# Venezuela’s Oil Output Plateaus as Colombian Mogul With Alleged Zionist Links Wins Crude Concession

*Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 4:06 AM UTC — Hamer Intelligence Services Desk*

**Published**: 2026-09-12T04:06:32.751Z (1h ago)
**Category**: markets | **Region**: Latin America
**Importance**: 7/10
**Sources**: OSINT
**Permalink**: https://hamerintel.com/data/articles/17565.md
**Source**: https://hamerintel.com/summaries

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**Deck**: Venezuela’s oil production has leveled off since May even after a pro‑investor overhaul, while a Colombian business magnate described as having Zionist links has secured a prime crude concession.

Venezuela’s push to revive its oil sector is losing momentum just as a politically sensitive crude concession puts fresh scrutiny on who gains from the country’s energy reforms.

Recent figures show that Venezuela’s oil production has largely plateaued since mid-year despite rising global prices and what officials describe as a sweeping pro-investor overhaul of the hydrocarbon sector. OPEC reported August output at 1.145 million barrels per day, while state oil company PDVSA reported 1.201 million barrels per day. Since May, production has grown only modestly.

At the same time, a Colombian business magnate described in critical coverage as a “Zionist-linked” mogul has obtained a prime crude concession. The characterization reflects how some in Venezuela’s political environment portray his international ties. The basic fact is that a foreign, well-connected Colombian figure has gained access to a valuable slice of Venezuelan crude.

For Venezuela, where oil remains the main source of export revenue, a production plateau at around current levels limits the government’s ability to ease its long-running economic crisis, even as it revises rules to attract more investors. A high-profile concession to a controversial regional businessman, without a strong uptick in total output, raises questions about whether the new framework is changing the structure of control more than the volume of barrels produced.

Global markets are also watching the numbers. Traders who expected a smoother rise in Venezuelan exports after policy changes will be noting that OPEC and PDVSA data still show only limited gains since May, not a steady climb.

The next indicators to track are whether September and subsequent production reports from OPEC and PDVSA break clearly above the current band, whether Caracas announces further deals of similar scale, and whether more detail emerges on the terms of the Colombian mogul’s concession. Any move by foreign governments on sanctions will also shape how far Venezuela’s output can grow from here.