Venezuela opens debate on an oil sector overhaul as Trump seeks role for US firms

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela's legislature advanced a bill on Thursday to loosen state control over the country's vast oil sector in the first major overhaul since the late socialist leader Hugo Chávez nationalized parts of the industry in 2007.

The legislation would formally break decades of state command over some of the world's largest oil reserves, create new opportunities for private companies to invest and establish international arbitration for investment disputes.

Following the U.S. capture of former President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month, the Trump administration has ramped up pressure on acting President Delcy Rodríguez and other allies of the ousted leader to invite greater investment from U.S. energy companies in Venezuela's flagging oil industry.

A draft of the proposed legislation, a copy of which was seen by The Associated Press, represents a stark retreat from the resource nationalism at the heart of Venezuela's socialist-inspired revolution.

Reflecting U.S. demands, the proposed legislation would allow private companies to independently operate oil fields, market their own crude output and collect the cash revenues through contracts with Petróleos de Venezuela, the state-run oil company and long the cornerstone of Venezuela's economy.

''The operating company shall assume the comprehensive management of the execution of the activities, at its sole cost, expense and risk,'' the draft says, adding that portions of production volumes ''may be directly commercialized by the operating company, once governmental obligations have been fulfilled.''

Crucially, the bill offers companies the option of settling legal disputes through arbitration in international courts rather than just local courts. It also allows the government to cut royalties from the current 30% to as low as 15% and slash extraction taxes to persuade companies to commit to difficult projects in underdeveloped fields.

''Oil under the ground is useless,'' he said, referring to the need to boost oil production and open up exploration opportunities.

Pushed by Delcy Rodríguez, the bill is expected to advance swiftly through the ruling party-dominated legislature.

After around two hours of discussion, lawmakers gave initial approval to the bill on Thursday and sent it to a second round of debate, yet to be scheduled.

During the session, Orlando Camacho, a lawmaker and head of Venezuela's national Fedeindustria business association, said the bill ensures ''that oil continues to be the driving force of our country's development.''

The proposed legal guarantees — ensuring that foreign companies can bring claims against Venezuela before international bodies — are necessary to attract private investment, he said, adding, ''It is a bold step.''

Plenty of investors have been burned before, their assets seized as Chávez nationalized parts of Venezuela's lucrative oil industry in 2007.

Firms like Exxon have been trying to get the Venezuelan government to compensate them for their billions of dollars in losses ever since, to no avail.

The current political uncertainty also worries investors.

There is no timeline for holding democratic elections in Venezuela as Rodríguez, long Maduro's second in command, seeks to consolidate control.

Trump also hasn't said when the U.S. will lift crippling sanctions he imposed in his first term to weaken Maduro's government, further complicating foreign operations in the country's oil sector.

Associated Press journalist Isabel DeBre contributed to this report from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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