Jim Mellon Says Venezuela's Oil Recovery Is 5+ Years Away, But US Refiners Could Benefit: 'I'd Suggest Loading Up On Oil And Gas' - VanEck Oil Refiners ETF (ARCA:CRAK), Chevron (NYSE:CVX)

Core Viewpoint - Jim Mellon, a billionaire investor, emphasizes that Venezuela's oil industry is unlikely to see meaningful production gains in the near future, indicating a long and challenging recovery process [1][2]. Group 1: Recovery Timeline - Mellon states that it will take at least 5 to 10 years for Venezuela to return to its previous output level of 3 million barrels of crude oil per day [2]. - He highlights that even if Venezuela achieves this output, it would only marginally impact the global oil market, which currently produces over 100 million barrels per day [3]. Group 2: U.S. Refiners' Position - Venezuela's heavy crude oil output positions U.S. refiners to benefit first from any potential recovery in the sector [3]. - The U.S. has significant spare capacity for heavy oil, especially as it reaches peak shale production and reduces imports from Canada [4]. Group 3: Market Reactions - Following the political shift in Venezuela, American energy companies with advanced refining capabilities have experienced notable stock gains, with Valero Energy Corp. up by 17.20% and PBF Energy Inc. up by 17.64% [5]. - President Trump announced that Venezuela would be supplying 30 to 50 million barrels of "high quality, sanctioned oil" to the U.S., which will be sold at market prices [6].