Suspected terrorist attack on a gas pipeline in Venezuela: the pipeline that supplies natural gas to the PDVSA oil plant exploded last Saturday

Gas pipeline that supplies natural gas to the gas reinjection plant of the oil company PDVSA, may have been the target of a terrorist attack, last Saturday is what police authorities and executives of PDVSA, the Venezuelan state oil company, suspect. Iranian oil tanker loaded with gasoline, bound for Venezuela, “breaks” American barrier in the Caribbean Sea

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Part of a 36-inch pipeline that supplies natural gas to PDVSA's Pigap II gas reinjection plant, located in the north of the state of Monagas - Venezuela, exploded last Saturday afternoon, forcing the state-owned company to temporarily close the plant to contain the flames and assess damage to the pipeline.

Tareck El Aissami, Venezuela's oil minister, called the incident a "terrorist attack". The announcement came on state television and Aissami did not elaborate on who was responsible or the impact on the plant and pipeline.

The neighboring country has large reserves of oil and natural gas, but has seen production fall to decades-low levels in recent years amid a national economic meltdown that has reduced PDVSA's cash flow and led to an exodus of skilled personnel.

Venezuelan authorities have in the past blamed pipeline and refinery explosions, as well as blackouts and other infrastructure failures, on attacks aimed at sabotaging the country's economy. Critics say the incidents are due to chronic undermaintenance, underinvestment and poor management.

“Increase production or leave the country” warns Venezuelan Oil Ministry to foreign oil companies

Venezuela, the country with the largest oil reserves in the world, warned the licenses of foreign oil companies Chevron and Repsol, to help increase production, in order not to stop exploring in the country. Petróleos de Venezuela and the Ministry of Petroleum in Caracas sent a letter last month to all 19 partners of the j whose contracts will end in 2026, to find out what the exploration intentions are.

According to the letter, all oil companies had until January 15 to respond and companies could still request a contract renewal with the country.

Venezuela will seek new partners if those present do not step up and help revive an oil industry that has collapsed after years of mismanagement and US sanctions.