The US government reactivated sanctions against Venezuela this Wednesday, by revoking the license that allowed transactions linked to the oil and gas sector of the South American country.
The US State Department announced through a statement that General License 44, essential for transactions linked to the oil and gas sector in the South American country, will expire without renewal as of April 18 at 12:01 AM.
It clarifies that it will allow companies a period of 45 days to close their operations, guaranteeing that the cessation is in an orderly manner, through a dismantling license.
It also points out that subsequently the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control will evaluate, on a case-by-case basis, applications for specific licenses that allow certain activities to continue beyond this period.
The decision not to renew said permit is due to “the failure by Nicolás Maduro to comply with the agreements established in the Barbados electoral roadmap,” the statement explains.
“This decision arises after a detailed evaluation of the political situation and the commitments made by the Nicolás Maduro regime. Although there was some progress in comply with the electoral roadmap signed in Barbados in October 2023, the US government has expressed significant concerns,” he highlights.
According to the US government, “Maduro and his affiliates have hindered the democratic process by preventing the opposition from freely registering its candidates, in addition to having harassed, intimidated and unjustly detained various political actors and members of civil society.”
The US administration said it remains committed to supporting a democratic, stable and prosperous Venezuela, urging Maduro to fully comply with the agreement’s commitments now. guarantee a fair and free electoral process for all parties and candidates.
The license was issued in October last year as part of the relief of sanctions against Venezuela after the signing of an agreement with the opposition to the Chavista regime.
This allowed Venezuela to sell large quantities of oil, reaching a sales record in March, thanks to the rush of purchasing countries to hoard Venezuela’s crude oil before the Washington license that has allowed the country to sell expired on April 18. freely their production.
After the latest political events where Maduro stated that he would win the elections “The good way or the bad way” and disqualified opposition candidates for the presidential elections at the end of 2024, the state-run PDVSA claimed to be prepared for any scenario after April 18, while Washington said it could reimpose sanctions.
Last month, 52 vessels left Venezuelan ports transporting an average of 884,935 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and refined products, and 463,000 metric tons of petroleum byproducts and petrochemicals, according to PDVSA data and documents cited by the agency. of news.
