Energy & Oil

• Friday, January 30th 2026 - 05:11 UTC

  US returns seized oil tanker to Venezuela amid broader energy policy shift

  

  The United States government this week returned the seized oil tanker M/T Sophia to Venezuela, reflecting a broader shift in U.S. energy policy toward Caracas amid efforts to normalize commercial ties, U.S. officials said Wednesday. The move comes after several high‑profile seizures of vessels tied to Venezuelan oil shipping.

• Wednesday, January 28th 2026 - 14:33 UTC

  Venezuela’s draft hydrocarbons reform faces extensive legislative scrutiny

  

  Venezuela’s proposed hydrocarbons law overhaul is under intense legislative scrutiny, with more than 80 amendments submitted by lawmakers, legal experts and energy sector associations ahead of a planned final vote, Reuters reported Tuesday.

• Wednesday, January 28th 2026 - 14:30 UTC

  U.S. prepares general licence to ease Venezuelan energy sanctions after Maduro capture

  

  The United States is preparing a general licence to ease sanctions on Venezuela’s energy sector, aiming to facilitate an estimated $2 billion oil supply deal between Caracas and Washington, U.S. government sources told Reuters on Tuesday. The move is part of a strategic shift in U.S. policy after the Jan. 3 capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces.

• Tuesday, January 27th 2026 - 11:12 UTC

  Offshore oil exploration puts Uruguay at crossroads of investment, courts and conservation

  

  Viridien (CGG Services) has told Uruguay’s Environment Ministry it aims to begin offshore seismic exploration in February, after submitting the environmental management plan required by the National Directorate for Environmental Quality and Assessment (Dinacea) as a precondition to operate in Uruguayan waters, according to local media reporting.

• Tuesday, January 27th 2026 - 10:32 UTC

  Falklands, presentation at FIDC on “Tourism and the Island paradox”

  

  James Ellsmoor is an award-winning entrepreneur, writer, and CEO of Island Innovation, widely recognized for his work on sustainable development, renewable energy, and island economic resilience, and will be giving a presentation in the Falkland Islands.

• Tuesday, January 27th 2026 - 09:55 UTC

  Delcy Rodriguez meets Repsol, Chevron and Shell as Venezuela pushes oil law overhaul to draw investment

  

  Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez met on Monday in Caracas with representatives of oil companies including Repsol, Chevron and Shell to discuss a hydrocarbons law reform now moving through the National Assembly, as her government seeks to attract private and foreign investment. The meeting took place at PDVSA facilities and forms part of a mandatory public consultation phase after the bill cleared its first legislative debate.

• Saturday, January 24th 2026 - 14:13 UTC

  Brazil courted by U.S., EU over critical minerals amid geopolitical competition

  

  Brazil has positioned itself as a strategic player in the global competition for critical minerals such as graphite, nickel, and niobium, which are essential for clean energy technologies, batteries, and defense systems. Both the United States and the European Union have stepped up diplomatic and commercial engagement with Brasília to secure supply deals and cooperation in value chains considered vital for the energy transition and industrial security.

• Friday, January 23rd 2026 - 23:16 UTC

  YPF and Pluspetrol swap upstream stakes to deepen Vaca Muerta push and feed Argentina LNG plan

  

  Argentina’s state-run oil company YPF and local producer Pluspetrol have agreed to a portfolio swap aimed at reshaping their positions in the Vaca Muerta shale play and strengthening supply for YPF’s flagship liquefied natural gas (LNG) export initiative.

• Friday, January 23rd 2026 - 19:29 UTC

  Chavismo pushes oil-law reform to open Venezuela’s upstream to private firms

  

  Venezuela’s National Assembly has approved, in a first reading, a reform to the country’s Hydrocarbons Law that would expand private participation in crude production and marketing—an important shift from the long-running “mixed-company” model in which the state held majority stakes. The bill still requires a second reading before it can become law, EFE reported.

• Wednesday, January 21st 2026 - 03:52 UTC

  Trump signals possible role for Machado as U.S. tightens Venezuela oil crackdown

  

  United States President Donald Trump said Venezuela opposition leader María Corina Machado could “maybe” be brought into the transition process “in some way,” marking a notable shift in tone as Washington balances political messaging with day-to-day coordination in Caracas following Nicolás Maduro’s capture on January 3, according to a Reuters report.