2021-23331. Publication of Venezuela Web General License 8 and Subsequent Iterations

AGENCY:

Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury.

ACTION:

Publication of web general licenses.

SUMMARY:

The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is publishing nine Venezuela web general licenses (GLs) in the Federal Register : GL 8, GL 8A, GL 8B, GL 8C, GL 8D, GL 8E, GL 8F, and GL 8G, each of which is now expired and was previously issued on OFAC's website, as well as GL 8H, which was also previously issued on OFAC's website and expires on December 1, 2021.

DATES:

GL 8H was issued on June 1, 2021 and expires on December 1, 2021. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION of this rule for additional relevant dates.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

OFAC: Assistant Director for Licensing, 202-622-2480; Assistant Director for Regulatory Affairs, 202-622-4855; or Assistant Director for Sanctions Compliance & Evaluation, 202-622-2490.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Availability

This document and additional information concerning OFAC are available on OFAC's website: www.treasury.gov/​ofac.

Background

On March 8, 2015, the President, invoking the authority of, inter alia, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706), issued Executive Order (E.O.) 13692, “Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela” (80 FR 12747, March 11, 2015). In E.O. 13692, the President found that the situation in Venezuela, including the Government of Venezuela's erosion of human rights guarantees, persecution of political opponents, curtailment of press freedoms, use of violence and human rights violations and abuses in response to antigovernment protests, and arbitrary arrest and detention of antigovernment protestors, as well as the exacerbating presence of significant public corruption, constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, and declared a national emergency to deal with that threat.

The President issued six additional E.O.s pursuant to the national emergency declared in E.O. 13692: E.O. 13808 of August 24, 2017, “Imposing Additional Sanctions With Respect to the Situation in Venezuela” (82 FR 41155, August 29, 2017); E.O. 13827 of March 19, 2018, “Taking Additional Steps to Address the Situation in Venezuela” (83 FR 12469, March 21, 2018); E.O. 13835 of May 21, 2018, “Prohibiting Certain Additional Transactions With Respect to Venezuela” (83 FR 24001, May 24, 2018) (E.O. 13835); E.O. 13850 of November 1, 2018, “Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela” (83 FR 55243, November 2, 2018); E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019, “Taking Additional Steps To Address the National Emergency With Respect to Venezuela” (84 FR 509, January 30, 2019); and E.O. 13884 of August 5, 2019, “Blocking Property of the Government of Venezuela” (84 FR 38843, August 7, 2019).

OFAC, in consultation with the Department of State, issued GL 8 on January 28, 2019, pursuant to E.O. 13850, as amended, to authorize certain entities and their subsidiaries to engage in transactions and activities ordinarily incident and necessary to operations in Venezuela involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest, that were otherwise prohibited by E.O. 13850, through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, July 27, 2019. Subsequently, OFAC issued eight further iterations of GL 8, which extended the period and modified the scope of the authorization.

On June 6, 2019, OFAC issued GL 8A, which replaced and superseded GL 8; on July 26, 2019, OFAC issued GL 8B, which replaced and superseded GL 8A; on August 5, 2019, OFAC issued GL 8C, which replaced and superseded GL 8B; on October 21, 2019, OFAC issued GL 8D, which replaced and superseded GL 8C; on January 17, 2020, OFAC issued GL 8E, which replaced and superseded GL 8D; on April 21, 2020, OFAC issued GL 8F, which replaced and superseded GL 8E; on November 17, 2020, OFAC issued GL 8G, which replaced and superseded GL 8F; and on June 1, 2021, OFAC issued GL 8H, which replaced and superseded GL 8G. GL 8H expires on December 1, 2021. The texts of the following nine Venezuela GLs are provided below: GLs 8, 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, 8F, 8G, and 8H.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Executive Order 13850 of November 1, 2018

Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela

General License No. 8

Authorizing Transactions Involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) Prohibited by Executive Order 13850 for Certain Entities Operating in Venezuela

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, all transactions and activities ordinarily incident and necessary to operations in Venezuela involving PdVSA or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest prohibited by Executive Order 13850 are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, July 27, 2019 for the following entities and their subsidiaries:

• Chevron Corporation
• Halliburton
• Schlumberger Limited
• Baker Hughes, a GE Company
• Weatherford International, Public Limited Company

(b) This general license does not authorize:

(1) Any exportation or reexportation of diluents from the United States to Venezuela; or

(2) Any transaction that is otherwise prohibited under Executive Order 13850 of November 1, 2018, Executive Order 13835 of May 21, 2018, Executive Order 13827 of March 19, 2018, Executive Order 13808 of August 24, 2017, Executive Order 13692 of March 8, 2015, or any part of 31 CFR chapter V, or any transactions or dealings with any blocked person other than the blocked persons described in paragraph (a) of this general license.

