Las Cristinas gold project: 2008 permit denial in the Imataca reserve, Crystallex ICSID award and court-ordered sale of CITGO's parent
- According to the Ministry's letter, gold and copper exploitation by Crystallex would have produced a considerable effect on my forest and irreversible damage, combined with global warming; the tribunal made no finding on whether those reasons were valid. ICSID tribunal (via italaw)
- According to Crystallex's account in the award, from the early 1980s a significant number of miners worked the Las Cristinas deposits using techniques that caused deforestation and pollution; no figures are given. ICSID tribunal (via italaw)
- My Cuyuní River shows sedimentation next to Las Claritas, and the surrounding region is severely contaminated by mercury, according to SOS Orinoco's reading of a satellite image of 11 February 2020. SOS Orinoco
- Government and regulators Venezuelan Ministry of Environment: Cited serious environmental deterioration in the plot, irreversible damage to the Imataca forest from gold and copper exploitation, and global warming. ICSID tribunal (via italaw)
- Government and regulators Venezuela, in the arbitration: The environmental and socio-cultural impact of the project could not be mitigated. ICSID tribunal (via italaw)
- Company or project Crystallex: The concerns were never raised in the four-year approval process, and the letter did not refer to a single page or paragraph of the 948-page environmental impact statement. ICSID tribunal (via italaw)
- Courts ICSID tribunal: Found the way the concerns were put forward arbitrary and made no finding on whether the Ministry's reasons were substantively valid. ICSID tribunal (via italaw)
- Company or project Crystallex: Alleged the document was fabricated after the fact. ICSID tribunal (via italaw)
- Courts ICSID tribunal: Said it need not decide the question and found it as deficient as the denial letter. ICSID tribunal (via italaw)
Venezuela denied an environmental permit for the Las Cristinas gold mine in 2008, citing damage to the Imataca forest and global warming. An investment tribunal found the denial arbitrary and awarded Crystallex US$1,202 million plus interest, and a US court later approved a US$5.892 billion sale of CITGO's parent company to pay judgments.
ICSID award of 4 April 2016. On 29 November 2025 a US court approved a sale of CITGO's parent at a purchase price of US$5.892 billion; the appeal is pending.
Status As of 19 October 2026: the Third Circuit appeals (Nos. 25-3347 et al.) against the sale are pending, Venezuela's motion of 1 October 2026 to hold them in abeyance has no ruling on the docket, and oral argument is set for 21 October 2026; OFAC licensing of the sale is not on record.
- Crystallex — Award of US$1,202 million plus interest; Venezuela's filing says it will take over US$1 billion of the sale price Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (filing in the Third Circuit, via CourtListener)
- ConocoPhillips, Rusoro, Koch and other attached-judgment creditors — US$3.853 billion in cash through the priority waterfall, and discharge of Rusoro's judgment of approximately US$1.569 billion and Koch's of approximately US$471 million US District Court, D. Del. (Judge Stark); copy hosted by Gold Reserve
- Amber Energy (Elliott affiliate) — Buyer of the PDVH shares at a purchase price of US$5.892 billion US District Court, D. Del. (Judge Stark); copy hosted by Gold Reserve
- Tenor Special Situation Fund I — Entitlement to 35 per cent of the net proceeds of the arbitration under the April 2012 loan terms Court of Appeal for Ontario (via italaw)
- Venezuela — Ordered to pay US$1,202 million plus interest; the PDVH shares of its state oil company were sold under court order ICSID tribunal (via italaw)
- Gold Reserve — Its judgment remains unsatisfied under the Amber sale US District Court, D. Del. (Judge Stark); copy hosted by Gold Reserve
- Imataca Forest Reserve (rivers, soils, flora and fauna of the Las Cristinas plot) — Described by the Ministry as seriously deteriorated through uncontrolled mining; no measured figure on record ICSID tribunal (via italaw)
- Cuyuní River at Las Claritas — Sedimentation and mercury contamination, according to SOS Orinoco SOS Orinoco
What happened
Las Cristinas consisted of four concessions (Cristina 4, 5, 6 and 7) in Sifontes municipality, Bolívar State, about 6 km west of the village of Las Claritas and 20 km from the Guyana border, beside the Cuyuní River. The award states that the site "sits in the Imataca National Forest Reserve". The first concession titles dated from 1964. On 16 May 2007 the Ministry of Environment (MinAmb) asked Crystallex for a bond to guarantee the measures in the environmental impact document, which it described as "analyzed and approved by this Office"; Crystallex posted the bond and paid the environmental taxes on 18 May 2007.
