Distillation unit 1 at Puerto La Cruz refinery of 200,000 bpd stopped for maintenance works, an official at the oil facilities told Reuters on Monday.

The works are estimated to last at least 30 days, but operations could start within 20 days.

State-run oil holding Petróleos de Venezuela (Pdvsa) planned to issue a press release Monday for further details, he added.

Puerto La Cruz turned off some units last October due to a power outage. However the company managed to resume operations a few hours after that.