US renews license authorizing liquefied gas operations in Venezuela

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United States Department of the Treasury issued a license on Monday authorizing the continuation of “certain transactions” involving the export or re-export of liquefied gas to Venezuela.

“All transactions related to the export or re-export, direct or indirect, of liquefied petroleum gas to Venezuela, involving the Government of Venezuela, Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) or any entity in which PDVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a stake of 50% or more, which are prohibited, are authorized,” from July 8, except for some provisions set forth in the general license.

The license posted on the Treasury Department’s website, which replaces the 40B license issued in July of last year, does not authorize any payment in kind for petroleum or petroleum products or any prohibited transactions and will be in effect until July 8, 2025.

In April, considering that the government of President Nicolás Maduro had failed to comply with its commitments, the United States decided revoke a license, which authorized oil transactions with Venezuela, and was issued after the signing of the agreement on electoral guarantees in Barbados, which arose after negotiations between Caracas and Washington.

The US acknowledged that Maduro’s government complied with “certain aspects” of the agreements signed in Barbados, including the establishment of an electoral calendar and the invitation to electoral observation missions, but questioned the blocking of opposition candidates.

The Democratic Unitary Platform led by María Corina Machado, winner of the presidential primary but disqualified from holding public office, has denounced that the government has not complied with the agreements signed in Barbados, including respect for each political actor’s right to choose their candidate.

Venezuela’s electoral authority has revoked the invitation to the European Union Electoral Observation Mission for the presidential elections on July 28, despite the fact that it was included in the agreements.

Delegates from the governments of Venezuela and the United States agreed last week to work to “build trust” and improve relations between the two countries after resuming direct talks, Venezuelan officials said. The United States said it welcomed the dialogue “in good faith.”

The talks took place a day before the official start of the presidential campaign for the July 28 elections, in which Maduro and opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, backed by Machado, are polarizing voting intentions.

Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channels Youtube, WhatsApp and to the newsletter. Activate notifications and follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.