Venezuela: Politics Cloud the Chances of an Energy Sector Revival

Editor's Note: The following is the third installment of a three-part series assessing the endemic risks of Venezuela's energy sector. Part 1 examined concerns over potential production disruptions. Part 2 examined the country's infrastructure vulnerabilities.

The stagnation of Venezuela's energy infrastructure is the backdrop for a social and political struggle that has been building for decades. Protests that have rocked the streets of cities from Caracas to San Cristobal since early February seem to be dying down, for the moment. However, this by no means indicates that Venezuela's troubles are over. The country is defined by its contradictions, and deep divisions exist even within seemingly united political groups. For the Venezuelan energy sector, this means that uncertainty will remain prevalent, limiting the government's ability to address key structural concerns.