Russian companies want to build energy facilities in Venezuela, supply equipment, petrochemicals under discussion

MOSCOW. Oct. 16 (Interfax) - Russian companies have expressed interest in the modernization and construction of energy facilities in Venezuela, the supply of equipment for oil and gas transportation, and projects in the field of digitalization of the Venezuelan oil and gas industry, the press service of the Russian government said in a press release after the Russian-Venezuelan intergovernmental commission.

As stated in the press release, 16 bilateral documents were signed on cooperation in the oil and gas, oil service, and tourism industries, as well as in the fields of maritime transportation, employment, interaction through the media, and scientific and cultural spheres. Preparations for President Nicolas Maduro's visit to Russia were also discussed.

The Minister of People's Power for Petroleum of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Pedro Tellechea, welcomed the resumption of the operations of five PDVSA joint ventures and gas projects together with the Gazprom group .

"Venezuela greatly appreciates the interest shown by various Russian companies in expanding the exchange of resources and supplies related to the oil, gas and petrochemical industries," Telechea said. "In addition, geological research is being carried out with the help of Russian technologies (...)," he said.

The next meeting of the high-level intergovernmental commission, the 18th, will be held in Caracas in 2024.