# Venezuela energy push expands after quake > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/foreign-partnerships-in-venezuelas-gas-sector > Updated: 2026-08-03T21:19:06.000Z. Sources: 75. Developments: 23. Early June 2026 the interim Venezuelan government accelerated offshore gas projects with BP and Shell, signed memoranda with Italy’s IILA, GE Vernova and the U.S. Energy Department, and pledged up to 5 GW of new generation capacity. President Delcy Rodríguez granted Shell a flexible contract for the Lora/Loran field and partnered with Schlumberger on AI‑driven exploration. After the magnitude‑6.2 quake on 24 June in Sucre, which caused extensive damage, the state sealed several agreements with Shell and announced a Deal Room for the October Venezuela Energy Week. A 23 June MoU with GE Vernova outlined a $20 billion grid‑modernisation plan; on 10 July Rodríguez ended PDVSA’s exclusive control of the oil value chain, opening the sector to private investors. Colombia approved new interconnection frameworks for electricity with Venezuela and Ecuador in mid‑July, while the Termocarabobo thermoelectric plant began energising, targeting 150 MW by 18 July and 600 MW by August. On 16 July Rodríguez announced strategic agreements with Russia’s INSA and U.S. GE to restore about 7,400 MW over four years, including re‑activating the Tocoma hydro plant. The next day a delegation attended the World AI Conference in Shanghai, reaffirming Venezuela’s commitment to ethical AI. In early August, Zulia’s electrical commission warned that without local generation the region faces prolonged rationing; repairing six thermal units could add roughly 700 MW at an estimated $168 million cost, though component lead times may delay the effort. Residents reported five‑ to six‑hour outages affecting health services. On 2 August Vice President Rodríguez inspected the Central Thermoelectric Plant Centro in Puerto Cabello, where China’s Machinery Engineering Corporation is modernising facilities as part of a plan to add 4,800 MW of thermoelectric capacity by year‑end. A U.S. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-03: Venezuela advances power grid upgrades with Chinese plant visit and US dam inspection Venezuela’s power grid upgrade gains momentum as Vice President Rodríguez visits a Chinese‑run thermoelectric plant and a U.S. Energy Department team inspects the Guri hydroelectric dam. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-advances-power-grid-upgrades-with-chinese-plant-visit-and-us-dam-inspection ### 2026-08-02: Zulia power crisis drives plan to reactivate local thermal plants In Zulia, Venezuela, engineers propose repairing six thermal plants to add 700 MW at a $168 M cost, while prolonged outages of up to six hours are disrupting health services and dialysis treatment. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/zulia-power-crisis-drives-plan-to-reactivate-local-thermal-plants ### 2026-07-17: Venezuela Boosts AI Presence and Power Capacity with New International Partnerships Venezuela attended the World AI Conference in Shanghai and signed deals with Russia's INSA and the U.S.'s GE to add 7,400 MW to its grid over four years, enhancing its tech profile and electricity stability. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-boosts-ai-presence-and-power-capacity-with-new-international-partnerships ### 2026-07-16: Venezuela to Add 7,400 MW to Grid via Russian and U.S. Partnerships Venezuela signed deals with Russia’s INSA and U.S. GE to restore 7,400 MW of power over four years, aiming to recover half its current generation capacity. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-to-add-7400-mw-to-grid-via-russian-and-us-partnerships ### 2026-07-14: Venezuela energizes Termocarabobo plant, adding 150‑600 MW after quake Venezuela started energizing the quake‑damaged Termocarabobo plant, targeting 150 MW on July 18 and a total of 600 MW by August, with officials saying recovery work is ongoing. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-energizes-termocarabobo-plant-adding-150600-mw-after-quake ### 2026-07-14: Colombia advances energy links with Venezuela, Ecuador as court halts special economic zone Colombia modernizes electric interconnection rules with Venezuela and Ecuador while its court blocks a special economic zone with Venezuela pending congressional approval. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombia-advances-energy-links-with-venezuela-ecuador-as-court-halts-special-economic-zone ### 2026-07-11: Colombia approves new rules to boost electricity interconnection with Venezuela and Ecuador Colombia’s Petro administration issued two resolutions modernising electricity interconnection rules with Venezuela and Ecuador, prioritising national supply while fostering regional energy integration. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombia-approves-new-rules-to-boost-electricity-interconnection-with-venezuela-and-ecuador ### 2026-07-10: Venezuela adopts sweeping oil regulations to open sector to private firms Venezuela’s interim government signed comprehensive oil regulations that end PDVSA’s control, opening the sector to private firms and aiming to attract investment and revive production. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-adopts-sweeping-oil-regulations-to-open-sector-to-private-firms ### 2026-06-23: Venezuela signs electricity recovery agreement with General Electric Venezuelan leader Karim Vera hailed a deal with General Electric to help fix the nation's power crisis, blaming past officials for misusing billions intended for grid upgrades. