Oil drills in Maracaibo Lake in Venezuela's oil rich Zulia state. The U.S. is renewing sanctions on Venezuela's oil industry. Leslie Mazoch/AP hide caption toggle caption Leslie Mazoch/AP World The U.S. renews oil sanctions on Venezuela citing a failure to allow fair elections April 17, 2024 The Biden administration will reinstate sanctions on Venezuela's oil and gas sector, accusing the government President Nicolás Maduro of failing to commit to "an inclusive and competitive election."