Venezuela’s ‘Dirty’ Oil and the Environment: Three Things to Know

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Lisa FriedmanJanuary 5, 2026 at 11:48 PM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

Venezuela holds the world's largest oil reserves, but most of it is "extra-heavy" oil located in the Orinoco Belt. This type of oil is difficult and costly to extract, requiring advanced technologies and generating significantly more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional crude. Due to economic crisis under President Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela's oil production has plummeted from 3.5 million to under 1 million barrels daily. This decline has increased the country's vulnerability to oil spills and deforestation. The extraction and production of Venezuela's heavy oil contribute disproportionately to global greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional oil production.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Canada 30% Clayton Seigle 30% Center for Strategic and International Studies 40% Punto Fijo 40% Donald Trump 40% Amuay refinery 50% Orinoco Belt 60% Nicolás Maduro 70% Venezuela ×790%

Keywords

venezuela 100% extra-heavy oil 90% greenhouse gas emissions 80% dirty oil 80% oil production 70% orinoco belt 60% sulfur content 60% climate change 50% flaring 50%