On 14 April 2008 MinAmb's Oficio 1427 denied the permit. The letter cited "serious environmental deterioration in the rivers, soils, flora, fauna and biodiversity in general in the plot, caused by uncontrolled mining activity", and "irreversible damage to the environment, combined with the effects that on a worldwide level are causing global warming". The tribunal recorded that the letter referred to environmental studies and technical inspection reports but attached none and did not identify their authors. The only internal report behind the denial was a September 2006 technical inspection report (the "Romero Report"), which Crystallex alleged had been fabricated after the fact; the tribunal said it "need not decide" that and found that report "as deficient as the Permit denial letter". Crystallex's reconsideration request was declared inadmissible on 28 May 2008; its hierarchical appeal of 17 June 2008 was never ruled on.
A wire report of 16 May 2008 quoted Environment Minister Yuviri Ortega as saying that Venezuela would not issue permits for any open-pit mines or allow companies to look for gold in the 3.8-million-hectare Imataca reserve. On 19 September 2008 and 13 January 2009 President Chávez said the state was "taking back big mines" and that it had taken over Las Cristinas, to be developed through VenRus, a joint venture with Rusoro Mining. A November 2008 Ministry of Mines press release announced the plan to take back Las Cristinas to increase international reserves and, the tribunal noted, made no mention of the environmental concerns in the denial letter. On 3 February 2011 the Corporación Venezolana de Guayana (CVG) rescinded the Mine Operation Contract, citing "reasons of opportunity and convenience" and "cessation of activities for more than one (1) year". Crystallex filed its ICSID request on 16 February 2011. In 2012 Venezuela signed a framework agreement with CITIC to develop the mine jointly. From 2016 the Cristinas area was merged with the adjacent Brisas area into the Siembra Minera mixed company.
The tribunal (Laurent Lévy, President; John Y. Gotanda; Laurence Boisson de Chazournes) issued its award on 4 April 2016. It found breaches of fair and equitable treatment and expropriation and ordered Venezuela to pay US$1,202 million in damages plus interest. On the permit denial it found that Venezuela had the right and the responsibility to raise environmental concerns, but that the way they were put forward in the denial letter presented "significant elements of arbitrariness"; it made no finding on whether the Ministry's environmental reasons were substantively valid. The US District Court for the District of Columbia confirmed the award on 25 March 2017, and the Third Circuit described the result as a US$1.4 billion federal judgment. According to Reuters, citing an Ontario court filing, Venezuela paid an initial US$425 million on 23 November 2018, mostly in liquid securities, with the balance due in instalments through early 2021.
To collect, Crystallex attached PDVSA's shares in PDV Holding (PDVH), the US parent of the CITGO refineries, in Delaware in August 2018; the Third Circuit affirmed the attachment on 29 July 2019. On 25 November 2025 Judge Leonard P. Stark adopted the Special Master's recommendation of a bid by Amber Energy, an Elliott affiliate, at a purchase price of US$5.892 billion, and signed the sale order on 29 November 2025, subject to a licence from the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Venezuela, PDVSA, PDVH, CITGO Holding and Gold Reserve appealed. On 1 October 2026 Venezuela asked the Third Circuit to hold its appeal in abeyance; oral argument was set for 21 October 2026. No document read allocates any part of the award, the settlement payments or the sale proceeds to the Imataca reserve or to remediation of the site.
