African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org) advanced a structured program of cooperation during a high-level working visit with Venezuela this week, aimed at aligning both regions on hydrocarbon development, trade expansion and capacity building.
The visit began with meetings with Yuri Pimentel, Deputy Minister for Africa of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, where discussions focused on formalizing stronger South-South cooperation in upstream investment, gas monetization and downstream industrial development. As key hydrocarbon regions are undergoing similar developmental pressures, both sides emphasized a shared priority: harnessing oil and gas resources to combat energy poverty and accelerate industrialization.
Rather than treating hydrocarbons as transitional resources, discussions framed them as essential economic drivers. Both sides emphasized that oil, along with the development of natural gas and petrochemicals, represents the next phase of value creation – critical to supporting electrification, powering domestic industries and enabling broader economic growth.
The Chamber encouraged greater participation of African energy companies in Venezuela's upstream and downstream sectors, while supporting Venezuela's participation in African markets. The objective is not transactional engagement, but long-term institutional alignment that strengthens intra-Global South investment flows.
Another important outcome of the visit was the progress on structured human capital partnerships. During meetings with the Universidad Venezolana de los Hidrocarburos, the discussion moved beyond general cooperation towards concrete training pathways for African professionals. Supported by ongoing discussions with stakeholders in Namibia, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Senegal, the parties committed to organizing training programs for Africans and executives in oil and gas. The programs under discussion include executive level capacity building as well as technical training in both onshore and offshore hydrocarbon operations with the aim of strengthening operational and regulatory expertise in African energy markets.
Venezuela's decades of experience in complex onshore heavy oil production and offshore development offers a relevant case study for African producers looking to expand their own resource base. The Chamber is committed to facilitating a framework that supports long-term training exchanges and institutional collaboration. By prioritizing technical depth and executive level capacity building, the partnership aims to ensure that resource development is matched with domestic expertise – strengthening local content objectives in African energy markets.
“This working visit shows that Africa and Venezuela are united not only in resources, but also in vision,” said NJ Ayuk, Acting Chair of the AEC. “Energy poverty remains one of the biggest obstacles to economic growth in the Global South. Our focus is practical: strengthening cooperation, expanding the gas and petrochemical value chain and investing in the skills needed to develop our resources responsibly and competitively.”
As Africa expands upstream production and accelerates gas commercialization, partnerships based on technology exchange and industrial expansion are becoming increasingly strategic. The working visit signals a shift towards structured South-South energy alignment – linking resource development, industrial policy and human capital under an integrated development framework.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the African Energy Chamber.