By Micah Jonah
January 16, 2026
Several European partners of Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA, including Spain’s Repsol, Italy’s ENI, and France’s Maurel & Prom, have applied for U.S. licenses to export Venezuelan oil, six industry sources told Reuters.
The licenses would allow the companies to receive and export Venezuelan crude, supply fuel to the country, and recover debts, similar to authorizations granted in previous years.
Exports have been largely halted since the Trump administration suspended most licenses last year. Repsol attended a White House meeting last week, where President Trump encouraged oil companies to invest in Venezuela.
U.S. authorities declined to comment on specific requests, however indicated plans to ease sanctions on Venezuela, imposed since 2019. Other companies, including Chevron, Valero, Reliance, Mercuria, and Glencore, are also seeking similar authorizations.
The applications come as Caracas and Washington agreed this month on a 50-million-barrel crude supply deal, the first step of Trump’s $100 billion plan to revive Venezuela’s oil industry.
At least two tankers have recently departed Venezuela, delivering crude to Caribbean terminals, according to shipping data.
Repsol and ENI declined to comment, while Maurel & Prom did not immediately respond.
