Citgo, the US refining and marketing arm of Venezuela's state PDVSA, has signed an agreement with the US state of Maine to supply 8-mil gal of heating oil to poor families at a 40 per cent discount, PDVSA stated.

The agreement was signed Thursday in the state capital of Augusta and should benefit some 48,000 families, Citgo said. Similar deals were drawn up last year for poor communities in Boston, Massachusetts, and in the New York City's borough of The Bronx.
The heating fuel offered to Maine is particularly targeted at Native American communities and homeless shelters. The deal will cost Citgo an estimated $5.5-mil, PDVSA said.
"It is imperative that we act to assure our citizens a safe and warm winter," said Maine Governor John Baldacci, as reported in the Citgo statement. "We are very grateful to Citgo and the government of Venezuela for their generosity."
Venezuela plans to extend discount heating oil sales to Delaware, Vermont, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, and has set aside some $200-mil for the project this winter.
The agreements are part of an initiative by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to help ease poor people's burden throughout the Americas.