Andrea Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Dated: January 28, 2019.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Executive Order 13850 of November 1, 2018

Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela

General License No. 8A

Authorizing Transactions Involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) Prohibited by Executive Order 13850 for Certain Entities Operating in Venezuela

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, all transactions and activities ordinarily incident and necessary to operations in Venezuela involving PdVSA or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 13850, as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019, are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, July 27, 2019 for the following entities and their subsidiaries:

• Chevron Corporation
• Halliburton
• Schlumberger Limited
• Baker Hughes, a GE Company
• Weatherford International, Public Limited Company

(b) This general license does not authorize:

(1) Any transactions or dealings related to the exportation or reexportation of diluents, directly or indirectly, to Venezuela; or

(2) Any transaction that is otherwise prohibited by E.O. 13850, E.O. 13835 of May 21, 2018, E.O. 13827 of March 19, 2018, E.O. 13808 of August 24, 2017, E.O. 13692 of March 8, 2015, or any part of 31 CFR chapter V, or any transactions or dealings with any blocked person other than the blocked persons described in paragraph (a) of this general license.

(c) Effective June 6, 2019, General License No. 8, dated January 28, 2019, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General License 8A.

Andrea Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Dated: June 6, 2019.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Executive Order 13850 of November 1, 2018

Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela

General License No. 8B

Authorizing Transactions Involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) Necessary for Maintenance of Operations for Certain Entities in Venezuela

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, all transactions and activities ordinarily incident and necessary to the maintenance of operations, contracts, or other agreements in Venezuela involving PdVSA or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 13850, as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019, and that were in effect prior to July 26, 2019, are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, October 25, 2019 for the following entities and their subsidiaries:

• Chevron Corporation
• Halliburton
• Schlumberger Limited
• Baker Hughes, a GE Company
• Weatherford International, Public Limited Company

(b) This general license does not authorize:

(1) Any transactions or dealings related to the exportation or reexportation of diluents, directly or indirectly, to Venezuela; or

(2) Any transaction that is otherwise prohibited by E.O. 13850, E.O. 13835 of May 21, 2018, E.O. 13827 of March 19, 2018, E.O. 13808 of August 24, 2017, E.O. 13692 of March 8, 2015, or any part of 31 CFR chapter V, or any transactions or dealings with any blocked person other than the blocked persons described in paragraph (a) of this general license.

(c) Effective July 26, 2019, General License No. 8A, dated June 6, 2019, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General License 8B.

Andrea Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Dated: July 26, 2019.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Executive Order 13850 of November 1, 2018

Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela

Executive Order of August 5, 2019

Blocking Property of the Government of Venezuela

General License NO. 8C

Authorizing Transactions Involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) Necessary for Maintenance of Operations for Certain Entities in Venezuela

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, all transactions and activities ordinarily incident and necessary to the maintenance of operations, contracts, or other agreements in Venezuela involving PdVSA or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 13850, as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019, or E.O. of August 5, 2019, and that were in effect prior to July 26, 2019, are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, October 25, 2019 for the following entities and their subsidiaries:

• Chevron Corporation
• Halliburton
• Schlumberger Limited
• Baker Hughes, a GE Company
• Weatherford International, Public Limited Company

(b) This general license does not authorize:

(1) Any transactions or dealings related to the exportation or reexportation of diluents, directly or indirectly, to Venezuela; or

(2) Any transaction that is otherwise prohibited by E.O. of August 5, 2019, or E.O. 13850, E.O. 13835 of May 21, 2018, E.O. 13827 of March 19, 2018, E.O. 13808 of August 24, 2017, or E.O. 13692 of March 8, 2015, or any part of 31 CFR chapter V, or any transactions or dealings with any blocked person other than the blocked persons described in paragraph (a) of this general license.

