655. Can U.S. persons purchase petroleum and petroleum products from Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest?

Until 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, April 28, 2019, U.S. persons are authorized to engage in all transactions and activities that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the purchase and importation of petroleum and petroleum products from PdVSA or from entities owned 50 percent or more by PdVSA, provided that any payments to PdVSA, entities in which it owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest, or other blocked persons for such purchases are made into a blocked, interest-bearing account located in the United States in accordance with 31 C.F.R. § 591.203 (unless authorized by other Venezuela-related general licenses). After the expiration of the 90-day wind-down period, as described in General License 7 and General License 12, the purchase by U.S. persons of petroleum and petroleum products from PdVSA or any entity in which it owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest will be prohibited absent authorization from OFAC (see also General License 10 and FAQ 656​ authorizing the purchase of refined petroleum products by U.S. persons in Venezuela, and General License 8 authorizing purchases of petroleum and petroleum products from PdVSA or any entity in which it owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest for certain listed entities that are ordinarily incident and necessary to their operations in Venezuela).