VENEECONOMIST
OFAC GENERAL LICENSEActiveEnergy

GL 48D

GL 48D — Supply of Goods and Services to Venezuela

Version history

  • Sep 28, 2026La GL 48D reemplaza en su totalidad a la GL 48C (27-ago-2026). Único cambio de fondo: el anexo que enumera los químicos comprendidos en «productos petroquímicos» incorpora el metanol (códigos 2905111000, 2905112010, 2905112015, 2905112085 y 9817290200). Hasta entonces solo listaba fertilizantes y sus insumos. El texto operativo no varía. OFAC no publicó FAQ ni declaró motivo.
  • Jul 24, 2026OFAC actualizó la FAQ 1239: antes de depositar en la cuenta de custodia del Tesoro (Foreign Government Deposit Funds, E.O. 14373) el depositante debe escribir a DepositorInquiries@state.gov y aportar el detalle de la operación —partes contratantes y filiales, descripción del contrato, fecha de venta, facturas y números de contrato, monto y moneda, y la licencia que la autoriza—. Los depósitos hechos sin ese paso previo pueden ser rechazados; una vez aceptado, el depositante recibe un correo de confirmación utilizable como constancia ante las demás partes del contrato.

Issued

Sep 28, 2026

Expiration

No expiration

Authorized entity

PdVSA y entidades ≥50% de PdVSA

Type

General

Regulation

31 CFR part 591 (VSR)

Executive orders

E.O. 14373 (9-ene-2026), E.O. 13884, E.O. 13850

Signatory

Bradley T. Smith, Director, OFAC

Signed

Sep 28, 2026

Scope

Authorizes the supply from the U.S. or by a U.S. person of goods, technology, software or services for oil, gas and petrochemical exploration, development and production —including maintenance and repair of equipment—, and for electricity generation, transmission, storage and distribution in Venezuela. As of September 28, 2026, the petrochemical annex lists methanol. The formation of new joint ventures remains outside the license. Supersedes GL 48C.

Authorized parties

Gobierno de VenezuelaPetróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA)Entidades ≥50% de PdVSA

Authorized activities

  • ·Suministro de bienes, tecnología, software y servicios para petróleo, gas y petroquímicos (el Anexo nombra fertilizantes, sus insumos y, desde el 28-sep-2026, metanol)
  • ·Suministro para generación, transmisión, almacenamiento y distribución de electricidad
  • ·Mantenimiento, reacondicionamiento y reparación de equipos del sector
  • ·Procesamiento de pagos, logística, fletamento, seguro marítimo y P&I, servicios portuarios y de terminal

Prohibited activities

  • ·Permutas de deuda, pagos en oro, en criptomonedas o en el petro
  • ·Operaciones con personas de Rusia, Irán, Corea del Norte, Cuba o China, o en empresa mixta con ellas
  • ·Desbloqueo de bienes bloqueados; operaciones con buques bloqueados
  • ·Formación de nuevas empresas mixtas u otras entidades en Venezuela para explorar o producir petróleo, gas o petroquímicos, o para generar, transmitir, almacenar o distribuir electricidad
  • ·Exportación o reexportación de diluyentes a Venezuela (carril de la GL 47B)

Conditions

  • ·Todo contrato de estas transacciones con el Gobierno de Venezuela, PdVSA o entidades de PdVSA debe estipular que las disputas relativas al contrato se resuelvan en EE.UU., Reino Unido, Francia o Singapur. Desde el 27-ago-2026 ya NO se exige que el contrato se rija por la ley de un estado o jurisdicción de EE.UU.: la FAQ 1268 precisa que el requisito toca la sede del procedimiento, no el derecho aplicable al contrato.
  • ·Cualquier pago monetario a una persona bloqueada —salvo impuestos, permisos o tasas locales— debe depositarse en los Foreign Government Deposit Funds (cuenta bajo custodia del Tesoro de EE.UU., E.O. 14373 del 9-ene-2026) o en la cuenta que indique el Tesoro.

