne Bay, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana

With the projects identified in this Final Restoration Plan, the trustees aim to restore approximately 432 acres of habitat near the Calcasieu estuary to compensate for injuries to shoreline habitats, oysters and birds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Citgo Refinery - Calcasieu River {{!}} Oil Spills {{!}} Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program |url=https://darrp.noaa.gov/oil-spills/citgo-refinery-calcasieu-river |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=darrp.noaa.gov}}</ref>

==Refinery locations==
*[[Lake Charles, Louisiana]]
*[[Corpus Christi, Texas]]
*[[Lemont Refinery]], [[Romeoville, Illinois]]

=== Former refineries ===
In 1901, the Warner-Quinlan Asphalt Company purchased several properties in [[Linden, New Jersey]] for use as an asphalt manufacturing plant at the Tremley Point development, later a part of the planned Montgomery Terminal.<ref name=":0">{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17796057/asphalt_company_buys_a_big_site/| title=Asphalt Company Buys a Big Site| date=February 1, 1901| newspaper=Buffalo Courier| access-date=2018-02-26| page=7| via=Newspapers.com {{open access}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17797537/new_york_and_marine_terminals_the/| title=New York and Marine Terminals; the Tremley Site Development - Article II| date=September 27, 1912| newspaper=The Wall Street Journal| access-date=2018-02-26| page=2| via=Newspapers.com open access}}</ref> In 1937, Cities Services took over substantially all assets of Warner-Quinlan under a bankruptcy reorganization, including the Linden plant.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17799046/warner_quinlan_plan_confirmed/| title=Warner Quinlan Plan Confirmed| date=August 25, 1937| work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle| access-date=2018-02-26| page=21| via=Newspapers.com open access}}</ref> The plant suffered several major fires and explosions. A tank exploded in July 1914,<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17797943/fatal_explosion_of_oil_tank/|title=Fatal Explosion of Oil Tank| date=July 29, 1914| newspaper=The Courier-News| location=Bridgewater, New Jersey| access-date=2018-02-26| page=1| via=Newspapers.com open access}}</ref> and two major fires occurred at the plant, one in June, 1921 (still under Warner-Quinlan), and another in October, 1938 (under Cities Services).<ref>{{cite news| title=Huge Oil Blaze at Linden Seen Plainly Here| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17798129/huge_oil_blaze_at_linden_seen_plainly/| date=July 19, 1921| work=The Central New Jersey Home News| access-date=2018-02-26| page=1| via=Newspapers.com open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17798241/3000000_jersey_oil_plant_burns/| title=$3,000,000 Jersey Oil Plant Burns| date=July 19, 1921| work=Asbury Park Press| access-date=2018-02-26| page=1| via=Newspapers.com open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Soaking Rain Forces Submerged Oil to Surface Adding to Troubles of Those Fighting Asphalt Plant Fire| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17798514/soaking_rain_forces_submerged_oil_to/| date=July 20, 1921| work=The Courier-News| access-date=January 30, 2019| page=1| via=Newspapers.com open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=New Jersey 'Oil Village' is Beset by Conflagration| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17796213/new_jersey_oil_village_is_beset_by/| date=October 13, 1938| work=Valley Morning Star| location=Harlingen, Texas| access-date=2018-02-26| page=8| via=Newspapers.com open access}}</ref> The 1921 fire destroyed almost the entire plant.

