My take on Venezuela's oil crisis for Platts Oil Global- SP Global

https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/oil/022219-focused-in-the-orinoco-venezuela-oil-output-strains-under-sanctions?

My analysis of the crisis in Venezuela and its oil impact for China's 21st International Business Herald

http://epaper.21jingji.com/html/2019-01/25/content_100579.htm

My participation for ARB24 TV of Azerbaijan on the crisis in Venezuela

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFr9VYRAIzY

My take on Venezuela's political crisis

Venezuela is in a deep state of a crisis of governance today, with an embattled Maduro flexing muscles and decided to hold on tight his grip on power only backed by the top ranks of the armed forces, especially the army and the national guards, while interim president having assumed on the basis of usurpation of power of Nicolas Maduro after alleged fraudulent elections in 2018 May now has with many sectors of the opposition a rather smarter strategy with an international wide backing to displace Maduro from the presidency and call for fresh elections as Washington has toughened sanctions on venezuelan oil exports.

Meanwhile Guaido, the president of the opposition controlled National Assembly and having been sworn in as interim president alleging usurpation of power by Maduro, has aimed to recover CITGO and PDVSA while Russia and China even if showing support for Maduro, it is still uncertain how long both Beijing and Moscow can back a weakened Maduro whose days might be numbered as the population falls into despair and desperation hoping for a quick exit out of the mess Venezuela has turned into while waiting for the humanitarian aid by the US and other countries.

With regards to the outlook for the Venezuelan oil sector and company PDVSA during the ongoing turmoil, the sanctions applied by the Trump administration come to aggravate the already critical crumbling situation of the overall infrastructure, from the oil wells, plants, ports, lack of maintenance of equipments to the refining circuit, provoking longstanding shortages of gasoline, and a downward trend of oil production now around 1.000.000 barrels per day with the potential to fall further below with more personnel and workers to leave due to pressures, political crisis and low wages. If sanctions continue to venezuelan oil exports to the U.S., main client and most profitable, even if with contingency plans to divert these exports to China and India, while EU sets to reinforce sanctions and block assets of Maduro administration as it recognised overall the Guaido interim presidency, it will be most likely unsustainable for PDVSA to endure this hard situation meanwhile Russia and China might be wary of their support to Maduro and with the only concern to safeguard their investments in Venezuela while Guaido team has reached out to China and stated that their investments wont be harmed and even will be better in doing business with a new administration. Overall, uncertain outlook for Venezuela, PDVSA and the Maduro administration but also for Guaido to keep its momentum if no quick exit is shown for the Maduro regime while humanitarian aid is blocked from entering Venezuela with many people in need and in precarious situation. Crucial days and weeks for Venezuela as it will face more political turmoil and a potential spiral of economic and social crisis.