Caracas, Feb 17: Venezuela's daily oil production was back up to 2.1 million barrels per day, President Hugo Chavez said yesterday as he pushed for the crucial industry to get back on its feet after a crippling two-month strike.

"We are at about 2.1 million barrels per day," Chavez said on his weekly radio-television address "Hello President," yesterday’s broadcast from a gas complex southeast of the capital.
Chavez insisted that March production goals were at three million barrels per day, despite the disruptions caused by the opposition-led strike which officially ended February 2.
Before the strike, Venezuela, the world's eight oil producer, and fifth exporter, was exporting 2.8 million barrels a day.


Bureau Report