EXCLUSIVE-Chevron in talks with US government for expanded Venezuela license, sources say

By Marianna Parraga

HOUSTON, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Oil producer Chevron CVX.N is in talks with the U.S government to expand a key license to operate in Venezuela so it can increase crude exports to its own refineries and sell to other buyers, four sources close to the negotiations said on Wednesday.

The talks come as Washington and Caracas progress in negotiations to supply up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil to the United States and President Donald Trump presses American oil companies to invest in the South American country's energy sector.

Chevron is the only U.S. oil major operating in Venezuela, which it does under an authorization from the U.S. government that exempts it from sanctions on the country.

Chevron did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Washington is also pushing to have other U.S. companies involved in oil exports from Venezuela, three separate industry sources said.