==Other brands==
[[File:Mystik_brand-Old_design.jpg|thumb|right|185px|[[Davenport, Florida]] Mystik location, old design]]In addition to Citgo's own brand of lubricants, they also own the '''Clarion''' and '''Mystik''' brand names.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lubricants|url=https://www.citgo.com/products/lubricants/lubricants|website=Citgo|access-date=June 7, 2019}}</ref>

Although primarily associated with lubricants, starting on October 1, 2003, Citgo began offering the Mystik brand name as a retail name.<ref>{{cite press release|date=September 29, 2003|title=CITGO Offers Mystik Brand as Alternative|url=https://www.citgo.com/press/news-room/news-room/2003/citgo-offers-mystik-brand-as-alternative|website=Citgo|access-date=June 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=September 30, 2003|title=New Retailing Brand for CITGO|url=https://csnews.com/new-retailing-brand-citgo|magazine=Convenience Store News|access-date=June 7, 2019}}</ref>

==Sponsorships==
[[File:Citgo boston.jpg|thumb|200px|The [[Boston Citgo sign]] as seen from Lansdowne Street in Boston]]

Citgo has sponsored several [[motorsport]] ventures. The company was a sponsor of the No. 21 [[Wood Brothers Racing|Wood Brothers racing]] team in [[NASCAR]] for many years, with drivers such as [[Michael Waltrip]], [[Elliott Sadler]], [[Kyle Petty]], [[Neil Bonnett]], [[Morgan Shepherd]] and [[Dale Jarrett]]. They also sponsored the No. 99 [[Roush Racing]] team of [[Jeff Burton]] from late 2000 until pulling out of the sport in 2003. The company sponsored the Citgo [[Pontiac (automobile)|Pontiac]]-[[Riley Technologies|Riley]] of Venezuelan car driver [[Milka Duno]] in the [[Rolex Sports Car Series]]. Duno has three overall wins in the Rolex Series and finished second at the 2007 [[24 Hours of Daytona]], becoming the highest-finishing female in the history of the famous race. Midway through the 2007 season, Citgo sponsored the No. 23 [[SAMAX Motorsport]] entry in the [[IndyCar Series]] for Duno. In 2008 and 2009 this sponsorship went with Duno to the [[Dreyer & Reinbold Racing]] No. 23 entry. She took the sponsorship to [[Dale Coyne Racing]] in 2010. Citgo was the major sponsor of [[E. J. Viso]] of [[KV Racing]] (2012) and [[Andretti Autosport]] (2013), and remained with Viso when he began racing in the [[Stadium Super Trucks]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://stadiumsupertrucks.com/gordon-wins-traxxas-race-at-long-beach/|title=Gordon Wins TRAXXAS Race At Long Beach|work=[[Stadium Super Trucks]]|date=April 14, 2014|access-date=November 30, 2020}}</ref>

Citgo is a major sponsor of the Bassmaster Fishing Tournaments, and is also the sponsor of a charity [[golf]] tournament benefiting the [[Muscular Dystrophy Association]] (MDA).  The company's relationship with the MDA goes back to its 1983 purchase by Southland, an existing MDA sponsor.  Citgo is MDA's biggest corporate sponsor, and its executives have appeared on the [[Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.mda.org/publications/Quest/q141citgo.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927034952/http://www.mda.org/publications/Quest/q141citgo.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=2007-09-27| title=CITGO: On the Road to a Cure| last=Wechsler| first=Kathy| magazine=Quest| date=January–February 2007| volume=14| issue=1}}</ref> Consistent with its former sponsorship of the [[Boston Marathon]], Citgo has for the past few years sponsored an elite level multisport team that competes in both adventure racing and triathlon events throughout the United States.{{Cn|date=October 2022}}

