CARACAS, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The state-owned Petroleum of Venezuela (PDVSA) on Monday said it increased production to 60,000 barrels per day for the domestic market.

In a statement, PDVSA said the increase was possible due to the reactivation of the catalytic plant located at the Cardon refinery in the northern state of Falcon. The plant resumed operation following maintenance.

The Venezuelan government began an economic recuperation program that includes an increase in gasoline supply at international prices.

As Venezuela faced fuel shortages with refinery outages and falls in production in recent months, the country launched a national census of car owners in the first week of August in a bid to reduce fuel wasting.

The census paved the way for a direct gasoline subsidy to more than 3 million registered auto owners, which means that the car owners don't have to pay the international price for gasoline consumption once the price takes effect in September.