You didn't refine your own gas. Chevron did, and they did it in state-side in TX and Louisana because the utter garbage high-sulfur Venezeulan sludge has to be cut with decent oil and chemicals to be able to make more than roofing tar. It was cheaper to ship it to the US, refine it, and then ship it back than deal with Venezuelan grift and laziness, and that was PRE-chavez.
There was domestic DIESEL production because there was enough oil that didn't reak of eggfarts in the region they could make bottom-tier diesel.You also had zero emissions controls so the fact it made sulfur dioxide that would then oxidize and combine with water to make to sulfuric acid wasn't a issues. Just like Brazil which is where the shit-tier diesel mostly went.
I get the impulse, but at some point you just have to respect the hustle and realize that the people have the government they want and deserve. It can't be replaced because the people are too completely and utterly brain broke to operate under any other. Look at what Democracy did for Iraq and Afghanistan.