A [[Boston Citgo sign|Citgo billboard sign]] overlooking [[Kenmore Square]] in Boston is widely associated with the [[Boston Red Sox]] baseball team, as it is visible from within [[Fenway Park]] overlooking its left field wall, the [[Green Monster]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tench |first=Megan |date=March 16, 2005 |title=Kenmore Sq. sign gets high-tech makeover |newspaper=The Boston Globe |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/03/16/kenmore_sq_sign_gets_high_tech_makeover/ |access-date=September 24, 2006}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Buell |first=Spencer |date=November 14, 2018 |title=The Citgo Sign Will (Probably) Finally Become a Landmark |language=en-US |work=[[Boston Magazine]] |url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2018/11/14/citgo-sign-will-probably-become-landmark/ |access-date=November 16, 2018}}</ref><ref name="veto">{{cite news |last=Logan |first=Tim |date=November 29, 2018 |title=Citgo sign will stay, but not as a landmark |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2018/11/29/tentative-deal-reached-citgo-sign/QwIW2Ll3aErdA5rFOYZm7L/story.html |url-access=limited |access-date=November 29, 2018}}</ref> The sign's association with the team has also led to similar signs being installed at other baseball parks, including the [[Houston Astros]]' [[Daikin Park]] as part of their sponsorship of the team (until 2012, the sign was also in left field, much like the Red Sox; [[Occidental Petroleum]] now holds the placement).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Astros, Citgo reach three-year agreement |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-citgo-reach-three-year-agreement/c-34014430 |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=MLB.com |date=27 June 2012 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kepner |first=Tyler |date=2018-10-12 |title=For the Astros and the Red Sox, a Playoffs Reunion |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/12/sports/baseball/astros-red-sox-alcs.html |access-date=2022-10-20 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and [[Whataburger Field]], home field of one of the Astros' minor league affiliates, the [[Corpus Christi Hooks]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=White |first=Heather Ann |date=April 29, 2007 |title=Hooks team gets its own landmark Citgo sign |newspaper=[[Corpus Christi Caller-Times]] |url=http://www.caller.com/news/2007/apr/29/hooks-team-gets-its-own-landmark-citgo-sign/ |access-date=April 11, 2011}}</ref>

=== Donald Trump inauguration ===
According to filings with the [[U.S. Federal Election Commission]], Citgo donated US${{formatnum:500000}} (US${{formatnum:524180}} in 2020 dollars) towards Donald Trump's presidential inauguration.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39648675| title=Venezuela state oil company gave cash to Trump inauguration| work=[[BBC News]]| date=April 19, 2017| quote=Citgo Petroleum, a US-based subsidiary of the Venezuelan state-owned oil company, is named in papers filed with the Federal Election Commission.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=FEC Report of Donations Accepted {{pipe}} (page 21 of 508)|url = https://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/286/201704180300150286/201704180300150286.pdf|date=18 April 2017 |access-date=19 January 2020 |website=docquery.fec.gov |publisher = United States Federal Election Commission }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wernau |first1=Julie |title=Venezuela's Citgo Donates $500,000 to Trump Inauguration - MoneyBeat - WSJ |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2017/04/20/venezuelas-citgo-donates-500000-to-trump-inauguration/ |access-date=19 January 2020 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |publisher=[[News Corp (2013–present)|News Corp]] (via [[Dow Jones & Company]]) |date=20 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Cash-strapped Venezuela a major funder of Trump inauguration |url=https://apnews.com/835a25142094487d9788d8937f7350fd/Cash-strapped-Venezuela-a-major-funder-of-Trump-inauguration |access-date=19 January 2020 |work=[[Associated Press]] |date=19 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gilchrist |first1=Karen |title=Venezuela donated $500,000 to Trump fund amid spiralling economic woes and rising death toll |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/20/venezuela-donated-500000-to-trump-inaugration-amid-economic-woes-rising-death-toll.html |access-date=19 January 2020 |work=[[CNBC]] |publisher=[[NBCUniversal Television Group#NBCUniversal Broadcast, Cable, Sports and News|NBCUniversal Broadcast, Cable, Sports and News]] |date=20 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Associated Press |title=Cash-strapped Venezuela a major funder of Trump inauguration {{pipe}} Fox News |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/cash-strapped-venezuela-a-major-funder-of-trump-inauguration |access-date=19 January 2020 |work=[[Fox News]] |publisher=[[Fox Corporation]] |date=19 April 2017|author1-link=Associated Press }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Associated Press |last1=Fox News|title=Venezuela's government donated $500G to Trump's inauguration, report shows {{pipe}} Fox News |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/venezuelas-government-donated-500g-to-trumps-inauguration-report-shows |access-date=19 January 2020 |work=[[Fox News]] |publisher=[[Fox Corporation]] |date=20 April 2017|author1-link=Fox News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Calfas |first1=Jennifer |title=Donald Trump: Venezuela Donated Thousands to Inauguration {{pipe}} Fortune |url=https://fortune.com/2017/04/20/venezuela-donated-donald-trump-inauguration/ |access-date=19 January 2020 |work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |publisher=Fortune Media Group Holdings |date=20 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Campoy |first1=Ana |title=FEC report: Venezuela's Citgo donated $500,000 to Donald Trump's inaugural committee — Quartz |url=https://qz.com/963702/fec-report-venezuelas-citgo-donated-500000-to-donald-trumps-inaugural-committee/ |access-date=19 January 2020 |work=[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]] |publisher=[[Uzabase, Inc.]] |date=19 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Borger |first1=Julian |title=Socialist Venezuela chipped in $500,000 to Trump's inauguration {{pipe}} World news {{pipe}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/19/venezuela-donation-donald-trump-inauguration |access-date=19 January 2020 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=19 April 2017}}</ref>

