PRESS DIGEST 3 AUG 2026: TotalEnergies’ deals; COL gas find; VEN oil exports

CARACAS, VENEZUELA (By Energy Analytics Institute, 3.Aug.2026, Words: 325) — The following briefs span company details on PETROBRAS, ECOPETROL, Imacec, TotalEnergies, KKR, Shell, OPEC, and Explora Journeys among others.

RELATED: TOTALENERGIES ACQUIRES SHELL’S RENEWABLES BUSINESS AND SELLS A 50% STAKE IN A PORTFOLIO OF DEVELOPED ASSETS TO KKR

The briefs are compiled from varied media outlets across the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region and beyond. Energy Analytics Institute (EAI) has not verified all of these stories and therefore does not vouch for their accuracy. 

RELATED ANALYSIS: THE MYTH OF THE QUICK RAMP-UP IN VENEZUELA, AND NO FREE BARRELS

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN 

CHILE

— after 5 consecutive mths of negative performance, the Chilean economy avoided falling into a technical recession when the monthly economic activity indicator (Imacec) registered 2.4% growth in Jun. This figure would allow for a 0.1% growth rate in the 2Q:26, preventing 2 consecutive qtrs of negative growth. [La Jornada]

COLOMBIA

— PETROBRAS and ECOPETROL confirm new gas discovery in Colombia. [EAI]

MEXICO

— in 2025, the value of mining production in Mexico reached its highest level in at least a decade; however, the sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP fell by 3.2%, a result linked to the stagnation of production volume due to the lack of exploration tenders and other pending government measures for several yrs. [La Jornada]

RELATED: ANALYSTS IMPROVE HEADLINE INFLATION FORECAST FOR MEXICO

VENEZUELA

— Venezuelan oil exports to the US rose in Jul. 2026. The rise came despite a slight fall in Venezuela’s total exports. The OPEC country shipped 1.16 MMb/d in Jul. 2026 v 1.2 MMb/d in Jun. 2026. [Reuters]

RELATED ANALYSIS: TRUMP’S VENEZUELA MISCALCULATION, IRAN SPILLOVER

EUROPE

— TotalEnergies acquires Shell’s renewables business and sells a 50% stake in a portfolio of developed assets to KKR. [EAI]

— Explora Journeys officially named EXPLORA III in Barcelona, welcoming the brand’s 1st LNG-powered ship to the fleet and marking the halfway point in its vision of 6 extraordinary ships redefining ultra-elegant ocean travel. [EAI]

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By freelance editors and writers reporting for Energy Analytics Institute (EAI) from Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Caracas, Houston, Monterrey, Mexico City, and Bogota. 

EAI and its 100% owned Venezuelan affiliate Editores Latin Petroleum CA do not provide investment advice. Â© 1999-2026 LATINPETROLEUM INC., dba ENERGY ANALYTICS INSTITUTE (EAI), and EDITORES LATIN PETROLEUM CA. All Rights Reserved.