(c) Effective August 5, 2019, General License No. 8B, dated July 26, 2019, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General License 8C.

Andrea Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Dated: August 5, 2019.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Executive Order 13850 of November 1, 2018

Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela

Executive Order 13884 of August 5, 2019

Blocking Property of the Government of Venezuela

General License No. 8D

Authorizing Transactions Involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) Necessary for Maintenance of Operations for Certain Entities in Venezuela

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, all transactions and activities ordinarily incident and necessary to the maintenance of operations, contracts, or other agreements in Venezuela involving PdVSA or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 13850, as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019, or E.O. 13884, and that were in effect prior to July 26, 2019, are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time, January 22, 2020 for the following entities and their subsidiaries:

• Chevron Corporation
• Halliburton
• Schlumberger Limited
• Baker Hughes, a GE Company
• Weatherford International, Public Limited Company

(b) This general license does not authorize:

(1) Any transactions or dealings related to the exportation or reexportation of diluents, directly or indirectly, to Venezuela; or

(2) Any transaction that is otherwise prohibited by E.O. 13884, or E.O. 13850, E.O. 13835 of May 21, 2018, E.O. 13827 of March 19, 2018, E.O. 13808 of August 24, 2017, or E.O. 13692 of March 8, 2015, each as amended by E.O. 13857, or any part of 31 CFR chapter V, or any transactions or dealings with any blocked person other than the blocked persons described in paragraph (a) of this general license.

(c) Effective October 21, 2019, General License No. 8C, dated August 5, 2019, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General License 8D.

Andrea Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Dated: October 21, 2019.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Executive Order 13850 of November 1, 2018

Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela

Executive Order 13884 of August 5, 2019

Blocking Property of the Government of Venezuela

General License No. 8E

Authorizing Transactions Involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) Necessary for Maintenance of Operations for Certain Entities in Venezuela

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, all transactions and activities ordinarily incident and necessary to the maintenance of operations, contracts, or other agreements in Venezuela involving PdVSA or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 13850, as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019, or E.O. 13884, and that were in effect prior to July 26, 2019, are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, April 22, 2020 for the following entities and their subsidiaries:

• Chevron Corporation
• Halliburton
• Schlumberger Limited
• Baker Hughes, a GE Company
• Weatherford International, Public Limited Company

(b) This general license does not authorize:

(1) Any transactions or dealings related to the exportation or reexportation of diluents, directly or indirectly, to Venezuela; or

(2) Any transaction that is otherwise prohibited by E.O. 13884, or E.O. 13850, E.O. 13835 of May 21, 2018, E.O. 13827 of March 19, 2018, E.O. 13808 of August 24, 2017, or E.O. 13692 of March 8, 2015, each as amended by E.O. 13857, or any part of 31 CFR chapter V, or any transactions or dealings with any blocked person other than the blocked persons described in paragraph (a) of this general license.

(c) Effective January 17, 2020, General License No. 8D, dated October 21, 2019, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General License No. 8E.

Andrea Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Dated: January 17, 2019.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Venezuela Sanctions Regulations 31 CFR Part 591

General License No. 8F

Authorizing Transactions Involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) Necessary for the Limited Maintenance of Essential Operations in Venezuela or the Wind Down of Operations in Venezuela for Certain Entities

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this general license, all transactions and activities prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 13850 of November 1, 2018, as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019, or E.O. 13884 of August 5, 2019, each as incorporated into the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 591 (the VSR), that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the limited maintenance of essential operations, contracts, or other agreements, that: (i) Are for safety or the preservation of assets in Venezuela; (ii) involve PdVSA or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest; and (iii) were in effect prior to July 26, 2019, are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time, December 1, 2020, for the following entities and their subsidiaries (collectively, the “Covered Entities”):

• Chevron Corporation
• Halliburton
• Schlumberger Limited
• Baker Hughes, a GE Company
• Weatherford International, Public Limited Company

