Venezuela oil ministers attend Houston energy conference for first US

Venezuela’s Petroleum Minister Paula Henao and PDVSA’s Vice President of Exploration and Production Jovanny Martínez arrived in The Woodlands, Texas, to join the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) conference – the first public appearance of senior Venezuelan oil officials in the United States since the political shift in Caracas earlier this year【1】.

The two-day summit, held May 19‑20, 2026, served as a platform for the Venezuelan delegation to pitch a “Strategic Framework for Success” that seeks foreign capital and technology to revive PDVSA’s aging infrastructure. Henao held private meetings with oil service firms and announced a push for equipment such as industrial pumps, valves, pipelines and gas compressors, all aimed at accelerating drilling and production projects in the Orinoco Belt【1】.

U.S. officials, including Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy Kyle Haustveit, stressed that Venezuela could play a strategic role in regional energy security. Haustveit highlighted the potential for integration of heavy‑oil, shale and offshore producers to bolster market stability and reduce supply vulnerabilities across the Western Hemisphere【1】. The United States is reportedly eyeing a $100 billion investment plan to modernize Venezuelan oil facilities and lift output in key areas like the Orinoco Oil Belt【1】.

International players such as Spain’s Repsol and France’s Maurel & Prom were also on the agenda, reflecting growing commercial interest in Venezuela’s oil sector. Analysts see the joint presence of Venezuelan officials and foreign firms as a possible opening for more flexible regulatory arrangements, though PDVSA still faces deep operational and financial challenges【1】.

Beyond the commercial angle, the event marked a diplomatic turning point. The last comparable public visit by senior Venezuelan oil officials to the U.S. dates back to the 1990s, before the Chavista era, making this a rare re‑engagement after a decade‑long diplomatic freeze【2】.

If the announced investment drive materializes, Venezuela could edge closer to its goal of surpassing one million barrels per day—a milestone it claims to have reached for the first time in a decade【2】. Yet the durability of U.S. political support and the ability of PDVSA to absorb new technology remain open questions that will shape the next phase of hemispheric energy cooperation.