President Donald Trump’s push to dramatically increase oil production in Venezuela following the capture of Nicolás Maduro could accelerate climate impacts already hammering South Carolina’s coast, environmental experts warned Tuesday.

Trump said US oil companies will “spend billions of dollars” to repair Venezuela’s oil infrastructure and extract resources from what researchers call the world’s largest known oil reserves — equivalent to 300 billion barrels.

“The oil companies are going to go in, they are going to spend money, we are going to take back the oil, frankly, we should’ve taken back a long time ago,” Trump said after Maduro’s arrest in Caracas. “A lot of money is coming out of the ground, we are going to be reimbursed for everything we spend.”

The prospect of supercharging Venezuelan oil production comes as Charleston grapples with worsening flood conditions. Charleston’s 2025 flooding report card showed another historically bad year for the region, with scientists linking increased flooding to rising sea levels driven by climate change.

“Everybody loses if we’re talking about dramatically ramping up production from the largest oil reserves on the planet,” said Dr. Sarah Mitchell, a climate researcher at the College of Charleston. “The math is simple — more oil production means more emissions, which means faster sea level rise for coastal communities like ours.”

Venezuela’s state-owned oil company PDVSA has struggled with aging infrastructure and international sanctions. Trump’s administration is pressing Venezuela’s interim government to eliminate requirements that oil projects be half-owned by the state, potentially opening the door for major US energy companies.

The president’s “drill, baby, drill” approach, previously focused on domestic production, now extends to Venezuela’s estimated 300 billion barrels — dwarfing US reserves of roughly 35 billion barrels according to the Energy Institute.

For Charleston, the stakes extend beyond environmental concerns. The city’s $8 billion tourism economy depends heavily on beaches and historic districts increasingly threatened by flooding and storm surge.

“We’re already spending millions on flood mitigation and sea level rise adaptation,” said Charleston City Councilman Robert Mitchell, who chairs the environmental resilience committee. “Policies that accelerate climate change directly impact our tax base and our residents’ quality of life.”

Venezuela produced 800,000 barrels per day in 2024, down from 3.2 million barrels daily in the 1990s. Energy analysts estimate the country could potentially produce 2-3 million barrels daily with significant infrastructure investment.

“The technical challenges are enormous,” said petroleum engineer James Rodriguez, who worked in Venezuela before sanctions tightened. “You’re talking about replacing decades of deferred maintenance, updating refineries, and rebuilding transportation networks.”

Trump dismissed those concerns, saying US companies possess the expertise and capital needed. His administration has already contacted executives from ExxonMobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips about potential Venezuelan operations.

The environmental implications extend beyond carbon emissions. Venezuelan oil fields contain some of the world’s heaviest crude, requiring more energy-intensive refining processes that produce additional greenhouse gases.

Local environmental groups said the policy threatens progress on climate adaptation. Charleston has invested $2 billion in flood mitigation since 2015, including pump stations, drainage improvements and the proposed seawall project.

“Every fraction of a degree of warming translates to more flooding, more storm damage, more displaced residents,” said Lisa Thompson, director of the Lowcountry Environmental Alliance. “Federal policies should support our resilience efforts, not undermine them.”

The oil industry argues increased Venezuelan production could lower global energy costs while creating jobs. Venezuela’s interim government, installed after Maduro’s capture, has signaled openness to foreign investment after decades of socialist economic policies.

South Carolina’s congressional delegation remains split on energy policy, with broader political disagreements reflecting national partisan divides on climate and fossil fuels.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham praised Trump’s “decisive action” in Venezuela, calling increased oil production “essential for American energy security.” Democratic Representative Jim Clyburn criticized the plan as “reckless environmental policy that puts coastal communities at risk.”

Climate scientists note that global oil consumption must decline sharply to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels — the target established in international climate agreements.

“We’re moving in the opposite direction,” said Dr. Michael Barnes, an atmospheric scientist at USC. “Major new oil production facilities lock in decades of emissions at precisely the moment we need rapid decarbonization.”

The timeline for Venezuelan oil expansion remains unclear. Energy companies would need months to assess infrastructure needs and secure financing. Environmental reviews, if required, could add additional delays.

Trump said he expects “immediate action” from US oil companies, though industry executives have privately expressed caution about political instability and technical challenges in Venezuela.

For Charleston residents already dealing with increased flooding, king tides and hurricane intensity, the stakes feel immediate.

“We see the impacts of climate change every day,” said Mount Pleasant resident Janet Davis, whose home flooded three times in 2025. “Policy decisions made in Washington directly affect whether my neighborhood remains livable.”

The administration plans to announce specific Venezuelan oil initiatives within 30 days, according to sources familiar with the planning. Environmental groups are preparing legal challenges to any projects that bypass environmental review requirements.