Note to paragraph (a): Transactions and activities necessary for safety or the preservation of assets in Venezuela that are authorized by paragraph (a) of this general license include: Transactions and activities necessary to ensure the safety of personnel, or the integrity of operations and assets in Venezuela; participation in shareholder and board of directors meetings; making payments on third-party invoices for transactions and activities authorized by paragraph (a) of this general license, or incurred prior to April 21, 2020, provided such activity was authorized at the time it occurred; payment of local taxes and purchase of utility services in Venezuela; and payment of salaries for employees and contractors in Venezuela.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this general license, all transactions and activities prohibited by E.O. 13850, as amended, or E.O. 13884, each as incorporated into the VSR, that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the wind down of operations, contracts, or other agreements in Venezuela involving PdVSA or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest, and that were in effect prior to July 26, 2019, are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time, December 1, 2020, for the Covered Entities.

(c) Paragraph (a) of this general license does not authorize:

(1) The drilling, lifting, or processing of, purchase or sale of, or transport or shipping of any Venezuelan-origin petroleum or petroleum products;

(2) The provision or receipt of insurance or reinsurance with respect to the transactions and activities described in paragraph (c)(1) of this general license;

(3) The design, construction, installation, repair, or improvement of any wells or other facilities or infrastructure in Venezuela or the purchasing or provision of any goods or services, except as required for safety;

(4) Contracting for additional personnel or services, except as required for safety; or

(5) The payment of any dividend, including in kind, to PdVSA, or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest.

(d) This general license does not authorize:

(1) Any transactions or dealings related to the exportation or reexportation of diluents, directly or indirectly, to Venezuela;

(2) Any loans to, accrual of additional debt by, or subsidization of PdVSA, or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest, including in kind, prohibited by E.O. 13808 of August 24, 2017, as amended by E.O. 13857, and incorporated into the VSR; or

(3) Any transactions or activities otherwise prohibited by the VSR, or any other part of 31 CFR chapter V, or any transactions or activities with any blocked person other than the blocked persons identified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this general license.

(e) Effective April 21, 2020, General License No. 8E, dated January 17, 2020, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General License No. 8F.

Andrea Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Dated: April 21, 2020.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Venezuela Sanctions Regulations 31 CFR Part 591

General License No. 8G

Authorizing Transactions Involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) Necessary for the Limited Maintenance of Essential Operations in Venezuela or the Wind Down of Operations in Venezuela for Certain Entities

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this general license, all transactions and activities prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 13850 of November 1, 2018, as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019, or E.O. 13884 of August 5, 2019, each as incorporated into the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 591 (the VSR), that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the limited maintenance of essential operations, contracts, or other agreements, that: (i) Are for safety or the preservation of assets in Venezuela; (ii) involve PdVSA or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest; and (iii) were in effect prior to July 26, 2019, are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, June 3, 2021, for the following entities and their subsidiaries (collectively, the “Covered Entities”):

• Chevron Corporation
• Halliburton
• Schlumberger Limited
• Baker Hughes, a GE Company
• Weatherford International, Public Limited Company

Note to paragraph (a): Transactions and activities necessary for safety or the preservation of assets in Venezuela that are authorized by paragraph (a) of this general license include: Transactions and activities necessary to ensure the safety of personnel, or the integrity of operations and assets in Venezuela; participation in shareholder and board of directors meetings; making payments on third-party invoices for transactions and activities authorized by paragraph (a) of this general license, or incurred prior to April 21, 2020, provided such activity was authorized at the time it occurred; payment of local taxes and purchase of utility services in Venezuela; and payment of salaries for employees and contractors in Venezuela.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this general license, all transactions and activities prohibited by E.O. 13850, as amended, or E.O. 13884, each as incorporated into the VSR, that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the wind down of operations, contracts, or other agreements in Venezuela involving PdVSA or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest, and that were in effect prior to July 26, 2019, are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, June 3, 2021, for the Covered Entities.