==Simón Bolívar Foundation==
In 2006, Citgo established the Simón Bolívar Foundation (SBF) as a [[501(c)(3) organization|501(c)(3)]] non-profit, charitable private foundation to "transform lives by connecting non-profits and community leaders to better improve the quality of life through the support of health initiatives". In 2020, the SBF provided grants of one $1M to provide humanitarian aid to Venezuela.<ref name="y120820">{{cite news |title=Simón Bolívar Foundation Announces $1 Million in Humanitarian Health Grants |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sim-n-bol-var-foundation-170000516.html |access-date=28 July 2021 |work=finance.yahoo.com |date=12 August 2020}}</ref> The SBF runs a programme to help Venezuelan cancer patients travel abroad from for transplants and for other life-saving treatment. The programme was endangered by US sanctions on Venezuela. In 2021, the [[United Nations]] called on the US and other countries "to respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of every person affected by direct international action".<ref>{{cite web |title=Venezuela: Save lives of cancer patients endangered by U.S. sanctions – experts |url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=27328&LangID=E |website=www.ohchr.org |access-date=28 July 2021 |date=21 July 2021}}</ref>

==Headquarters==
[[File:CitgoHQ.jpg|thumb|Citgo headquarters in the [[Energy Corridor]] area of [[Houston]]]]
Citgo has its headquarters in the [[Energy Corridor]] area of [[Houston]], [[Texas]], [[United States]].<ref>"[http://www.citgo.com/CustomerSupport/ContactUs.jsp Contact Us] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208215626/http://www.citgo.com/CustomerSupport/ContactUs.jsp |date=2010-02-08 }}." Citgo. Retrieved on November 18, 2009.</ref>

Before it was headquartered in Houston, Citgo had its headquarters in [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]]. In 2003, the [[Governor of Oklahoma|Oklahoma governor]] [[Brad Henry]] met an executive of Citgo to discuss possible incentives that would keep the Citgo headquarters in Oklahoma.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=OBNB&d_place=OBNB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0FCF61DA65CE8A0C&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM| title=Governor, Citgo exec to meet to discuss possible incentives| newspaper=[[The Journal Record]]| location=Tulsa| date=August 15, 2003| access-date=February 3, 2010}}</ref> For eight months the company debated whether to move its headquarters or to keep its headquarters in Oklahoma. In 2004, the company announced that its headquarters were moving to Houston.<ref>{{cite news| title=Citgo moving headquarters to Houston as Tulsa loses bid| first1=Jenalia| last1=Moreno| first2=L.M.| last2=Sixel| agency=Hearst News Service| url=https://www.mrt.com/news/article/Citgo-moving-headquarters-to-Houston-as-Tulsa-7812072.php| date=May 1, 2004| newspaper=[[Midland Reporter-Telegram]]| access-date=January 30, 2018}}</ref>

