EXHIBIT 31.2

I, Steven W. Tholen, certify that:

         1.   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Harvest Natural
              Resources, Inc.;

         2.   Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any
              untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
              fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the
              circumstances under which such statements were made, not
              misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual
              report;

         3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
              financial information included in this annual report, fairly
              present in all material respects the financial condition, results
              of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the
              periods presented in this annual report;

         4.   The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible
              for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and
              procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and
              15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

                  a.   designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or
                       caused such internal control over financial reporting to
                       be designed under our supervision, to ensure that
                       material information relating to the registrant,
                       including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to
                       us by others within those entities, particularly during
                       the period in which this annual report is being prepared;

                  b.   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's
                       disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this
                       annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of
                       the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of
                       the period covered by this annual report based on such
                       evaluation; and

                  c.   disclosed in this annual report any change in the
                       registrant's internal control over financial reporting
                       that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal
                       quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably
                       likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal
                       control over financial reporting; and;

         5.   The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed,
              based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over
              financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit
              committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons
              performing the equivalent functions):

                  a.   all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in
                       the design or operation of internal control over
                       financial reporting which are reasonably likely to
                       adversely affect the registrant's ability to record,
                       process, summarize and report financial information; and

                  b.   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
                       management or other employees who have a significant role
                       in the registrant's internal control over financial
                       reporting.

Date: March 9, 2004

                                         /s/ Steven W. Tholen
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Steven W. Tholen
                                         Senior Vice President - Finance,
                                         Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer