FACTBOX: Venezuela's nationalizations under Hugo Chavez

(Reuters) - Venezuela on Monday announced the expropriation and seizure of assets held by Mexican cement giant Cemex, extending President Hugo Chavez's wave of state takeovers meant to create a socialist state.

The following are the main nationalizations that have been carried out by the Chavez government:

CEMENT

Chavez in April announced the government takeover of the cement sector, targeting Switzerland's Holcim, France's Lafarge, and Mexico's Cemex.

Lafarge and Holcim on Monday agreed to stay on as minority partners.

Venezuela did not reach a deal with Cemex, the nation's largest cement producer, and will expropriate its assets following months of feuding over environmental problems, tax payments and transfer of assets to foreign subsidiaries.

FINANCE

The leftist leader last month said Venezuela was buying Banco de Venezuela, a division of Spain banking conglomerate Grupo Santander.

The move will give the Chavez government a large bank to help it channel state resources, though analysts do not expect more bank takeovers.

STEEL

Venezuela in July took operational control of the country's largest steelmaker Sidor, previously controlled by Argentine steelmaker Ternium. The takeover followed months of periodic labor strikes and frequent disputes between management and union leaders.

OIL

During the second half of last year, Venezuela took a majority stake in four heavy oil projects operating in the Orinoco river basin worth an estimated total of $30 billion.

U.S. companies Exxon and ConocoPhillips quit the nation over the move and filed arbitration claims against Venezuela. France's Total and Norway's StatoilHydro received around $1 billion in compensation after reducing their holdings.

Britain's BP and America's Chevron remained as minority partners.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS