Some of those companies have left the retail gasoline business.
The president also disputed the argument that the pipeline would help lower retail gasoline prices.
Retail gasoline prices have risen more than 20 cents in the last week.
The high crude oil prices are translating into record retail gasoline costs in the United States.
Retail gasoline rose to a record of $3.67 on Friday, according to AAA, the automobile club.
And the report inflamed protesters already incensed at high retail gasoline prices.
Already, retail gasoline in the United States has bottomed out and begun to rise.
Premium-grade gasoline now accounts for only 17percentt of all retail gasoline sales.
In the shorter run, if Venezuelan production is disrupted, global oil prices — and retail gasoline prices — will rise.
Retail gasoline prices, already at two-year highs, and food prices could rise in the region because of supply disruptions.
The catalyst has been tested for the steam reforming of various hydrocarbons such as natural gas, iso-octane, retail gasoline, and hexadecane.
