Alaska Politics Blog : Citgo 'suspends' free heating oil program

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Sean Cockerham

Sean Cockerham writes about Alaska state politics. He's worked for the ADN in Anchorage and Juneau, covered the legislature for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, and covered Washington state politics for the Tacoma News Tribune. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com

Kyle Hopkins

Kyle Hopkins covers rural affairs, general assignments and politics for the ADN. He covered the 2006 campaign for governor, has blogged extensively about Alaska politics, covered Anchorage city government and was a reporter based in the Mat-Su. He grew up in Southeast Alaska and previously wrote for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com and also find him on our rural Alaska blog, The Village.

David Hulen

David Hulen, the ADN's state and local news editor, is responsible for political coverage. He has been an editor and reporter at the ADN for more than 20 years. E-mail David at dhulen@adn.com

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Alaska political corruption

When the FBI raided state legislature offices in Aug. 2006, it publicly launched an investigation that ultimately reached the highest levels of Alaska politics, and continues to this day.

Citgo 'suspends' free heating oil program

Posted by Alaska_Politics

Anchorage Daily News

Posted: January 5, 2009 - 2:37 pm

From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage -

Venezuela President Hugo Chavez may not be giving free heating oil to Alaska villages this winter after all.

Citgo, the Venezuela-owned oil company, has announced it suspended the free heating oil program. That according to Citizens Energy, the non-profit that distributes the oil.

We previously reported that Citgo had told the Alaska Inter-Tribal Council in November that the program was going to return this winter.

What changed?

In its announcement, Citizens Energy said: "Due to falling oil prices and the world economic crisis, Citgo has been forced to re-evaluate all their social programs, including the heating oil program."

What happens next?

“We've received absolutely no signal from Citgo, other than it’s been suspended indefinitely while being re-evaulated," said Brian O'Connor, a Citizens Energy spokesman.