(c) Paragraph (a) of this general license does not authorize:

(1) The drilling, lifting, or processing of, purchase or sale of, or transport or shipping of any Venezuelan-origin petroleum or petroleum products;

(2) The provision or receipt of insurance or reinsurance with respect to the transactions and activities described in paragraph (c)(1) of this general license;

(3) The design, construction, installation, repair, or improvement of any wells or other facilities or infrastructure in Venezuela or the purchasing or provision of any goods or services, except as required for safety;

(4) Contracting for additional personnel or services, except as required for safety; or

(5) The payment of any dividend, including in kind, to PdVSA, or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest.

(d) This general license does not authorize:

(1) Any transactions or dealings related to the exportation or reexportation of diluents, directly or indirectly, to Venezuela;

(2) Any loans to, accrual of additional debt by, or subsidization of PdVSA, or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest, including in kind, prohibited by E.O. 13808 of August 24, 2017, as amended by E.O. 13857, and incorporated into the VSR; or

(3) Any transactions or activities otherwise prohibited by the VSR, or any other part of 31 CFR chapter V, or any transactions or activities with any blocked person other than the blocked persons identified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this general license.

(e) Effective November 17, 2020, General License No. 8F, dated April 21, 2020, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General License No. 8G.

Andrea Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Dated: November 17, 2020.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Venezuela Sanctions Regulations 31 CFR Part 591

General License No. 8H

Authorizing Transactions Involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) Necessary for the Limited Maintenance of Essential Operations in Venezuela or the Wind Down of Operations in Venezuela for Certain Entities

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this general license, all transactions and activities prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 13850 of November 1, 2018, as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019, or E.O. 13884 of August 5, 2019, each as incorporated into the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 591 (the VSR), that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the limited maintenance of essential operations, contracts, or other agreements, that: (i) Are for safety or the preservation of assets in Venezuela; (ii) involve PdVSA or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest; and (iii) were in effect prior to July 26, 2019, are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time, December 1, 2021, for the following entities and their subsidiaries (collectively, the “Covered Entities”):

• Chevron Corporation
• Halliburton
• Schlumberger Limited
• Baker Hughes Holdings LLC
• Weatherford International, Public Limited Company

Note to paragraph (a): Transactions and activities necessary for safety or the preservation of assets in Venezuela that are authorized by paragraph (a) of this general license include: Transactions and activities necessary to ensure the safety of personnel, or the integrity of operations and assets in Venezuela; participation in shareholder and board of directors meetings; making payments on third-party invoices for transactions and activities authorized by paragraph (a) of this general license, or incurred prior to April 21, 2020, provided such activity was authorized at the time it occurred; payment of local taxes and purchase of utility services in Venezuela; and payment of salaries for employees and contractors in Venezuela.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this general license, all transactions and activities prohibited by E.O. 13850, as amended, or E.O. 13884, each as incorporated into the VSR, that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the wind down of operations, contracts, or other agreements in Venezuela involving PdVSA or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest, and that were in effect prior to July 26, 2019, are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time, December 1, 2021, for the Covered Entities.

(c) Paragraph (a) of this general license does not authorize:

(1) The drilling, lifting, or processing of, purchase or sale of, or transport or shipping of any Venezuelan-origin petroleum or petroleum products;

(2) The provision or receipt of insurance or reinsurance with respect to the transactions and activities described in paragraph (c)(1) of this general license;

(3) The design, construction, installation, repair, or improvement of any wells or other facilities or infrastructure in Venezuela or the purchasing or provision of any goods or services, except as required for safety;

(4) Contracting for additional personnel or services, except as required for safety; or

(5) The payment of any dividend, including in kind, to PdVSA, or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest.

(d) This general license does not authorize:

(1) Any transactions or dealings related to the exportation or reexportation of diluents, directly or indirectly, to Venezuela;

(2) Any loans to, accrual of additional debt by, or subsidization of PdVSA, or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest, including in kind, prohibited by E.O. 13808 of August 24, 2017, as amended by E.O. 13857, and incorporated into the VSR; or

(3) Any transactions or activities otherwise prohibited by the VSR, or any other part of 31 CFR chapter V, or any transactions or activities with any blocked person other than the blocked persons identified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this general license.

(e) Effective June 1, 2021, General License No. 8G, dated November 17, 2020, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General License No. 8H.

Bradley T. Smith,

Acting Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Dated: June 1, 2021.

Dated: October 21, 2021.

Bradley T. Smith,

Acting Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.