With the official support of the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and the national oil company PDVSA, Venezuela Energy Week 2026 aims to accelerate the deployment of capital in one of the world's largest hydrocarbon reserves.

Venezuela holds over 300 billion barrels of proven oil reserves—the largest in the world—as well as over 195 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. With current production at approximately 1 to 1.1 million barrels per day, the government has set a strategic goal of increasing production to 3 million barrels per day through phased investments, field rehabilitation, and greater private sector participation.

The recent 2026 reforms in the hydrocarbons sector are fundamentally reshaping the commercial framework. They include a reduction in the tax burden, the expansion of production-sharing mechanisms, strengthened arbitration protections, and increased operational oversight for foreign partners. For international investors, these changes signal a shift toward contractual structures more aligned with international standards and greater transparency regarding capital recovery.

The investment case rests on scale, the potential for rapid time to market, and the potential for significant added value at existing sites. Venezuela's producing basins—particularly the Orinoco Oil Belt, the Maracaibo Basin, and the Eastern Venezuela Basin—offer a combination of undeveloped megaprojects and mature assets poised for enhanced recovery. Priority opportunities include large-scale developments in the Orinoco Belt, notably in Junín, Carabobo, and Ayacucho; the rehabilitation of existing facilities in the Maracaibo Basin; the reactivation of closed wells through new drilling programs; and heavy crude upgrading and blending infrastructure to support export growth.

At the same time, underutilized refining capacity and limited mid-range infrastructure present short-term investment opportunities in rehabilitation, logistics, and export systems. The refining capacity of nearly 1.3 million barrels per day is currently operating at approximately 35% of its capacity, creating immediate opportunities in refinery rehabilitation, mid-range logistics, storage, and the expansion of export terminals.

Gas monetization is emerging as a key growth segment, with offshore developments such as the Dragon and Cocuina-Manakin fields positioning Venezuela as a future supplier to regional and global LNG markets. The infrastructure for capturing, processing, and transporting the associated gas remains underdeveloped, thus offering additional entry points for technical and financial partners.

The overall rehabilitation of the sector is expected to require up to $100 billion in investment, with approximately $10 billion per year over the next decade to restore production capacity, upgrade infrastructure and develop exports.

Venezuela Energy Week 2026 will feature dedicated investment tracks focused on upstream technical opportunities, commercial structuring, infrastructure integration, and digital optimization, including AI-assisted field management and energy system modernization. The program will also include discussions on workforce development and local participation in the rapidly evolving oil and gas sector, supported by dedicated "Youth in Energy" sessions. This track will showcase emerging talent, early-career professionals, and next-generation leaders across the energy value chain, with a focus on skills development, innovation, and intergenerational knowledge transfer.

With the participation of leading industry bodies, the event will align technical expertise with capital deployment strategies, thereby strengthening its position as a gateway for US and international investors looking to re-enter the market.

The program will conclude on October 29 with carefully selected site visits to key upstream and downstream assets, providing investors with direct exposure to operational conditions and project progress in Venezuela's main producing regions.

As global energy markets rebalance and security of supply remains a strategic priority, the reopening of Venezuela represents a high-impact, large-scale opportunity for investors operating in a complex but increasingly investment-friendly environment.

The summit is organized by Energy Capital & Power. For participation opportunities:

• General information: Info@venezuelaenergyweek.com
• Opportunities to speak: Speaker@venezuelaenergyweek.com
• Sponsorship and partnerships: Sponsor@venezuelaenergyweek.com
• Delegate registration: Registration@venezuelaenergyweek.com

For more information, visit venezuelaenergyweek.com .