Military moves in on Venezuela's oil industry
A major general is replacing the oilmen that ran the industry which will worry investors and plunge the sector further into crisis
"The time for a new oil revolution has come," Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro declared during his weekly Sunday chat show this weekend. Few would argue that's the case. Oil production is collapsing and exports are down sharply, worsening a national debt crisis. But the kind of revolution Maduro has in mind will make things worse rather than better for the industry, its investors and the nation's oil-fueled economy. During the speech, Maduro announced that he was appointing Major General Manuel Quevedo from the National Guard to take up the dual role of oil minister and boss at state oil company PdV, making him among the most powerful people in the country. Quevedo was most recently the
Also in this section
10 March 2026
From Venezuela to Hormuz, the US—backed by the most powerful military force ever assembled—is redrawing not only oil and gas flows but also the global balance of energy power
10 March 2026
By shutting the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has cut exports of distillate-rich Middle Eastern crude, jet fuel and diesel, and is holding the energy market hostage
10 March 2026
Eni’s director for global gas and LNG portfolio, Cristian Signoretto, discusses how demand will respond to rising LNG supply, and how the company is expanding its own gas and LNG operations through disciplined, capital-efficient investments
9 March 2026
Petroleum Economist analysis sees increases in output from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Kazakhstan among others before region’s murky descent






