Venezuela Appoints Oil Minister Paula Henao Amid US Pressure

Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez appointed petroleum engineer Paula Henao as the new Minister of Hydrocarbons on Wednesday. Henao, with over 20 years at state oil company PDVSA and previous deputy minister role, will focus on boosting the sanction-crippled oil industry. This follows high-profile US visits discussing increased output post-Maduro's removal. Rodriguez aims to restore Venezuela's oil sector under US pressure, implementing legislative reforms to attract private investment. Henao's appointment aligns with Washington's goals to stabilize the economy through energy sector reforms.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/03/12/venezuela-gets-new-oil-minister/