Excluded jurisdictions

RusiaIránCorea del NorteCubaChina

Reporting obligation

Quien exporte, reexporte, venda, revenda o suministre bienes, tecnología, software o servicios bajo esta licencia debe reportar a Sanctions_inbox@state.gov y VZReporting@doe.gov: partes, bienes o servicios con cantidades y valores, fechas e impuestos, tasas u otros pagos al Gobierno de Venezuela. A los diez días de la primera operación y cada 90 días mientras continúen.

VENE · ECONOMIST Analysis

Fact
El 28 de septiembre de 2026 OFAC emitió la GL 48D, que reemplaza a la GL 48C del 27 de agosto. El único cambio es el anexo de «productos petroquímicos», que suma el metanol con cinco códigos arancelarios. Foro de disputas, depósito de pagos en los Foreign Government Deposit Funds, exclusiones y reportes quedan como estaban. Sigue en pie la prohibición de formar nuevas empresas mixtas.
Implication
Es el carril del proveedor: equipos, repuestos, software y horas de ingeniería para producir petroquímicos en Venezuela, con el mantenimiento y la reparación incluidos en la Nota 1. Con el metanol en el anexo, un contrato de servicio a una planta de metanol deja de apoyarse en una lectura amplia del término y encuentra el producto en la lista. El límite no se mueve: vender y reparar, sí; constituir una empresa mixta nueva para producir, no.
Indicator to monitor
El primer cargamento de metanol venezolano declarado con destino a EE.UU. y quién lo importa; en el carril de servicios, el primer contrato de mantenimiento o reparación de una planta de metanol bajo la GL 48D; y en el de inversión, el primer acuerdo contingente sobre metanol bajo la GL 49B. En paralelo: si OFAC suma al anexo otros petroquímicos que no son fertilizantes, o si una FAQ explica el cambio —esta acción no trajo ninguna—.
Official license textShow

General License No. 48D — Authorizing the Supply of Certain Items and Services to Venezuela

(a) Transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to the provision from the United States or by a U.S. person of goods, technology, software, or services for the exploration, development, or production of oil, gas, or petrochemical products in Venezuela, or for electricity generation, transmission, storage, or distribution, are authorized, provided that (1) contracts with the Government of Venezuela, PdVSA, or PdVSA Entities require dispute resolution proceedings to occur in the U.S., U.K., France, or Singapore; and (2) any payment to a blocked person, excluding local taxes, permits, or fees, is made into the Foreign Government Deposit Funds (E.O. 14373). This includes maintenance, refurbishment and repair of sector equipment (Note 1). Note 3 defines "petrochemical products" as fertilizer products and fertilizer precursor chemicals, including the chemicals listed in the Annex.

(b) Does not authorize: non-commercial payment terms, debt swaps, payments in gold, or digital-currency/petro payments; transactions involving Russia, Iran, the DPRK, Cuba, or the PRC, or a joint venture with such persons; unblocking of blocked property; blocked vessels; the formation of new joint ventures or other entities in Venezuela to explore or produce oil, gas, or petrochemical products or to generate, transmit, store, or distribute electricity; or dealings related to the exportation or reexportation of diluents to Venezuela.

(c)–(d) Any person supplying goods, technology, software, or services under this license must report each transaction to Sanctions_inbox@state.gov and VZReporting@doe.gov, ten days after the first and every 90 days thereafter.

(e) Effective September 28, 2026, General License No. 48C, dated August 27, 2026, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General License No. 48D.

Note: Nothing in this general license relieves any person from compliance with the requirements of other Federal agencies, including the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security.

Annex. Chemicals within the scope of "petrochemical products": sulfur, phosphate rock, sulfuric and phosphoric acid, ammonia, nitrates, phosphates, urea, nitrogenous, phosphatic and potassic fertilizers and their mixtures, and —as of this version— methanol (HS codes 2905111000, 2905112010, 2905112015, 2905112085 and 9817290200). Full list with codes in the official PDF.

Bradley T. Smith — Director, OFAC. Dated: September 28, 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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