Miraflores, a quiet town in Venezuela’s key oil region near Lake Maracaibo, once symbolized wealth but now lies in ruin. Oil pumps, some freshly painted, stand beside many rusting and broken ones. The area, once home to US oil giants like Exxon and Chevron, is now marked by abandoned houses and power outages. Residents recall better days with hospitals and clean streets. Venezuela holds the world’s largest oil reserves—around 303 billion barrels—but output has dropped sharply, from 3.5 million barrels per day in the 1970s to under 1 million today. Political shifts, mismanagement, and US sanctions starting in 2017 have crippled the industry. Recently, the Venezuelan parliament approved reforms to allow foreign oil companies back, aligning with President Donald Trump's plans to inject $100 billion in US investments. Locals hope this will return jobs and prosperity. However, industry experts warn that reviving Venezuela's oil sector will take years and vast funds. ExxonMobil's CEO called Venezuela “uninvestable” without major reforms. Still, for people like José Rodas, a 93-year-old retired worker, and fishermen in Maracaibo, the arrival of US investment brings a flicker of hope for a better future.