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-signs-electricity-recovery-agreement-with-general-electric ### 2026-06-21: Venezuela expands energy partnerships with Shell deals and new Deal Room Shell signed five energy agreements with Venezuela covering the Loran gas field, Monagas oilfield and flaring reduction, while Venezuela Energy Week launched a Deal Room to spur investment and partnerships in V 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-expands-energy-partnerships-with-shell-deals-and-new-deal-room ### 2026-06-17: Repsol signs memorandum with Venezuela to assess Horcón oil field and offshore gas Repsol and Venezuela's PDVSA signed a memorandum to study the Horcón oil field and offshore gas, pledging investment and reviewing existing asset operations. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/repsol-signs-memorandum-with-venezuela-to-assess-horcn-oil-field-and-offshore-gas ### 2026-06-16: Venezuela signs deals with Repsol and GE to boost oil and power sectors Venezuela has signed agreements with Spain's Repsol to explore offshore oil at Horcón and with US General Electric to modernise its power grid, marking a shift toward private investment in the oil and electric‑ 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-signs-deals-with-repsol-and-ge-to-boost-oil-and-power-sectors ### 2026-06-16: Venezuela signs agreement with General Electric to modernize power grid Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez announced a deal with U.S. General Electric to add 1,000 MW in two years and 5,000 MW within four, aiming to end chronic blackouts as the country grapples with a 14 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-signs-agreement-with-general-electric-to-modernize-power-grid ### 2026-06-16: Venezuela signs $‑US contract with General Electric to rebuild power grid Venezuela signed a contract with General Electric to restore up to 5 000 MW of power over four years, aiming to ease chronic outages and meet rising electricity demand. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-signs-us-contract-with-general-electric-to-rebuild-power-grid ### 2026-06-15: Venezuela signs deal with General Electric to revive power grid Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez signs a deal with General Electric Vernova to restore up to 5,000 MW of power over four years, aiming to fix a national electricity crisis. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-signs-deal-with-general-electric-to-revive-power-grid ### 2026-06-14: Venezuela signs energy cooperation deals with Italy, GE Vernova and US Energy Department Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodríguez signed energy cooperation agreements with Italy’s IILA, GE Vernova for 1,000 MW grid upgrades, and met the US Energy Department to restore bilateral ties. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-signs-energy-cooperation-deals-with-italy-ge-vernova-and-us-energy-department ### 2026-06-13: Venezuela signs historic IMPSA deal to add 2,640 MW via Tocoma hydroelectric plant Venezuela and Argentina’s IMPSA signed a deal to complete Tocoma hydroelectric, adding 2,640 MW to the grid and stabilizing the national electricity system. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-expands-energy-ties-with-us-delegation-and-argentine-firm-impsa ### 2026-06-11: Venezuela grants Shell license to develop cross‑border Loran gas field Venezuela's acting president granted Shell a licence to develop the cross‑border Loran gas field, targeting export and production by 2027 after a 23‑year hiatus. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-grants-shell-license-to-develop-loran-gas-field-signaling-opening-to-foreign-energy-firms ### 2026-06-11: PDVSA and Shell inspect Monagas gas complex in Venezuela PDVSA and Shell inspected the Muscar gas complex in Monagas to assess expansion, infrastructure upgrades, and reliability, amid Venezuela’s reforms to attract foreign investment. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pdvsa-and-shell-inspect-monagas-gas-complex-in-venezuela ### 2026-06-11: Venezuela signs tech partnership with SLB to boost oil and gas production Venezuela and SLB signed a memorandum to share advanced oil‑and‑gas technologies, aiming to boost PDVSA productivity and attract foreign investment. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-signs-tech-partnership-with-slb-to-boost-oil-and-gas-production ### 2026-06-11: Venezuela and United States discuss bilateral energy agenda Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez met U.S. officials to review a bilateral energy agenda, noting oil output at 1.25 m bpd and projected 2026 revenues over $22 bn. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-and-united-states-discuss-energy-cooperation-pdvsa-signs-deal-with-schlumberger ### 2026-06-10: Venezuela signs energy deals with Shell and Schlumberger to boost gas and oil Venezuela’s interim president signed five Shell contracts to develop the Lora gas field and a PDVSA‑Schlumberger MoU to bring advanced tech to oil and gas operations, aiming to boost production and attract new 16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuelas-pdvsa-and-schlumberger-sign-oil-and-gas-cooperation-deal ### 2026-06-05: BP and Shell accelerate Venezuelan gas projects to support European energy security BP and Shell are fast‑tracking Venezuelan offshore gas projects to help Europe fill LNG gaps, while a Moeve‑PwC study says green hydrogen and related molecules could halve EU fossil reliance by 2050. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bp-and-shell-accelerate-venezuelan-gas-projects-to-support-european-energy-security --- Cite as: Venezuela energy push expands after quake. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/foreign-partnerships-in-venezuelas-gas-sector