Monday, January 12, 2026

State Oil News

Sources say that the Embassies of Venezuela are planning visits by American and European oil companies

Two sources said that foreign embassies in Venezuela are arranging visits next week with representatives of American and European oil firms. This follows the U.S. announcement about a $2 billion deal for oil and the supply to Venezuela of U.S. products. Sources said that the meetings will include some with PDVSA (the state oil company) to help advance Venezuelan oil supply negotiation and do initial assessments of Venezuelan infrastructure.

Vitol, Trafigura and the White House invited to Venezuelan oil discussions on Friday

Four sources familiar with the situation have confirmed that the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump has invited the heads of commodity trading companies Vitol and Trafigura to meet at the White House this Friday to discuss the marketing Venezuelan crude oil. European trading houses dominate global oil trading, and could assist the U.S. in selling oil from Venezuela despite Washington's desire for U.S. oil majors to take the lead.

Iraq nationalises West Qurna 2 Oilfield Operations, Government Says

Iraqi Cabinet has approved the nationalisation of petroleum operations in West Qurna 2 Oilfield, one?of the world's largest oilfields, according to the 'provisions' of a contract signed with Russia Lukoil. The cabinet agreed to also seek approvals for financing operations via the Majnoon account. This will be boosted with proceeds from crude shipments sold by SOMO, state oil marketing company.

What is the current status of international oil firms in Venezuela following Maduro’s capture?

Here are some key facts about the international oil companies operating in Venezuela. The country, which has the largest oil reserves in the world, is now in crisis following the capture of the President Nicolas Maduro. Former President Hugo Chavez expropriated?assets?from foreign oil companies in the 2000s. This strengthened the state-owned PDVSA control over the oilfields of the country.

Explainer: Status of Foreign Oil Companies in Venezuela After Maduro’s Arrest

© Mike Mareen / Adobe Stock

Here are some key facts about the international oil companies operating in Venezuela. The country, which has the largest oil reserves in the world, is now in crisis following the capture of the President Nicolas Maduro.Hugo Chavez, the former president, expropriated foreign oil companies' assets in the 2000s. This strengthened the state-owned PDVSA?control over Venezuela's oilfields.

Venezuela's distressed debt of billions: Who will collect?

The fall of Nicolas Maduro brought Venezuela's debt crisis, one of the largest unresolved defaults in the world, to the forefront. Venezuela defaulted on its international bonds in late 2017 due to the economic crisis that lasted for years and the U.S. sanctioning the country, which cut it off from the international capital market. The government and the state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (known as PDVSA) issued the international bonds.

Venezuela's distressed debt of billions: Who will collect?

The fall of Nicolas Maduro brought Venezuela's debt crisis, one of the largest unresolved defaults in the world, to the forefront. Venezuela defaulted on its international bonds in late 2017, after years of economic turmoil and U.S. Sanctions that cut the country off from international capital markets. The government and the state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) had failed to make payments.

UK-based Harbour Energy is named as the operator of Mexico's Zama Oilfield

Harbour Energy, a British company focusing on the North Sea, announced Wednesday that it had been named the operator of the Zama oil field in Mexico after Pemex and its project partners, GrupoCarso, Talos Energy, agreed to this appointment. The announcement comes just days after Harbour signed a $3.2 Billion deal with?LLOG, which will allow it to enter the 'Gulf…

Tinubu, Nigeria's Tinubu, approves a debt forgiveness of $1.42 billion for the state oil company NNPC

The presidency announced on Monday that Bola Tinubu had approved the cancellation by the Nigerian government of $3.85 billion in debts owed to the state oil firm NNPC Ltd. Tinubu is attempting to improve transparency and clean up NNPC’s books as the top?oil producer in Africa deals with soaring debt and low revenue. The NNPC was given approval by the Nigerian…

Document shows that RPT-Mexico’s Pemex awarded five contracts to boost oil production, but failed to attract big players.

According to four sources with knowledge of the matter, and to a document viewed by us, the Mexican state oil company Pemex has signed five of the eleven new joint venture agreements it planned to sign before the year's end. Pemex, however, was unable to 'attract' major companies and the amount of production that the ventures could add is too small to help Mexico reverse its declining crude oil output.

