Minister conveys India’s keenness to deepen energy trade
Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri has reaffirmed India’s strong support for Venezuela’s energy reconstruction, adding that Indian are ready to deepen their presence in the South American country.
Recognizing Venezuela’s key role in India’s energy diversification strategy, he conveyed India’s keenness to deepen its energy trade with Venezuela to the acting President Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez on 5 June.
Acknowledging India as a reliable partner of Venezuela, the Acting President, on a visit to New Delhi, welcomed Indian companies to actively participate in Venezuela’s reformed oil and gas sector.
She highlighted the complementarities that exist between India and Venezuela in the energy sector and invited an Indian delegation to visit Venezuela to explore opportunities for enhanced collaboration.
Venezuela, home to the world’s largest proven oil reserves, is a traditional supplier of crude oil to India. India’s sophisticated refining sector is uniquely equipped to process Venezuela’s heavy crude. As geopolitical and supply disruptions impacted crude oil imports from the Gulf, India is engaging with Venezuela as a strategic partner for its energy diversification.
Venezuela is among the largest crude oil suppliers to India in April and May 2026, a reflection of the future potential. India’s average monthly imports from Venezuela increased from 64.027 TMT during FY 2025-26 to 1,047.148 TMT April-May of FY 2026-27.
Indian Public Sector Companies also have an established presence in Venezuela’s upstream sector, since 2008, demonstrating their long-term commitment. India’s total investment in Venezuela’s oil sector stands at approximately US$1 billion in the San Cristóbal and Petrocarabobo-1 projects located in the Orinoco Belt. Fiinews.com
