Venezuela to take over whole energy sector - Chavez

CARACAS, Jan 13 (Reuters) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said TOday he would nationalize ''absolutely all'' of the country's energy industry, broadening the range of state takeovers at the heart of his socialist revolution.

The anti-US leader, who has been president since 1999 was re-inaugurated on Wednesday for a term that runs through 2013.

He announced plans this week to nationalize electricity utilities and the OPEC nation's biggest telecommunications company.

''We have decided to nationalize the whole Venezuelan energy and electricity sector, all of it, absolutely all,'' he said in an address to parliament.

Chavez is expanding the scope of his push to take over the hydrocarbons industry in the fourth-biggest crude exporter to the United States, saying he wanted state control of foreign-run gas projects as well as crude fields.

His remarks today would suggest he sees no room for any foreign ownership anywhere in Venezuela's main industry.

REUTERS AB RN2344