On the Uses and Misuses of Venezuela Sanctions

(CSIS, 29.Nov.2023) — Over the last month, the Biden administration has presided over a sea change in U.S. policy toward Venezuela. The recent lifting of sanctions on the Maduro regime is the most significant alteration of Venezuela policy in the last several years, coupled with routine deportation flights started on the same day as […]

China Slows Venezuela Crude Buys

(Reuters, 23.Nov.2023) — The suspension of U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan oil has rattled its biggest customers, China’s independent refiners, who are now holding off on making new purchases amid wide discrepancies in offer prices, trading sources say. The independent refiners have for years bought Venezuelan oil at steep discounts, but since Washington lifted […]

Citgo Exits 3Q:23 with Liquidity of $3.86bn

(Citgo, 9.Nov.2023)  — Citgo Petroleum Corporation reported its 2023 third quarter financial and operational results. Highlights: Net income of $567mn and EBITDA 1 of $895mn, compared to net income of $380 mn and EBITDA of $642mn for the second quarter of 2023Adjusted EBITDA 1 for the third quarter was approximately $833mn, which included two special items related to a legal settlement and a […]

Marathon’s SVP Heppner Says Company Not Interested in Citgo Assets

(Energy Analytics Institute, 31.Oct.2023) — Marathon Petroleum Corporation’s senior vice president of strategy and business development, Dave Heppner, responded to questions from analysts during the company’s third quarter 2023 conference call about rumors it was interested in Houston-based refiner Citgo Petroleum. Heppner said that in the current environment that refining […]

EAI’s NRGBriefs: Oct. 2023

(Energy Analytics Institute, 31.Oct.2023) — Energy briefs as well as others related to finance and projects during October 2023 including Vista‘s third quarter 2023 earnings presentation; the long-awaited Citgo Petroleum auction; Colombia’s first seabed allocation competitive process for offshore wind energy; former Trinidad and Tobago energy minister Kevin Ramnarine on […]

Venezuelan Oil-Sanctions Relief Was Just Announced. It Could Be Tested Soon

(Barron’s, 23.Oct.2023) — The U.S. administration’s new oil sanctions relief toward Venezuela is broad-ranging and impactful. It’s unlikely to have any immediate effect on international oil prices, but it will likely realign the regional oil trade, which will benefit the U.S. refining system. It will also test whether a different foreign policy—and […]

Welligence says Hess Corporation gives Chevron Atlantic margin exposure

PANAMA CITY, PANAMA (Energy Analytics Institute, 23.Oct.2023, Words: 203) — US-based Chevron Corporation will acquire Hess Corporation for $60bn (including net debt), the second giant transaction of Oct. 2023 following the $65bn move by ExxonMobil to acquire Pioneer Natural Resources Company, both in all-stock transactions, Welligence Energy Analytics wrote 23 […]

Fast Output Recovery Still Challenging in Venezuela

(WoodMac, 20.Oct.2023) — Addressing the US Treasury Department’s partially lifted sanctions on Venezuela’s oil and gas sector, Adrian Lara, principal research analyst, Latin America Upstream Oil and Gas for Wood Mackenzie said, “Although still conditioned by a subsequent renewal, this new easing of sanctions can certainly be considered a positive move […]

Venezuela’s Oil Sanctions Relief May Lift Profits, No Fast Output Rebound

(Reuters, 18.Oct.2023) — A broad easing of U.S. oil sanctions on Venezuela will not quickly expand its output but could boost profits by returning some foreign companies to its oilfields and providing its crude to a wider set of cash-paying customers, experts said. The South American OPEC producer received broad waivers from […]

FAQ: Suspension of Certain US Sanctions on Venezuela [PDF Downloads]

(US Department of State, 18.Oct.2023) — On October 18, 2023, the United States welcomed the announcement of a political agreement between representatives of Maduro and the Unitary Platform, as part of the longstanding policy to support the peaceful restoration of democracy, competitive elections, and respect for the rights and freedoms […]