US authorizes Maurel & Prom oil company to expand operations in Venezuela

The United States on Wednesday further eased sanctions on Venezuela's energy sector, adding Maurel & Prom MAUP.PA to a list of companies authorized to expand oil and gas operations in the OPEC member country.

The Treasury Department issued a general license on Wednesday adding Maurel & Prom to the list. Chevron CVX.N, Shell SHEL.L, Repsol REP.MC and some other firms that are partners of state oil company PDVSA had previously been given authorization.

-Ryan Jones, Daphne Psaledakis and Marianna Parraga/Reuters