Venezuela Orinoco Output Surges Despite Environmental Investor Deterrents

Venezuela's Orinoco Belt production has accelerated since U.S. intervention in January 2026, hitting ~500,000 bpd in February (up 100,000 bpd from early January) and driving national output to 988,000 bpd in March per OPEC. U.S. imports jumped 45% month-on-month to 6.2 million barrels in January, boosting heavy-sour crude flows to Gulf Coast refineries. However, pervasive spills, corroded infrastructure, and multibillion-dollar remediation needs are scaring off major investors despite reforms and Chevron expansions. This pits near-term supply gains (bearish for prices) against long-term risks to investment and reliability.