Read an updated version here. Petróleos de Venezuela, commonly known as PDVSA, is a state-owned oil conglomerate in Venezuela. Despite much contrary propaganda, it was established in 1976 by then-president Carlos Andrés Pérez as part… Corruption Runs Rampant at PDVSA as Chavismo Dismantles Venezuela’s Oil Giant
In September 2013, as part of the “Who is…?” series, I published an investigative report on Luis Oberto, a discreet member of the Venezuelan boliburguesía who has managed to maintain a low profile despite a… Luis Oberto’s Alleged Money Laundering Operations Linked to PDVSA Exposed in St. Barts
The email came from a journalist colleague at W Radio in Colombia, seeking information about Trenaco and/or Alex Saab. The topic in question was a contract believed to exceed $7 billion, which Petróleos de Venezuela… PDVSA’s Alleged $20 Billion Contract to Trenaco Raises Serious Corruption Concerns
Some people are calling it a political victory. Others are praising a politician whose main achievement so far seems to be outsmarting inexperienced and clueless politicians who are completely unaccountable to their electorate. Meanwhile, there… Outrage Over Henry Ramos Allup’s Baseless Accusations Amid Venezuela’s Political Chaos
I found a new job and am no longer actively writing here. Although I continue to cover Latin American energy companies, I decided that it’s perfectly fine to write behind a paywall in exchange for… Farewell to the Blog: A New Chapter in Latin American Energy Insights
Venezuela and Colombia, where I’ve spent the last few weeks, are heavily reliant on oil. Both nations have developed economies that are so dependent on oil that the recent drop in crude prices has caused… Venezuela and Colombia: Ignoring Crisis Opportunities and Doubling Down on Oil Dependency
Gold miners are currently able to purchase 30.33 barrels of West Texas Intermediate crude oil for every ounce of gold they sell, marking the highest ratio in at least 15 years. Based on historical trends,… Gold-Oil Ratio Surges: Gold Miners Now Buy 30.33 Barrels of Oil per Ounce of Gold
The message from the Bloomberg reporter read: «Hi, I’m a reporter doing something on Derwick. Can I give you a call to ask a couple of questions?» By this point, it’s clear that emails and… Bloomberg’s Disturbing Obfuscation of Venezuelan Corruption in Derwick Scandal
Monitoring Latin American currencies against the Canadian dollar (CAD) can offer a clearer perspective compared to the US dollar (USD). The USD serves as the world’s reserve currency and often reflects global risk tolerance. In… Colombia’s Currency Decline: A Detailed Analysis of Latin American Currency Trends Against the Canadian Dollar
Actions speak louder than words. (So do bonds.) In hindsight, no one can claim he was front-running anything; he effectively identified the market bottom. This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Canada, Colombia,… Analyzing the Impact of the Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp. Deal Collapse: Key Insights and Future Outlook
Having your largest banknote worth only USD 0.20 can surprisingly be beneficial. It effectively prevents anyone from carrying a large sum of money since it would simply be too heavy. Thieves in Caracas recently struck… The Unexpected Benefits and Challenges of Currency Devaluation in Venezuela
Thanks to the essential Otto Rock, who is always tuned into community issues, I learned about the current situation in Puerto Gaitan. After several days of protests at the Pacific Rubiales offices in Puerto Gaitan,… ALFA’s Billion-Dollar Investment Plans at Pacific Rubiales: Indigenous Protests in Puerto Gaitan, Colombia
Marcelo Odebrecht, the CEO of Brazil’s largest engineering and construction firm, is currently incarcerated on charges related to kickbacks in the procurement of materials for the oil industry from Petrobras. While we refrain from presuming… Odebrecht Scandal: Unraveling Brazil’s Corruption and Its Global Implications
Submitting filings to regulatory and court systems as scanned PDFs does not conceal them. Individuals like myself download these documents and use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to analyze them. Each time you submit a… Why Uploading Graphic PDFs Can Raise Suspicion: A Guide for Lawyers and Investment Bankers
PolitickerNJ has the details. The ex-co-chief executive officer (CEO) of PetroTiger Ltd., a British Virgin Islands-based oil and gas firm with operations in Colombia, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe a foreign government official,… PetroTiger CEO Admits Guilt in Foreign Bribery Case: A Violation of the FCPA in Colombia