US to issue general license lifting some sanctions on Venezuelan oil industry

U.S. officials are working to issue a general license soon that would lift some sanctions on Venezuela's energy sector, four sources familiar with the preparation said on Tuesday, a shift from a previous plan to grant individual exemptions to sanctions for companies seeking to do business in the country.



Following the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro earlier this month, U.S. officials have said Washington would ease sanctions imposed on Venezuela's energy industry to facilitate a $2 billion oil supply deal between Caracas and Washington and an ambitious $100 billion reconstruction plan for

the country's oil industry.



Many partners and customers of state oil company PDVSA, including producers Chevron, Repsol and ENI , refiner Reliance Industries, and some U.S.

oil service providers, have applied for individual licenses in recent weeks to expand output or exports from the OPEC member.