Venezuela is set to promote major investment opportunities in its energy sector at the upcoming African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 in Cape Town, as part of a renewed push to attract global capital following sweeping industry reforms, according to a press release issued by the African Energy Chamber.
The Venezuela Global Investment Forum, scheduled for October 12–16, will bring together senior government officials, national oil company executives, international energy firms, financiers and commodity traders to highlight what organizers describe as a significant reopening of the country’s energy market.
According to the release, the forum will serve as a direct platform for investors to engage with projects across Venezuela’s hydrocarbons sector, including upstream oil, natural gas, infrastructure and power development opportunities. The event will also feature participation in the AEW Deal Room, where Venezuelan projects will be showcased alongside major African energy developments.
The initiative follows recent reforms to Venezuela’s Organic Hydrocarbons Law, which the release described as one of the country’s most comprehensive investment overhauls in decades. The changes expand opportunities for private operators, introduce new production participation contracts, offer more competitive fiscal terms and strengthen international arbitration mechanisms aimed at reducing investment risk.
“Venezuela is opening a new chapter for its energy industry,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “The reforms underway are creating a more competitive and attractive investment environment and the Venezuela Global Investment Forum at AEW 2026 provides the ideal platform for international investors to engage directly with decision-makers.”
The release noted that Venezuela is targeting crude oil production of 1.4 million barrels per day by the end of 2026, following a recovery to approximately 1.2 million barrels per day in the first half of the year. In addition to oil, the government is pursuing a broader strategy focused on natural gas development, offshore expansion, infrastructure rehabilitation and power sector modernization.
Discussions during the forum are expected to focus on expanding upstream investment, accelerating gas development, upgrading infrastructure and building long-term partnerships to support Venezuela’s return to global energy markets.
The Cape Town event will also form part of a wider investment campaign linking AEW 2026 with Venezuela Energy Week, scheduled to take place in Caracas from February 22–25, 2027. According to the release, the two events are designed to introduce investors to Venezuela’s reformed investment landscape before advancing negotiations and project development.
Organizers say the forum will also strengthen energy cooperation between Africa and Latin America at a time when global markets are increasingly focused on supply security and new sources of production growth.
The release was distributed by APO Group on behalf of the African Energy Chamber.
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