Venezuela says oil production remains stable despite deadly earthquakes

Tuesday 14 July 2026 - 09:16

By: Sahili Aya

Venezuela says oil production remains stable despite deadly earthquakes

Venezuela has confirmed that its oil industry continues to operate normally despite the devastating twin earthquakes that struck the country, causing widespread destruction and claiming more than 4,500 lives.

Speaking during a televised meeting with business leaders, acting President Delcy Rodríguez said the country's crude production had not suffered any disruption and remains on track to meet the government's expansion targets for 2026.

Oil output continues uninterrupted

According to Rodríguez, Venezuela is currently producing approximately 1.203 million barrels of oil per day, with operations across the country's petroleum sector continuing without significant interruption despite the humanitarian crisis triggered by the earthquakes.

She emphasized that energy infrastructure has remained operational, allowing authorities to maintain planned production levels while emergency response efforts continue in the affected regions.

Strategic industry remains resilient

Oil remains the cornerstone of Venezuela's economy, providing the bulk of the country's export revenues. Preserving uninterrupted production is therefore considered essential as the government seeks to stabilize public finances and sustain economic activity following the natural disaster.

The South American nation possesses the world's largest proven crude oil reserves, making the performance of its energy sector a critical factor not only for domestic recovery but also for international energy markets.

Recovery efforts continue

While authorities have highlighted the resilience of the petroleum industry, rescue operations and humanitarian assistance remain the government's immediate priority. Thousands of people are still reported missing, and emergency teams continue to search affected areas following the powerful seismic events.

Officials have pledged to pursue both reconstruction efforts and economic recovery simultaneously, arguing that maintaining oil production will provide vital financial resources for rebuilding damaged communities.

The government's latest assessment suggests that, despite the scale of the disaster, Venezuela's key energy assets have avoided major damage, enabling the country to preserve one of its most important sources of national income during an exceptionally challenging period.