捧着金饭碗挨饿?委内瑞拉石油,全球第一储量的“烂摊子”困局
Sou Hu Cai Jing·2026-01-07 07:45

Core Insights - Venezuela, holding the world's largest proven oil reserves of over 300 billion barrels, is facing a dire situation with oil exports nearly at zero and over 17 million barrels of unsold crude oil [3][5] - The country's oil production has drastically declined from a peak of 3.5 million barrels per day in the 1970s to approximately 1.1 million barrels per day by November 2025, exacerbated by U.S. sanctions and internal mismanagement [5][8] - The recent political upheaval has further paralyzed the oil industry, leading to overflowing storage facilities and a complete halt in exports due to U.S. maritime blockades [7][11] Industry Overview - Venezuela's oil industry, once a robust economic pillar, is now described as a "mess" requiring over $100 billion in investments over the next decade to restore production to historical levels [8][14] - The infrastructure degradation, compounded by corruption and mismanagement, poses significant challenges to any recovery efforts, making it unlikely that production will return to previous peaks [8][11] - The U.S. government has expressed intentions to invest billions into repairing Venezuela's oil facilities, but the market remains cautious about the short-term impacts on global oil prices [11][14] Challenges and Opportunities - The technical challenges of transporting Venezuela's heavy crude oil, which requires light crude diluents that are currently unavailable due to sanctions, create a critical bottleneck for the industry [11] - Despite the overwhelming challenges, the vast oil reserves continue to attract external interest, raising questions about who will ultimately benefit from any potential recovery [14] - The situation exemplifies a classic case of resource curse and geopolitical complexities, highlighting the intricate balance between potential and reality in Venezuela's oil sector [13][14]