CARACAS, VENEZUELA (By Energy Analytics Institute and Editores Latin Petroleum, 18.Aug.2026, Words: 625) — The following briefs span company details on ECOPETROL, Glencore, KABIL, Trafigura, PDVSA, Vitol, Atera Energy, bp, the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV), Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB), and PETROBRAS, among others.
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ASIA
— China launched the first mining trucks w/ sodium-ion batteries. The vehicles use 676 kWh batteries capable of reaching a full charge in 20-25 minutes and w/ a declared lifespan of over 8,000 cycles. [Mineria y Desarrollo]
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
ARGENTINA
— India plans to begin lithium production in Argentina within 4-5 yrs. The Indian state-owned co. KABIL is moving fwd w/ the exploration of five lithium blks in Catamarca and anticipates completing the necessary studies to assess their development. [Mineria y Desarrollo]
CHILE
— the new Chilean consul, Flavio Escóbar Llanos, will focus his efforts on an agenda that includes energy, foreign trade, port logistics, and cooperation in combating transnational crime. Escóbar’s arrival in Santiago comes after a period marked by political differences between the Bolivia and Chile, which have maintained diplomatic relations at the consular level since 1978. [La Razón]
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COLOMBIA
— natgas shortages in Colombia could drive liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports up to 70% by early-2027. This, as LPG continues to gain ground in Colombia’s energy mix as evidenced by a rise in consumption in the industrial and commercial sectors of 41.3% in the 1H:26 v the 1H:15. [El Tiempo]
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— ECOPETROL reports results of bondholders’ meetings for domestic public debt bonds held at first call. [ECOPETROL]
BOLIVIA
— application of a differentiated price for certain diesel consumers could create incentives for irregular resale and the emergence of parallel marketing channels, warned economic analyst Oswaldo Irusta Díaz while evaluating the scope of Supreme Decree 5676. The decree authorizes Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB) to sell diesel to direct customers and large consumers (Gracos) at a reference price, while service stations and retail outlets may do so with so-called direct users. For all other consumers, the decree maintains the regulated final prices unchanged. [El Diario]
MEXICO
— Atera Energy will invest $500mn in Mexico to boost self-generation of energy for industry. [Editores Latin Petroleum]
VENEZUELA
— Venezuela’s GDP grew by 7.14% in the 2Q:26 v the 2Q:25, driven primarily by a 9.1% rise in oil activity, the heart of the national economy, according to official figures. The Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) indicated non-oil activity rose 5.79% in the 2Q:26, a year marked by greater openness in sectors such as oil, mining, and electricity amid close cooperation between Caracas and Washington, initiated after the US captured Nicolás Maduro last Jan. [EFE]
— Venezuelan oil is once again attracting big names to its list of buyers, and BP has just entered the fray. The oil company has begun trading Venezuelan crude, following in the footsteps of Trafigura and Vitol. The Monte Lema tanker loaded 400,000 bbls of heavy fuel oil supplied by state-owned PDVSA for BP, w/ Space Center (Houston) as its provisional destination, as the co. also moves fwd w/ its return to the Caribbean country’s energy sector. [Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg]
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— Venezuela’s registered another earthquake with an epicenter located in the state of La Guaira with a magnitude greater than 4 magnitude. [Editores Latin Petroleum]
AUSTRALIA
— Glencore prepares its debut on the Australian stock exchange and sparks interest among investors. The mining co., which operates the Pachón mine, plans a secondary listing on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in Oct. [Mineria y Desarrollo]
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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.
By freelance editors and writers reporting for 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. © 1999-2026 LATINPETROLEUM INC., dba ENERGY ANALYTICS INSTITUTE (EAI), and EDITORES LATIN PETROLEUM CA. All Rights Reserved.
