Representatives of several oil majors have visited Caracas to discuss business opportunities since Maduro was captured by US forces in a deadly raid on the city on Jan 3.

Rodriguez, who was vice-president under Maduro, was accepted by US President Donald Trump as Maduro’s replacement on condition that she submit to US demands for access to Venezuelan oil.

Last month, she pushed through a major reform of the country’s hydrocarbon laws, opening up the sector to private and foreign investment.

The US treasury has eased a seven-year-old oil embargo on the country, as part of Washington’s bid to boost oil production, for the benefit of both Venezuela and the United States.

The country produced 1.2 million oil barrels per day in 2025 – up from a historic low of about 360,000 in 2020 – but still far from the 3.0 million bpd it was pumping 25 years ago.

Six companies – US company Chevron and BP, Eni, Maurel & Prom, Repsol and Shell of Europe – have been licensed by Washington to operate in the country.

Shell has a long history of oil production in the country with the largest proven reserves of crude, dating back to the early 20th century.

In 2019, however, it began winding down its Venezuelan operations due to the US sanctions and tensions with Venezuelan authorities.

The company had however obtained a license to explore the huge Dragon gas field situated on Venezuela’s maritime border with the twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago.

The project was suspended in October after Maduro broke off energy cooperation with Trinidad and Tobago over its support for the US military deployment in the Caribbean that preceded the assault on Caracas.