- 1964First concession titles issued for the Las Cristinas area
- 2007MinAmb requests a bond (16 May); Crystallex posts it and pays environmental taxes (18 May)
- 2008Oficio 1427 denies the environmental permit (14 Apr); reconsideration declared inadmissible (28 May); Environment Minister quoted on Imataca open-pit permits (16 May); hierarchical appeal filed (17 Jun); Ministry of Mines press release on retaking Las Cristinas (Nov)
- 2009Chávez announces state takeover of Las Cristinas (13 Jan)
- 2011CVG rescinds the Mine Operation Contract (3 Feb); Crystallex files ICSID request (16 Feb)
- 2012Venezuela–CITIC framework agreement (27 Feb); CITIC studies contract (1 Sep)
- 2016ICSID award: US$1,202 million plus interest (4 Apr); Cristinas merged into the Siembra Minera area
- 2017D.D.C. confirms the award (25 Mar)
- 2018Crystallex attaches PDVSA's PDVH shares in Delaware (Aug); Venezuela pays an initial US$425 million (23 Nov)
- 2019Third Circuit affirms the attachment, 932 F.3d 126 (29 Jul)
- 2025Judge Stark adopts the Amber bid, purchase price US$5.892 billion (25 Nov); sale order signed (29 Nov)
- 2025Third Circuit holds the Venezuela parties' stay motion in abeyance (15 Dec)
- 2026Venezuela moves to hold the appeal in abeyance (1 Oct); US Department of Justice states no views (13 Oct); motions to continue denied (15 Oct); oral argument set for 21 Oct
What was said
“serious environmental deterioration in the rivers, soils, flora, fauna and biodiversity in general in the plot, caused by uncontrolled mining activity due to the high presence of miners”
“the exploitation of gold and copper in the Imataca Forestry Reserve by the representative company constitutes, according to the environmental studies carried out recently in the area, a considerable [e]ffect on the Forest which would generate irreversible damage to the environment, combined with the effects that on a worldwide level are causing global warming, a phenomenon that our country cannot escape”
“not to approve the Affectation of Natural Resources for the exploitation of gold in the Municipality of Sifontes in Bolivar State”
“to increase our international reserves”
“taking back big mines”
“There is no question that Venezuela had the right (and the responsibility) to raise concerns relating to global warming, environmental issues in respect of the Imataca Reserve, biodiversity, and other related issues. The Tribunal, however, believes that the way they were put forward by Venezuela in the Permit denial letter presents significant elements of arbitrariness and evidences a lack of transparency and consistency.”
“To raise this concern [global warming] for the first time in an attempt to justify the denial of the Permit is a clear example of arbitrary and unfair conduct.”
“the Tribunal will refrain from making findings as to whether or not the concerns expressed by the Ministry were 'adequately' addressed by the Claimant, or whether the reasons put forward by the Respondent in denying the Permit were substantively valid”
“are so fundamentally deficient that, to the eyes of a reasonable third person, they 'surprise a sense of juridical propriety'”
“the termination was not due to a bona fide dispute … It was devised to give effect to the Respondent's unconcealed political agenda … It thus constituted the final sovereign act which completed the expropriatory process.”
“Specifically going to Las Cristinas, no”
“from the early '80s a significant number of illegal miners began working the gold deposits using techniques that caused deforestation and pollution at Las Cristinas”
“a fragile rainforest with an extremely varied biodiversity and a significant indigenous population”
“mostly in the form of 'liquid securities'”
“[a]ny outcome where Crystallex is not paid means that Venezuela has avoided its obligations”
“many of the judgment-creditors who have spent years and millions of dollars trying to recover … will finally obtain relief.”
“grossly undervalued”
“chiefly Crystallex, which will take over $1 billion of the sale price”
“the latest installment in a consistent pattern of gamesmanship”
“the United States has no views to express at this time concerning this litigation”
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
Cited serious environmental deterioration in the plot, irreversible damage to the Imataca forest from gold and copper exploitation, and global warming.
ICSID tribunal (via italaw)The environmental and socio-cultural impact of the project could not be mitigated.
ICSID tribunal (via italaw)The concerns were never raised in the four-year approval process, and the letter did not refer to a single page or paragraph of the 948-page environmental impact statement.
ICSID tribunal (via italaw)Found the way the concerns were put forward arbitrary and made no finding on whether the Ministry's reasons were substantively valid.
ICSID tribunal (via italaw)Imataca had been expressly designated for mining and forestry use in presidential decrees of 1997, 2002 and 2004.
ICSID tribunal (via italaw)Mining at Las Claritas is "of course prohibited by law".
SOS OrinocoVenezuela would not issue permits for open-pit mines or allow companies to look for gold in the 3.8-million-hectare Imataca reserve.
Dialogue Earth (China Dialogue), wire item linking Planet ArkAlleged the document was fabricated after the fact.
ICSID tribunal (via italaw)Said it need not decide the question and found it as deficient as the denial letter.
ICSID tribunal (via italaw)Found the fair market value of the PDVH shares under US$10 billion and the Amber consideration fair, adequate and reasonable.
US District Court, D. Del. (Judge Stark); copy hosted by Gold ReserveThe sale was grossly undervalued, an unconscionable windfall for Amber.
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (filing in the Third Circuit, via CourtListener)The recommended bid was priced US$2 billion below the highest-priced bid, its own Dalinar bid, and the advisors had conflicts of interest.
Gold Reserve Ltd. (filing)Asked the Third Circuit to hold the appeal in abeyance while it restructures its debt.
