Equinor Stays on Sidelines as Venezuela Oil Prospects Reopen

Equinor CEO Anders Opedal said the Norwegian energy company has no plans to re-enter Venezuela, despite renewed industry interest following the capture of Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces. The stance underscores ongoing geopolitical and operational risks in the country, which holds the world’s largest proven crude reserves. While some Western – particularly U.S. – producers may look to expand their footprint if sanctions and political conditions improve, Equinor’s decision highlights that not all major players view the current environment as sufficiently stable or attractive for fresh investment, a factor that could influence long-term expectations for Venezuelan supply and global oil balances, including benchmarks such as Oil – US Crude and related energy markets like Natural Gas.

Over the past month, Oil – US Crude has fallen about 4.1%, reflecting a combination of demand concerns, shifting risk sentiment, and uncertainty around future supply from politically sensitive producers including Venezuela. From a short-term technical perspective, US Crude currently flashes a Strong Sell signal, suggesting bearish momentum remains in place despite potential upside scenarios tied to any future policy shifts in Caracas. Natural Gas has seen a much sharper one-month decline of roughly 23.7%, consistent with weak seasonal demand and ample inventories in key consuming regions; technically, it is rated a Sell, indicating prevailing downside pressure, though volatility could rise if broader energy market dynamics are disrupted by changes in Venezuelan output or regional geopolitics. Investors can explore more updates, prices, and analysis across global markets at Commodities.