VENEECONOMIST
OFAC GENERAL LICENSESupersededEnergy

GL 47

GL 47 — Sale of U.S.-Origin Diluents to Venezuela

Issued

Feb 03, 2026

Expiration

No expiration

Authorized entity

Vendedores de diluentes de origen estadounidense — Gobierno de Venezuela, PdVSA y entidades de PdVSA

Type

General

Regulation

31 CFR part 591 (VSR)

Executive orders

—

Signatory

Bradley T. Smith, Director, OFAC

Signed

Feb 03, 2026

Scope

Authorizes transactions prohibited by the VSR — including those involving the Government of Venezuela, PdVSA, and any entity in which PdVSA owns a 50 percent or greater interest — that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the exportation, reexportation, sale, resale, supply, storage, marketing, delivery, or transportation of U.S.-origin diluents to Venezuela. Any such contract must specify that U.S. law governs and that dispute resolution occurs in the United States. The authorization reaches payment processing, vessel chartering, marine and P&I insurance, and port and terminal services, including with port authorities that are part of the Government of Venezuela.

Authorized parties

Government of VenezuelaPetróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA)PdVSA Entities (≥50% de PdVSA)

Authorized activities

  • ·Exportación, reexportación, venta, reventa y suministro de diluentes de origen estadounidense a Venezuela
  • ·Almacenamiento, comercialización, entrega y transporte de esos diluentes
  • ·Procesamiento de pagos, fletamento de buques, seguro marítimo y de protección e indemnización (P&I), y servicios portuarios y de terminal

Prohibited activities

  • ·Términos de pago que no sean comercialmente razonables, que impliquen canjes de deuda o pagos en oro, o denominados en moneda, monedas o fichas digitales emitidas por o en nombre del Gobierno de Venezuela, incluido el petro
  • ·Operaciones con personas situadas en Irán, Corea del Norte o Cuba u organizadas bajo sus leyes, o con entidades que estas controlen o con las que tengan empresa mixta
  • ·Desbloqueo de bienes bloqueados conforme a la VSR, salvo lo previsto en el párrafo (a)
  • ·Operaciones con buques bloqueados

Conditions

  • ·El contrato con el Gobierno de Venezuela, PdVSA o sus entidades debe especificar que se rige por la ley de Estados Unidos o de una jurisdicción dentro de Estados Unidos, y que las disputas se resuelven en Estados Unidos.
  • ·Quien exporte, reexporte, venda, revenda o suministre los diluentes debe reportar en detalle a Sanctions_inbox@state.gov y VZReporting@doe.gov: partes involucradas, cantidades y valores, y fechas de las operaciones.
  • ·El primer reporte vence a los diez días de ejecutada la primera operación, y luego cada 90 días mientras las operaciones continúen.
  • ·No exime del cumplimiento de los requisitos de otras agencias federales, incluido el Departamento de Comercio.

Excluded jurisdictions

IránCorea del NorteCuba

Reporting obligation

Reporte detallado a Sanctions_inbox@state.gov y VZReporting@doe.gov con partes, cantidades, valores y fechas: a los diez días de la primera operación y cada 90 días mientras continúen.

VENE · ECONOMIST Analysis

Fact
El 3 de febrero de 2026 OFAC autorizó la exportación, venta, suministro y transporte de diluentes de origen estadounidense a Venezuela, incluidas las operaciones con el Gobierno de Venezuela, PdVSA y sus entidades, con una condición sobre el contrato: que se rija por la ley de Estados Unidos y que las disputas se resuelvan en Estados Unidos. La autorización alcanzaba el procesamiento de pagos, el fletamento, el seguro marítimo y de P&I y los servicios portuarios. Fue reemplazada por la GL 47A el 10 de junio de 2026 y esta por la GL 47B el 27 de agosto de 2026.
Implication
El diluente es el insumo con el que el crudo extrapesado de la Faja se vuelve transportable y mezclable para exportación, de modo que la licencia opera sobre la entrada de la cadena, no sobre la salida. La condición de ley y foro estadounidenses es la marca de origen de esta serie: fija en enero-febrero de 2026 la jurisdicción del contrato, y es la que las versiones posteriores ampliaron —el 10 de junio se sumaron sedes, no se suavizó la ley aplicable—.
Indicator to monitor
El texto vigente es el de la GL 47B; esta ficha es el punto de partida del linaje. Para seguimiento operativo, la cláusula de ley y foro de la versión vigente y los reportes a Sanctions_inbox@state.gov y VZReporting@doe.gov, que vencen a los diez días de la primera operación y cada 90 días después.
Official license textShow

General License No. 47 — Authorizing the Sale of U.S.-Origin Diluents to Venezuela

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), all transactions prohibited by the VSR — including those involving the Government of Venezuela, PdVSA, or any entity in which PdVSA owns a 50 percent or greater interest ("PdVSA Entities") — that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the exportation, reexportation, sale, resale, supply, storage, marketing, delivery, or transportation of U.S.-origin diluents to Venezuela are authorized, provided that any contract specifies that U.S. law governs and that dispute resolution occurs in the United States.

Note 1. Authorized transactions include processing of payments and arranging shipping and logistics (chartering vessels, marine insurance and P&I coverage, port and terminal services, including with Government of Venezuela port authorities).

(b) This general license does not authorize: (1) payment terms that are not commercially reasonable, involve debt swaps or payments in gold, or are denominated in digital currency/tokens including the petro; (2) any transaction involving Iran, North Korea, or Cuba persons or a joint venture with such persons; (3) the unblocking of property blocked pursuant to the VSR, except as provided in paragraph (a); or (4) any transaction involving a blocked vessel.

(c) Reporting to Sanctions_inbox@state.gov and VZReporting@doe.gov identifying parties; quantities and values; and dates. (d) Reports are due ten days after the first transaction and every 90 days thereafter.

Bradley T. Smith — Director, OFAC. Dated: February 3, 2026.

Official source

This summary does not constitute legal advice. The final determination of scope and applicability of any OFAC license requires consultation with qualified legal counsel and review of the official text published by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. VENE · ECONOMIST maintains this page as editorial reference for institutional investors.

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