The Challenge for US Companies to Rebuild Venezuelan Oil Industry Wrecked by Decades of Neglect

‘U.S. companies will not commit serious capital to Venezuela without a credible reset on the rule of law,’ said Jason Isaac, CEO of American Energy Institute.General view of the El Palito refinery building in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, on Dec. 18, 2025. Jesus Vargas/Getty Images1/6/2026|Updated: 1/6/2026News AnalysisFollowing the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3, President Donald Trump said that U.S. oil companies would help to rebuild the country’s crumbling oil industry. Kevin Stocklin is a contributor to The Epoch Times who covers the ESG industry, global governance, and the intersection of politics and business.Author’s Selected Articles