Vitol to lend $2 billion to Uganda's state oil company

According to an official from the finance ministry, Uganda National Oil Company, owned by the state, plans to borrow 2 billion dollars from a division of global commodities trader Vitol in order to fund infrastructure projects including a crude refinery. In early this year, the east African nation signed an agreement to build a $4 Billion domestic crude oil refinery. The facility will produce 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

Document shows that Mexico's Pemex awarded five contracts to boost oil production, but failed to attract big players.

According to sources familiar with the situation and a document viewed by us, the Mexican state oil company Pemex awarded five out of the 11 joint venture contracts that it planned to sign before the year's end. Pemex, however, was unable attract major companies and the production that these ventures could add appears to be too small to help Mexico reverse its declining crude oil production.

Russia's monthly oil revenue is set to reach its lowest level since August 2020

Calculations showed that the Russian state's oil and gas revenues in December are likely to drop by almost half from a year ago, reaching 410 billion Russian roubles (5.17 billion dollars), due to lower crude prices and stronger roubles. Calculations showed that oil and gas revenues are the Kremlin's main source of income. They account for a quarter the federal budget…

Russia's oil & gas revenues are expected to drop by half in December, reaching their lowest level since August 2020

Calculations showed that the Russian state's oil and gas revenue is likely to drop by almost half in December, compared to a year earlier. This will be due to lower crude prices as well as a stronger rouble. The Finance Ministry had forecast 8.65 trillion roubles for the year. Calculations based on official statistics and data from industry sources suggest that the total revenue will fall by nearly a quarter, to 8.44 trillion.

Pemex debt should be a red flag to potential partners when Mexico looks to increase oil production

Over a month has passed since Pemex's head made an appeal for partners to assist Mexico's state oil company in boosting production. But national and international companies are still not responding. Pemex has a mountain of debts, ranging from Italian producers such as Eni, to U.S. service companies SLB and Baker Hughes, which, combined with rigid contract terms, have dampened interest among potential partners.

Ghana wants to take over Springfield oil block as a state-owned company, says ministry

Ghana has begun talks to acquire Springfield Exploration's share in a block offshore that holds an estimated 1,5 billion barrels worth of oil. The energy ministry announced this as Ghana seeks to boost its economy by reversing the decline in production. The ministry announced on Wednesday that it would pursue a state-led acquisition of Springfield's interests in the West Cape Three Points Block 2 via state oil company GNPC.

Yanchang Seeks Non-Russian Oil in Tender

Credit: Adobe Stock/Casimiro

Chinese refiner Yanchang Petroleum is seeking non-Russian oil in its latest crude tender, trade sources told Reuters on Tuesday, while others said Sinopec subsidiary Luoyang Petrochemical has shut for maintenance as an indirect result of Western sanctions.China's state oil companies and some Indian refiners are avoiding buying Russian oil due to concerns about…

Lukoil Declares Force Majeure in Iraq as Operations Strain Under US Sanctions

© Вера Тихонова - stock.adobe.com

Lukoil declared force majeure at its Iraqi oil field, sources told Reuters on Monday, and Bulgaria was poised to seize its Burgas refinery, as the Russian company's international operations buckled under the strain of U.S. sanctions.The force majeure at the West Qurna-2 field in Iraq marks the biggest fallout yet from the sanctions imposed on Russian oil majors Lukoil and Rosneft last month as part of U.S.

Lukoil declares Force Majeure in Iraqi oilfield following US sanctions

Four sources familiar with the situation said that Lukoil declared force majeure on Iraq's West Qurna-2 giant oilfield on Monday after Western sanctions against the Russian oil major hindered its operations. Lukoil didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. Last month, the United States and Britain imposed sanction on Rosneft, Russia's largest oil company, and Lukoil.

Lukoil declares Force Majeure in Iraqi Oilfield after Sanctions

Four sources familiar with the situation said that Lukoil declared force majeure on Iraq's West Qurna-2 giant oilfield on Monday after Western sanctions against the Russian oil giant hampered the oil major's operations. Lukoil didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for a comment. Last month, the United States and Britain imposed economic sanctions against Lukoil, Russia's second largest oil company.