Venezuela’s PDVSA is hoping to boost its crude production to over 1 million b/d, but analysts are skeptical the state-owned company, faced with deteriorating infrastructure and a lack of buyers due to US sanctions, will be able to push output higher in 2020. While PDVSA may be able to bolster output in the short term, an exodus of experienced workers and a lack of diluent for crude blending will present major challenges down the road. PDVSA’s crude production averaged 700,000 b/d in November, up from 650,000 b/d in October, according to an S&P Global Platts survey. PDVSA was planning on producing 1.1 million b/d in December, but that will be difficult to achieve, analysts said. Related story: US […]