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (filing in the Third Circuit, via CourtListener)The request was the latest installment in a consistent pattern of gamesmanship.
Crystallex et al. (filing in the Third Circuit, via CourtListener)The United States had no views to express at that time concerning the litigation.
US Department of Justice (via CourtListener)How it looked
Shown
- The permit was denied to protect the Imataca forest and its indigenous peoples; the letter cited irreversible damage to the environment and global warming.Venezuelan Ministry of Environment, Oficio 1427 (14 April 2008) · ICSID tribunal (via italaw)
- Mining was to be taken back by the state, announced as a way to increase international reserves; the press release did not mention the environmental concerns.Venezuelan Ministry of Mines press release (November 2008), as described in the award · ICSID tribunal (via italaw)
- The sale of CITGO's parent was presented as paying the judgments of ten creditors.Judge Stark, opinion of 25 November 2025 · US District Court, D. Del. (Judge Stark); copy hosted by Gold Reserve
- The sale was presented as a transfer to Amber at an undervalue, with Crystallex taking over US$1 billion of the price.Venezuela, motion of 1 October 2026 · Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (filing in the Third Circuit, via CourtListener)
Recorded
- The tribunal found Venezuela's handling of the environmental reasons in the denial letter arbitrary and made no finding on whether those reasons were substantively valid.
- The Ministry's file contained no analysis of global warming or carbon emissions for Las Cristinas; a Ministry official confirmed this at the hearing.
- In document disclosure Venezuela confirmed that there were no technical inspection reports, environmental studies, research data or reports behind the denial other than the September 2006 report (Crystallex's account as recorded in the award).
- The Ministry of Mines press release of November 2008 gave the aim of increasing international reserves and made no mention of the environmental concerns in the denial letter.
- The Third Circuit recorded Crystallex's assertion, which PDVSA did not dispute, that Venezuela gave the mining rights at Las Cristinas to PDVSA for no consideration and that PDVSA sold 40% of its shares in the affiliate created to exercise those rights to the Venezuelan Central Bank.
- Purchase price of US$5.892 billion: US$3.853 billion in cash payable to Crystallex and the other attached-judgment creditors in the priority waterfall through to ConocoPhillips for its Corocoro judgment; a package discharging Rusoro's attached judgment of approximately US$1.569 billion; and non-cash consideration to Koch discharging approximately US$471 million.
- The court found the fair market value of the PDVH shares to be under US$10 billion and stated that adverse humanitarian and policy impacts of the sale process are for the executive branch to evaluate, not the court.
- The sale order approves the stock purchase agreement subject to issuance of an authorising licence by OFAC.
- OFAC FAQ 595 states that transfers of CITGO shares tied to the PdVSA 2020 bond remain prohibited without a specific licence; General License 5Z of 16 September 2026 delays the General License 5 authorisation until 5 November 2026.
- On 15 December 2025 the Third Circuit held the Venezuela parties' stay motion in abeyance at their request.
- Gold Reserve supports a limited six-month abeyance of the appeal "subject to concurrent support from the United States".
- From 2016 the Cristinas area was merged with the adjacent Brisas area into the Siembra Minera mixed company (state 55%, Gold Reserve 45%).
- No court, arbitral or company document read allocates any part of the award, settlement payments or sale proceeds to the Imataca reserve or to site remediation.
