VENEECONOMIST
OFAC GENERAL LICENSESupersededFinance

GL 5W

GL 5W — PDVSA 2020 8.5% Bond

Version history

  • May 04, 2026Efectiva el 4-may-2026, la GL 5W reemplaza y deja sin efecto en su totalidad a la GL 5V (19-mar-2026).

Issued

May 04, 2026

Expiration

No expiration

Authorized entity

PDVSA — Bono 2020 8.5% (colateralizado por acciones de CITGO Holding)

Type

General

Regulation

31 CFR part 591 (VSR)

Executive orders

E.O. 13835 (modificada por E.O. 13857)

Signatory

Bradley T. Smith, Director, OFAC

Signed

May 04, 2026

Scope

Authorizes certain transactions related to the PDVSA 2020 8.5% bond on or after June 19, 2026. Supersedes GL 5V and extends the regime initiated with GL 5 (2019) protecting CITGO Holding from bondholder execution on collateral. The shortest extension in the series (45 days) signals Treasury coordination with the CITGO sale process in the Delaware court.

Authorized parties

Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) — Bono 2020 8,5%

Authorized activities

  • ·Operaciones secundarias con bonos PDVSA 2020 (mercados regulados)
  • ·Pagos de cupón bajo condiciones específicas (post-19-jun-2026)

Prohibited activities

  • ·Ejecución del colateral CITGO sin autorización separada
  • ·Cualquier transacción antes del 19 de junio de 2026 cubierta por la sección 1(a)(iii) de EO 13835

Conditions

  • ·Aplica únicamente a partir del 19 de junio de 2026

VENE · ECONOMIST Analysis

Fact
OFAC publicó GL 5W el 4 de mayo de 2026, retrasando la fecha efectiva al 19 de junio de 2026. Es la extensión más corta (45 días) de toda la serie GL 5 desde octubre de 2019; las extensiones previas han sido típicamente de 3 a 6 meses.
Implication
La extensión más corta de la serie es la señal de que Treasury está sincronizando el calendario regulatorio con el proceso de subasta en la corte de Delaware (Crystallex/ConocoPhillips). La oferta de Amber Energy/Elliott por CITGO ($11B propuestos) es ahora una transacción condicionada por OFAC, no una decisión judicial pura. Para tenedores del bono PDVSA 2020 el camino preferente es una specific license negociada, no una sentencia.
Indicator to monitor
Resolución del proceso D. Del. antes del 19 de junio de 2026. Aprobación específica OFAC para Amber-CITGO. Probable emisión de GL 5X con nueva extensión si no hay cierre.
Official license textShow

General License No. 5W — Authorizing Certain Transactions Related to the Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. 2020 8.5 Percent Bond on or After June 19, 2026

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), on or after June 19, 2026, all transactions related to, the provision of financing for, and other dealings in the Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. 2020 8.5 Percent Bond that would be prohibited by subsection 1(a)(iii) of E.O. 13835 of May 21, 2018, as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019, and incorporated into the VSR, are authorized.

(b) This general license does not authorize any transactions or activities otherwise prohibited by the VSR, or any other part of 31 CFR chapter V.

(c) Effective May 4, 2026, General License No. 5V (March 19, 2026) is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General License No. 5W.

Bradley T. Smith — Director, OFAC. Dated: May 4, 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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FURTHER READING

04
SECTOR BRIEF · VE-ENERGY-UPSTREAM

Chevron Q1 revela 1–2% del CFO (cash flow operativo) en Venezuela; producción cruza 1.23M bpd y GL 5W señala coordinación con Citgo

Brief VE-ENERGY-UPSTREAM mayo 2026. El upstream entra en fase de ejecución contractual: exportaciones cruzan 1.23M bpd en abril (máximo en 7 años, +14% intermensual), Chevron en su call Q1 (1 may) confirma Venezuela = 1–2% del CFO (cash flow operativo) con cuenta por cobrar de $1.5B en amortización a 2027 y sin compromiso de capex incremental antes de clarificación fiscal. GL 5W (4 may) extiende protección bono PDVSA 2020 hasta 19 jun — extensión más corta en dos años, señal de coordinación Treasury con proceso judicial Citgo en Delaware. Repsol Petroquiriquire, Eni Junín-5 y Maurel & Prom operativos bajo GL 50A.

VE PULSE · 02-JUL-2026

The clock that forces Venezuela to call elections runs out this week, held by those who least want them

The interim's expiry does not trigger elections on its own: it turns the electoral calendar into a matter of political negotiation rather than law — and that calendar, not the legal one, sets the certainty of contracts and sanctions.

ANÁLISIS · RIESGO E INVERSIÓN

OFAC reopens Conviasa and Venezuela's telecommunications, but keeps CITGO frozen until August

For the second time running, OFAC renews protection of CITGO's collateral for under seven weeks —it used to do so for half a year. It does so on the same June 18 it opens two low-friction lanes: supply to Conviasa (GL 59) and telecommunications and mail (GL 24A). The signal is sequence: Treasury grants everyday reconnection and meters the strategic asset.

SECTOR BRIEF · VE-RISK

Venezuela country risk May 2026: 90+90 transition toward July elections, GL cascade and restructuring underway

VE-RISK brief May 2026. Constitutional 90+90 clock with elections mandated for July; OFAC General License cascade (incl. GL 58 restructuring advisory); Citgo $5.9B sale contingent on Treasury (GL 5W expires Jun 19); debt restructuring launched (May 13, Centerview); IMF/World Bank reconnected. Easing via revocable licenses without congressional backing: reversibility as the key risk.