Venezuela's hydrocarbons ministry signs two agreements with oil companies in the US

On August 19, 2026, an official delegation led by Minister Paula Henao held working meetings in Houston, United States, where it signed two agreements with energy sector companies under the provisions of the Hydrocarbons Law, according to El Nacional.

The visit to Houston, a strategic hub and home to major corporations in the global sector, was primarily aimed at presenting investment opportunities in exploration and production projects in Venezuela under the contractual frameworks currently in force.

These efforts take place against a backdrop of efforts to attract foreign capital to modernize facilities and restore refining and pumping capacity, in an international market that is weighing both the potential of the reserves and the frameworks of regulatory and institutional certainty for its medium- and long-term projects.

The entry of new players and the formalization of these agreements represent a step in the effort to revitalize Venezuelan oil activity. The sector will be watching the timelines for carrying out the works and the impact these disbursements have on foreign-currency supply and on the value chain of local suppliers.