September 21, 2026 –
First primary aluminum shipment leaves Venezuela for the U.S. in eight years
New York -- Heeney Capital said on September 18 that a 15,000-ton shipment of primary aluminum has departed Venezuela for the United States, marking the first such delivery between the two countries in eight years.
Mercuria Energy Group and CVG Venalum anchor the offtake deal
The cargo originated from Corporación Venezolana de Guayana's Venalum smelter and moves under an existing offtake agreement involving Heeney Capital, Mercuria Energy Group and the Venezuelan government.
Deal ties into White House-backed push to revive Venezuela's mining sector
The transaction forms part of a broader, White House-backed initiative to channel private investment into Venezuela's energy and mining industries, aiming to restore U.S. access to critical raw materials.
"This shipment demonstrates that Venezuela's mining and energy sectors are a reliable partner to U.S. industry," said Henry Heeney, Co-Founder of Heeney Capital, adding the company sees itself as a first mover in a larger wave of investment in the country.
Sean Pi, Co-Founder of Heeney Capital, said projects like Venalum create economic opportunity while restoring U.S. supply chain access to critical materials, calling it the kind of private-sector-led investment the firm aims to deliver in Venezuela.
Heeney Capital said it plans to work with the Venezuelan government and CVG to expand trade between the two countries.