U.S. oil companies have shown mixed responses to the possibility of investing in Venezuela following the overthrow of President Nicolás Maduro and the U.S. military intervention in early January 2026. President Donald Trump has stated that American oil companies will invest at least $100 billion to rebuild Venezuela's energy sector, with the U.S. providing security and protection to ensure returns on investment.
However, major oil firms have expressed significant reservations.
Chevron, the only U.S. oil major currently operating in Venezuela under a U.S. Treasury license, has indicated readiness to increase production. The company has already raised output from its joint ventures with PDVSA to 240,000 barrels per day and sees a path to boost production by another 50% within 18 months.
Chevron Vice Chairman Mark Nelson stated the company could increase liftings from its joint ventures by 100% "essentially effective immediately".
In contrast, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips have been noncommittal. Exxon CEO Darren Woods described Venezuela as currently "uninvestable" without major changes to the legal system, commercial frameworks, and hydrocarbon laws, citing the company’s history of asset seizures in 2007.
ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance emphasized the need for restructuring of PDVSA and the broader energy system, as well as financial support from the banking sector.
While Trump insists the investment will come from private capital and not government funds, analysts note that the scale of required investment—estimated at over $180 billion to reach 3 million barrels per day by 2040—poses a major challenge.
Smaller independent operators and refiners like Valero have shown more enthusiasm, with Valero indicating readiness to invest further in refining Venezuelan crude.
Overall, while the U.S. government is pushing for rapid re-entry, actual large-scale investment hinges on political stability, legal reforms, and enforceable protections for private capital
AI-generated answer. Please verify critical facts. Brave AI
U.S. oil companies have shown mixed responses to the possibility of investing in Venezuela
Not if you watched the conference. Everyone of them extremely enthusiastic, and Trump said there are another 20 people lined up if any of them wanted to drop out.
This is literally once in a lifetime oppurtunity to make tons of money while also doing good.
U.S. oil companies have shown mixed responses to the possibility of investing in Venezuela following the overthrow of President Nicolás Maduro and the U.S. military intervention in early January 2026. President Donald Trump has stated that American oil companies will invest at least $100 billion to rebuild Venezuela's energy sector, with the U.S. providing security and protection to ensure returns on investment. However, major oil firms have expressed significant reservations.
Chevron, the only U.S. oil major currently operating in Venezuela under a U.S. Treasury license, has indicated readiness to increase production. The company has already raised output from its joint ventures with PDVSA to 240,000 barrels per day and sees a path to boost production by another 50% within 18 months. Chevron Vice Chairman Mark Nelson stated the company could increase liftings from its joint ventures by 100% "essentially effective immediately".
In contrast, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips have been noncommittal. Exxon CEO Darren Woods described Venezuela as currently "uninvestable" without major changes to the legal system, commercial frameworks, and hydrocarbon laws, citing the company’s history of asset seizures in 2007. ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance emphasized the need for restructuring of PDVSA and the broader energy system, as well as financial support from the banking sector.
While Trump insists the investment will come from private capital and not government funds, analysts note that the scale of required investment—estimated at over $180 billion to reach 3 million barrels per day by 2040—poses a major challenge. Smaller independent operators and refiners like Valero have shown more enthusiasm, with Valero indicating readiness to invest further in refining Venezuelan crude.
Overall, while the U.S. government is pushing for rapid re-entry, actual large-scale investment hinges on political stability, legal reforms, and enforceable protections for private capital
AI-generated answer. Please verify critical facts. Brave AI
Not if you watched the conference. Everyone of them extremely enthusiastic, and Trump said there are another 20 people lined up if any of them wanted to drop out.
This is literally once in a lifetime oppurtunity to make tons of money while also doing good.
Thanks for that correction & thanks for not DEPORTING me Somalia or someplace bad. 😂🤣😁