CARACAS/HOUSTON--U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright held meetings with top officials and executives in Venezuela on Wednesday as part of the highest-level U.S. visit focused on energy policy in nearly three decades, with the promise of a new era of economic partnership.
Wright, who landed in Caracas in the morning, said the U.S. is prepared to help boost oil, gas and power output in the country, following talks with interim President and Oil Minister Delcy Rodriguez at the Miraflores presidential palace.
"This year, we can drive a dramatic increase in Venezuelan oil production, in Venezuelan natural gas production and Venezuelan electricity production," Wright said during a televised briefing after the meeting.
The boost would lead to more job opportunities, higher wages and quality of life for Venezuelans, while providing benefits for the U.S. and the Western Hemisphere, Wright said, adding that the U.S. wants to "set the Venezuelan people and the economy free."
Wright also is expected to meet executives from companies including Chevron and Spain's Repsol this week. He is expected to stay through Friday and meet with local consumer goods companies before visiting Petropiar, the largest oil project Chevron and state energy company PDVSA operate, in Venezuela's main oil region, the Orinoco Belt, sources familiar with the preparations said.
On Tuesday, the U.S. issued a new general license to facilitate the exploration and production of oil and gas in Venezuela. The authorization follows previous licenses broadly allowing oil exports and fuel imports.
Wright's trip follows the capture of President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces in early January, a $2 billion oil supply deal agreed to by the U.S. and Venezuela shortly after, and a $100 billion reconstruction plan for the country's energy industry promoted by President Donald Trump. Rodriguez said she hopes the relationship between Caracas and Washington progresses "without obstacles."
The U.S. embassy in Caracas, which began reopening in late January, said Wright's visit would be key to advancing Trump's vision for Venezuela."The U.S. private sector will be essential to boost the oil sector, modernize the electric grid, and unlock Venezuela's enormous potential," Charge d'Affaires Laura Dogu wrote in a post on X. She also attended the meeting in Miraflores.
