Exxon Mobil is considering a return to Venezuela after nearly two decades, as the country and TotalEnergies facilitate the process.

What it means

Exxon Mobil is considering re-entering Venezuela's oil sector after nearly two decades. The company left after a bitter dispute with the Chávez government, which nationalized oil assets in the 2000s. Now, with Venezuela's oil industry in decline and sanctions easing, Exxon is reportedly exploring a return, facilitated by the Venezuelan government and TotalEnergies, a French energy major.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim originates from Yahoo Finance, an aggregated/secondary source that does not cite a primary source (e.g., an Exxon statement or Venezuelan government announcement). The grounding confirms cross-source neutral framing, but the specific details about TotalEnergies' role and the timing remain unverified against a primary document. The story is plausible given recent geopolitical shifts, but the absence of an original filing or press release means the certainty of each detail is moderate.

How new

Genuinely new: the publication window is September 20, 2026, and no recirculation year is given.

Go deeper

• Yahoo Finance — first to publish