BACHAQUERO, Venezuela, Nov. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP) has installed 1,149 kilometers of new flexible pipe on the eastern shore of Lake Maracaibo since beginning operations there in 2024. The pipe replaces aging steel lines, which have been a main source of leaks that have damaged the lake for decades.
Flexible pipe with protective layers resists the corrosion associated with old steel. Laid in continuous sections from barges, it has fewer joints where leaks typically start. NABEP also repaired critical sections of 12-inch oil and gas trunk lines this year by installing nearly four kilometers of new steel pipe.
Lake Maracaibo's pollution problem dates to the early 1900s. Decades of intensive production, inadequate maintenance and underinvestment left most of the lake's estimated 25,000 kilometers of underwater pipeline corroding. In 2021, a Simón Bolívar University scientist told NASA's Earth Observatory that most of the pipelines were 50 years old. NASA has also cited estimates of 40,000 to 50,000 oil leaks and spills across Venezuela between 2010 and 2016 alone.
NABEP inherited part of that network in 2024 and made replacing it a priority. Rather than patching old lines section by section, the company is replacing each well's lines entirely. The program has run new flow and gas lines to 435 wells in the Bachaquero and Ceuta fields. Of those, 301 are already producing through the new pipe, with about 52,000 barrels of oil a day now flowing from the wellhead through new lines. The remaining wells have their new lines in place and will produce through them when they come back online.
"Decades of neglect have left oil on Lake Maracaibo's shores and fishing families struggling to make a living from its waters," said NABEP CEO Alejandro Betancourt. "Cleanups alone can't keep up while old pipes keep leaking, so we're reinvesting in a lasting fix: replacing the corroded lines we inherited, one by one. We are working steadily to replace the graveyard of rusted equipment and oil slicks we see today with modern infrastructure built to the highest safety and environmental standards. We're committed to being good stewards of this lake and good neighbors to the communities that depend on it."
The work continues. NABEP has 176 kilometers of new pipe in storage, 791 more in transit, and plans to lay about 3,400 additional kilometers, including new lines connecting 144 wells to the Bachaquero 3 compressor plant. The program is part of broader efforts to clean up and restore Lake Maracaibo.
About North American Blue Energy Partners
North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP) is an independent oil exploration and production company operating in North and Latin America, with offices in Caracas, Maracaibo and Lechería. NABEP is committed to the responsible development of energy resources, the safety of its people and the prosperity of the communities where it operates. www.nabep.net
Media contact: press@nabep.com
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NABEP Replaces Decades-Old Steel Lines with 1,149 Kilometers of New Pipe on Lake Maracaibo
Awards Highlight Luxury Hospitality and Fine Dining Excellence Across South Korea and Vietnam
- The Shilla Seoul earns Global Winner recognition for Best Luxury Culinary Hotel, alongside national honors for luxury city and wedding hotels
- La Yeon and Continental at The Shilla Seoul receive Global Winner honors for Korean cuisine and wine selection, respectively
- The Shilla Jeju wins three resort categories across Asia, East Asia and South Korea
- Shilla Monogram Danang is named Global Winner for Best Luxury Beach Resort, highlighting the group's growing international presence
SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Shilla Hotels & Resorts has earned 11 awards, including four Global Winner honors, at the 2026 World Luxury Awards, recognizing its excellence across luxury hotels, fine dining and resort experiences. The awards recognize The Shilla Seoul and its restaurants, La Yeon and Continental, and The Shilla Jeju in South Korea, alongside Shilla Monogram Danang in Vietnam.
The World Luxury Awards recognize excellence across the luxury hospitality and travel industries through dedicated award programs for hotels, spas, restaurants and travel. The World Luxury Hotel Awards, established in 2006, and the World Luxury Restaurant Awards, established in 2015, recognize outstanding properties and dining establishments through online voting. Winners are selected across global, continental, regional and country categories.
The Shilla Seoul was named Global Winner in the Best Luxury Culinary Hotel category, while also receiving Best Luxury Wedding Hotel in South Korea and Best Luxury City Hotel in South Korea honors. The three awards recognize the hotel's offerings across fine dining, weddings and luxury urban hospitality, reflecting the breadth of experiences available at the property.
