Now the United States has claimed a 20 percent stake in Venezuela's vast reserves, including local fields, raising hopes of revival. President Trump has called it the "greatest deal ever made," claiming Venezuelan crude will double US reserves and guarantee American energy dominance for a century. But that optimism clashes with reality. Years of economic crisis, underinvestment and political turmoil have hollowed out once-thriving communities. Many homes stand empty after mass emigration, and the 27,000 residents who remain endure chronic blackouts—some lasting up to 17 hours—crumbling roads, sewage leaks and failing infrastructure. The historic Zumaque I well, produced since 1914, now yields just 20 barrels a day. Locals hold mixed feelings. Retired officer Hector Valero Balestrini hopes new investment will "breathe life" into the town, and retiree Eladio Ramon Devidez wishes the negotiated projects become "work and wealth for all Venezuelans." In nearby Bachaquero, retired teacher Jose Gregorio Martinez lives in a PDVSA-built "oil camp" that once hosted gatherings of 30 relatives—now most live abroad. He says simply, "I live in a house that used to be full." For shop owner Xiosbelis Saavedra, the boom may come too late. With three siblings already emigrated, she considers closing her delicatessen to join them, describing daily life bluntly: "Everything is a nightmare. The electricity, the water, the gas, everything. Prices are crazy every day." (Bssnews)