President Hugo Chavez's government has expropriated a sugar processing plant in eastern Venezuela.
Dozens of cheering workers in red baseball caps accompanied Agriculture Minister Elias Jaua on Thursday as he claimed the plant in eastern Sucre state.
Chavez ordered the expropriation of the plant in a decree published in the Official Gazette on Wednesday.
The decree says the government is taking over Central Azucarero Cariaco CA ( CA - news - people ) because it has been failing to produce at its full potential.
Venezuela's Agriculture Ministry will now oversee operations.
A representative of the company that runs the plant could not be immediately reached for comment.