The Shilla Seoul's culinary recognition was further strengthened by its restaurants, La Yeon and Continental, which each earned Global Winner honors. La Yeon, the hotel's Korean restaurant, received the Best Korean Cuisine Global Winner award and was also recognized as Best Luxury Heritage Restaurant in East Asia. Continental, its French restaurant, was named Global Winner for Best Wine Selection and received the Best French Cuisine award in East Asia. Together with The Shilla Seoul's Best Luxury Culinary Hotel recognition, these awards highlight the hotel's strengths across Korean and French fine dining.
The Shilla Jeju received three awards: Best Luxury Ocean View Resort in Asia, Best Luxury Resort in East Asia and Best Luxury Family Resort in South Korea. Set against Jeju Island's scenic coastal landscape, the resort offers luxury accommodations, diverse dining options and leisure experiences designed for a relaxing island getaway. The three awards underscore its appeal to a broad range of travelers, from couples seeking a peaceful retreat to families enjoying a memorable resort vacation.
In Vietnam, Shilla Monogram Danang was named Global Winner in the Best Luxury Beach Resort category, marking another kind of international recognition for The Shilla Hotels & Resorts. Shilla Monogram is a lifestyle hotel brand that combines The Shilla's hospitality heritage with the distinctive character of each destination, offering experiences shaped by local culture and surroundings. The award demonstrates the group's ability to bring its hospitality expertise to international markets through a distinct brand experience.
The recognition across city hotels, fine dining restaurants and resort destinations reflects the breadth of The Shilla Hotels & Resorts' hospitality expertise. Across its portfolio, the group combines a longstanding commitment to refined service and exceptional guest experiences with hospitality offerings tailored to different destinations and traveler needs.
"We are delighted that The Shilla Seoul and The Shilla Jeju have been recognized for their excellence in luxury hospitality, and it is particularly meaningful to see Shilla Monogram Danang receive global recognition as well," said a spokesperson for The Shilla Hotels & Resorts. "This achievement shows how the hospitality expertise we have developed in Korea, combined with the unique character of each destination, can create experiences that resonate with international travelers. We will continue to build on this approach as we expand into new markets."
The Shilla Hotels & Resorts continues to strengthen its international presence, building on the hospitality expertise developed through its operations in South Korea. As part of its ongoing global expansion, the group opened Shilla Monogram Hanoi Westlake in Vietnam in October 2026, further extending its hospitality offerings to travelers around the world.
For more information:
The Shilla Hotels & Resorts Official Website: https://www.shillahotels.com/en/shillahotels/hub/index.do
The 20th Annual World Luxury Hotel Awards: The 20th Annual World Luxury Hotel Awards - World Luxury Hotel Awards
The 11th Annual World Luxury Restaurant Awards: https://www.luxuryrestaurantawards.com/winner/the-11th-annual-world-luxury-restaurant-awards/?sorts%23winners-table%5brestaurant%5d=1
About Hotel Shilla
Hotel Shilla, an affiliate of the Samsung Group, is a leading hospitality and travel retail operator based in South Korea, committed to delivering outstanding customer experiences through innovation and service excellence. Its hospitality division, The Shilla Hotels & Resorts, includes three hotel brands: The Shilla, Shilla Monogram, and Shilla Stay, with 23 properties across South Korea, China and Vietnam. The Shilla Seoul, the company's flagship luxury property, is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World (LHW) and an APAC Regional Program Partner of Virtuoso, recognized globally for excellence in service and sophistication. In its travel retail division, The Shilla Duty Free is a leading duty-free powerhouse, operating three domestic stores, two overseas branches, and an online platform. Drawing on decades of expertise, Hotel Shilla continues to pursue new opportunities for growth, aiming to become a world-class service distribution leader.
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The Shilla Hotels & Resorts Recognized in 11 Categories at 2026 World Luxury Awards, Including Four Global Honors
