Citgo pulls out of low-income heating oil program

Citizens Energy chairman Joseph Kennedy says Citgo has suspended its free heating oil program for low-income residents.

Kennedy, far right in a Globe file photo, said today that the Venezuelan government's Texas-based oil subsidiary cited falling oil prices and the world economic crisis for forcing the company to reevaluated all of its social programs.

The oil program has provided hundreds of thousands of low-income U.S. households with fuel assistance.

Kennedy urged those who have been helped by the program to write Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to share their stories.

Citgo began the national program in 2005 with Boston-based Citizens Energy, a nonprofit run by Kennedy.

To read the statement that Kennedy had posted on Citizens Energy's website, please click here.
(Text: AP. File photo of Kennedy: Michele McDonald, Globe staff)