This refinery shows how far the once-mighty Venezuelan oil industry has fallen

There was a time when a job at the Amuay refinery — the crown jewel of Venezuela’s state-owned oil company — was a ticket to the good life. Petroleos de Venezuela, at its height, was the fifth-largest oil company in the world. Salaries at the plant were high, benefits generous, and workers basked in the prestige of wearing the uniform. “Everyone wanted to be here because it meant an excellent quality of life for their families,” said Emir Aguilar, who worked for years in the private sector before finally landing a job at the refinery in 2003. More…