At that point the company had not decided which location in Houston would have the headquarters. The company wanted {{convert|300000|sqft|sqm}} of office space to house 700 employees. Citgo considered the [[1500 Louisiana]] building in [[Downtown Houston]], the [[Williams Tower]] in [[Uptown Houston]], the [[BMC Software]] headquarters complex in [[Westchase, Houston|Westchase]], and the Aspentech Building in the [[Energy Corridor]].<ref>{{cite news| title=Citgo moving headquarters to Houston as Tulsa loses bid| first1=Jenalia| last1=Moreno| first2=L.M.| last2=Sixel| agency=Hearst News Service| date=May 1, 2004| url=https://www.mrt.com/news/article/Citgo-moving-headquarters-to-Houston-as-Tulsa-7812072.php| access-date=January 30, 2019}}</ref> In June of that year the company signed a lease in the five-storey Aspentech building so it could serve as a headquarters.<ref>{{cite news| last=Sarnoff| first=Nancy| title=Citgo chooses west Houston Energy Corridor digs| url=https://www.chron.com/business/energy/article/Citgo-chooses-west-Houston-Energy-Corridor-digs-1971235.php| newspaper=Houston Chronicle| date=June 8, 2004| access-date=January 30, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last=Droege| first=Tom| title=Citgo prepares for move| url=https://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/citgo-prepares-for-move/article_67b2f225-3bd5-54b7-b3e4-bef310c9c369.html| newspaper=[[Tulsa World]]| date=July 9, 2004| access-date=January 30, 2019}}</ref> In September 2004 the company began moving its headquarters, and by September 24 Citgo had already relocated 150 employees to the Energy Corridor offices.<ref>{{cite news| last=Moreno| first=Jenalia| url=https://www.chron.com/business/energy/article/Houston-bound-Citgo-eager-to-get-in-growth-mode-1963804.php| title=Houston-bound Citgo eager to get in growth mode| newspaper=Houston Chronicle| date=September 24, 2004| page=Business 9| access-date=January 30, 2019}}</ref>
{{clear}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Texas|Oklahoma|Companies|Energy}}
*[[List of automotive fuel brands|Brands of gasoline]]
*[[Oil reserves in Venezuela]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.citgo.com}}
* [http://www.pdvsa.com Petróleos de Venezuela] (Spanish)
* [http://www.gassigns.org/citgo/citgo1.htm Citgo Logos]
* [http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/C/CI006.html Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Cities Service Company] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102135705/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/C/CI006.html |date=2009-01-02 }}
* Articles from CEOs of Citgo
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20070506151305/http://www.worldenergysource.com/articles/text/tippeconnic_WE_v3n2.cfm David J. Tippeconnic: The Sustainability of Affordable Fuels in America - World Energy Magazine Vol. 3 No. 1]
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20070506175246/http://www.worldenergysource.com/articles/text/rodriguez_WE_v8n3.cfm Félix M. Rodríguez: World-Class Reserves, Local Service - World Energy Magazine Vol. 8 No. 3]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100328030337/http://www.bu.edu/today/node/9372 Icons Among Us: The CITGO Sign] Article with slideshow
* [http://www.citgojustice.org Citizens for Environmental Justice] Group concerned with environmental issues surrounding Citgo Corpus Christi refinery

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[[Category:Citgo|*]]
[[Category:Automotive fuel retailers]]
[[Category:Companies based in Houston]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1910]]
[[Category:Energy companies established in 1910]]
[[Category:Gas stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Non-renewable resource companies established in 1910]]
[[Category:Oil companies of the United States]]
[[Category:1910 establishments in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:1986 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:American subsidiaries of foreign companies]]
[[Category:PDVSA]]