The New Venezuelan Hydrocarbons Law: Scope, Intent and Viability
On Jan. 29, 2026, Venezuela’s National Assembly approved a major overhaul of the law governing the oil industry, opening the sector to private investment, reducing royalties and taxes, and offering investor protections. The reforms come amid heightened political uncertainty, raising questions about whether the new framework can provide the legal certainty investors seek.
The Institute of the Americas and the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute invite you to a webinar on Feb. 12, 2026, titled “The New Venezuelan Hydrocarbons Law: Scope, Intent and Viability.” Legal experts will examine the law’s implications for Venezuela’s oil industry and assess its prospects in a country with significant hydrocarbon potential. Discussion will address ownership rules, regulatory autonomy, and fiscal terms, as well as the evolving role of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), the state-owned oil and gas company.
This event is free and open to the public.
Registration
This event is free, but registration is required.
Participants
Featured Speaker
Elisabeth Eljuri
Energy Expert; Former President, Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN)
Panelists
Fulvio Italiani
Partner, D’Empaire
Jose Vicente Zapata
Partner, Holland & Knight
Carlos Solé
Partner, Baker Botts
Moderators
Jeremy Martin
Vice-President, Energy and Sustainability, Institute of the Americas
Francisco Monaldi, Ph.D.
Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Latin American Energy Policy, Director, Latin America Energy Program, Baker Institute
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