VENEECONOMIST
OFAC GENERAL LICENSESupersededMinerals

GL 51B

GL 51B — Trade in Venezuelan-Origin Minerals, Including Gold

Version history

  • Jun 10, 2026La GL 51B reemplaza en su totalidad a la GL 51A (27-mar-2026).
  • 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.
  • Aug 27, 2026Reemplazada y superada en su totalidad por la GL 51C, con efecto 2026-08-27. La GL 51C elimina la exigencia de que el contrato se rija por la ley de un estado o jurisdicción de EE.UU. y conserva la de resolver las disputas en EE.UU., Reino Unido, Francia o Singapur.

Issued

Jun 10, 2026

Expiration

No expiration

Authorized entity

CVG Minerven y entidades ≥50% de Minerven

Type

General

Regulation

31 CFR part 591 (VSR)

Executive orders

E.O. 14373 (9-ene-2026)

Signatory

Bradley T. Smith, Director, OFAC

Signed

Jun 10, 2026

Scope

Authorizes an established U.S. entity to export, sell, store, purchase, deliver and transport Venezuelan-origin minerals —including gold— in transactions involving the Government of Venezuela and CVG Minerven, including processing and refining. Subject to U.S./allied law and forum and Treasury payment routing. Supersedes GL 51A.

Authorized parties

Gobierno de VenezuelaCVG Compañía General de Minería de Venezuela CA (Minerven)Entidades ≥50% de Minerven

Authorized activities

  • ·Exportación, reexportación, venta, almacenamiento, compra, entrega y transporte de minerales venezolanos, incluido el oro
  • ·Procesamiento y refinación de esos minerales (salvo en jurisdicciones excluidas)
  • ·Diligencia debida comercial, legal, técnica, de seguridad y ambiental
  • ·Logística, fletamento de buques, seguro marítimo y P&I, servicios portuarios y de terminal

Prohibited activities

  • ·Permutas de deuda, pagos en oro como medio de pago, en criptomonedas o en el petro
  • ·Operaciones con personas de Rusia, Irán, Corea del Norte o Cuba, o en empresa mixta con ellas
  • ·Operaciones con entidades de Venezuela o EE.UU. controladas por —o en empresa mixta con— personas de China
  • ·Procesamiento o refinación de los minerales en Rusia, Irán, Corea del Norte, Cuba o China

Conditions

  • ·“Established U.S. entity”: entidad constituida bajo las leyes de EE.UU. o de alguna de sus jurisdicciones en o antes del 29 de enero de 2025.
  • ·Todo contrato con el Gobierno de Venezuela o la entidad cubierta debe estipular que (i) se interprete bajo la ley de un estado o jurisdicción de EE.UU. y (ii) las disputas se resuelvan en EE.UU., Reino Unido, Francia o Singapur.
  • ·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 (control o empresa mixta)

VENE · ECONOMIST Analysis

Fact
OFAC emitió la GL 51B el 10 de junio de 2026, reemplazando a la GL 51A. Autoriza el comercio internacional de minerales venezolanos —oro incluido— a través de CVG Minerven por entidades estadounidenses establecidas, e incluye el procesamiento y la refinación de esos minerales.
Implication
Abre el oro venezolano al circuito formal occidental por primera vez en años, pero con el dinero canalizado por la cuenta del Tesoro y China excluida. El cuello de botella se traslada del permiso a la trazabilidad del metal y a la documentación del pago; el oro como medio de pago queda prohibido aunque su comercio se autorice.
Indicator to monitor
Exportaciones declaradas de oro vía Minerven; refinadores occidentales que acepten el metal; y la fecha de publicación en el Federal Register frente a la GL 54A gemela.
Official license textShow

General License No. 51B — Authorizing Certain Activities Involving Venezuelan-Origin Minerals, Including Gold

(a) Transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to the export, sale, purchase, delivery, or transportation of Venezuelan-origin minerals, including gold, by an established U.S. entity, involving the Government of Venezuela and CVG Minerven, are authorized —including processing or refining of such minerals— provided that (1) contracts specify U.S. governing law and dispute resolution in the U.S., U.K., France, or Singapore; and (2) any payment to a blocked person is made into the Foreign Government Deposit Funds (E.O. 14373).

(b) Does not authorize: non-commercial payment terms, debt swaps, payments in gold, or digital-currency/petro payments; transactions involving Russia, Iran, the DPRK, or Cuba, or a joint venture with such persons; transactions involving a Venezuelan or U.S. entity owned/controlled by or in a joint venture with the PRC; or processing/refining of such minerals in those jurisdictions.

Bradley T. Smith — Director, OFAC. Dated: June 10, 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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