Reshuffle in Caracas
New appointments show Maduro plans to hold his course
Venezuela's epic economic distortions and political entanglement have long delayed oil and gas industry investment. Yet over the past two years, oil minister and PdV president Eulogio del Pino have begun to revive enthusiasm in the country's Orinoco Oil Belt, some marginal oilfields and, especially, in Venezuela's offshore natural gas sector. But del Pino and his team have faced an uphill battle coordinating with President Nicolás Maduro's patchwork cabinet. Oil-policy adjustments and commercial negotiations with investors must be accompanied by both macroeconomic and other reforms. Big deals require a big picture government buy-in. To date, with marginal political clout, the oil ministry ha
Also in this section
19 March 2026
The regional crisis highlights the undervalued role of fixed pipelines in the age of tanker flexibility
18 March 2026
Rising LNG exports and AI-driven power demand have raised concerns that US gas prices could climb sharply, but analysts say abundant shale supply and continued productivity gains should keep Henry Hub within a range that preserves the competitiveness of US LNG
18 March 2026
Risks of shortages in oil products may cause world leaders to panic and make mistakes instead of letting the market do what it does best
17 March 2026
The crisis in the Middle East has put LNG’s ability to offer security and flexibility under uncomfortable scrutiny
