What was the unique half-hour offset of Venezuela until 2016?

Venezuela’s unique half-hour offset until 2016 was UTC−4:30. The country used this offset from December 2007 until April 30, 2016, before returning to UTC−4:00.

The half-hour standard was not entirely new in 2007. Venezuela had previously used UTC−4:30 from 1912 to 1965, based on the 67.5° west meridian. In 1965, the government shifted to UTC−4:00, associated with the 60° west meridian near Punta de Playa in Delta Amacuro State.

President Hugo Chávez restored UTC−4:30 in December 2007 by moving the legal meridian back to the older reference. The change was presented partly as a way to align daily schedules more closely with daylight, although critics debated its energy effects.

In 2016, President Nicolás Maduro announced a return to UTC−4:00 during a period of low water levels and electricity shortages affecting Venezuela’s hydroelectric system. The new offset began on May 1, 2016. Venezuela currently uses UTC−4:00, so the half-hour answer is historical rather than current.