Who gained
Reached nature or the ground
Gained elsewhere
Responses on record
- venezuela-ministry-of-environment (14 April 2008): Denied the permit citing serious environmental deterioration in the plot, irreversible damage to the environment from gold and copper exploitation in Imataca, and global warming. · ICSID tribunal (via italaw)
- venezuela-gov (ICSID proceedings, before April 2016): Told the tribunal that the environmental and socio-cultural impact of the project could not be mitigated, that authorising it would have been a violation of its duty to protect the environment and population, and that Crystallex never held a mining title. · ICSID tribunal (via italaw)
- crystallex (ICSID proceedings, before April 2016): Told the tribunal that the concerns had never been raised during the four-year approval process, that the denial letter did not refer to a single page or paragraph of the 948-page environmental impact statement, and that Imataca had been designated for mining and forestry use in presidential decrees of 1997, 2002 and 2004. · ICSID tribunal (via italaw)
- venezuela-gov (1 October 2026): Called the sale grossly undervalued and an unconscionable windfall for Amber, and asked the Third Circuit to hold the appeal in abeyance while it restructures its debt. · Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (filing in the Third Circuit, via CourtListener)
- us-doj (13 October 2026): Wrote to the Third Circuit that the United States had no views to express at that time concerning the litigation. · US Department of Justice (via CourtListener)
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2011-02-16–2016-04-04Claimant won$1.2bn damages awarded, plus interest (6-month USD LIBOR + 1%, compounded annually, from 13 April 2008)Crystallex International Corporation v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (ICSID Additional Facility, ARB(AF)/11/2)ICSID Additional Facility tribunal (Laurent Lévy, President; John Y. Gotanda; Laurence Boisson de Chazournes) · Arbitration · Crystallex International Corporation → Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
The tribunal found breach of fair and equitable treatment (BIT Art. II(2)) and expropriation (Art. VII(1)). It found the way the environmental concerns were put forward in the denial letter arbitrary and lacking in transparency and consistency, and made no finding on whether the Ministry's reasons were substantively valid. Each party bears its own costs; the claimant's legal costs were stated as US$30,493,635 and Venezuela's as US$14,322,826. ICSID tribunal (via italaw)
- 2017-03-25Claimant won$1.4bn federal judgment, as described by the Third Circuit in 2019Confirmation of the award in the District of ColumbiaUS District Court for the District of Columbia; US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit · Civil · Crystallex International Corporation → Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
The district court confirmed the award on 25 March 2017 (244 F. Supp. 3d 100). The D.C. Circuit affirmed in 2019 (760 F. App'x 1); according to Crystallex's filing it sanctioned Venezuela for a "misleading and meritless" abeyance motion. US District Court, D.D.C. (via italaw)
- 2018-08–2019-07-29Claimant wonAttachment of the PDVH shares in DelawareUS District Court for the District of Delaware (Misc. No. 17-151-LPS); US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit · Civil · Crystallex International Corporation → Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; PDVSA; PDVH
Crystallex attached PDVSA's shares in PDVH in August 2018. The Third Circuit affirmed the attachment on 29 July 2019 (932 F.3d 126). US Court of Appeals, Third Circuit (via italaw)
- 2025-11-29Claimant won$5.89bn purchase price approvedCourt-ordered sale of the PDVH shares to Amber EnergyUS District Court for the District of Delaware (Judge Leonard P. Stark) · Civil · Crystallex and other attached-judgment creditors → Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; PDVSA; PDVH; CITGO Holding
On 25 November 2025 the court adopted the Special Master's Updated Final Recommendation and overruled the objections of Venezuela, PDVSA, PDVH, CITGO Holding and Gold Reserve; it signed the sale order on 29 November 2025, subject to an OFAC licence. Closing is stayed until at least 7 days after OFAC licenses the sale. US District Court, D. Del. (Judge Stark); copy hosted by Gold Reserve
- OngoingConsolidated appeals against the sale (Third Circuit Nos. 25-3347 et al.)US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit · Appeal · Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; PDVH; CITGO; PDVSA; Gold Reserve and others → Crystallex; ConocoPhillips; Koch; Tidewater and others
The court held Venezuela's stay motion in abeyance on 15 December 2025. On 1 October 2026 Venezuela moved to hold the appeal in abeyance with six-monthly restructuring updates; PDVSA joined and Gold Reserve supported a limited six-month abeyance subject to concurrent support from the United States, while Crystallex, ConocoPhillips, Koch, Tidewater and others opposed. On 15 October 2026 the court denied motions to continue the argument date. Oral argument was set for 21 October 2026. US Court of Appeals, Third Circuit (via CourtListener)
Insurers
What nature saw
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
What we don't know
Nature
Money
- None on record Award, settlement or sale proceeds allocated to the Imataca reserve or to site remediation — None on record.
Accounts
Record
- None on record None on record: allocation of any part of the award, the settlement payments or the sale proceeds to the Imataca reserve or to remediation of the site.
- Not measured Not measured: deforestation or contamination specific to the Las Cristinas concession area, for any period; the award, the court opinions and the company documents describe harm in words only.
- None on record None on record: any analysis of global warming or carbon emissions for Las Cristinas in the Ministry's administrative file; a Ministry official confirmed this at the hearing.
- Not disclosed Not disclosed: copies, authors and recommendations of the environmental studies and technical inspection reports cited in the denial letter.
- Disputed Disputed: the authenticity of the September 2006 Romero Report (Exh. R-52); the tribunal found it deficient and did not decide the question.
- Insufficient Insufficient: the unpaid balance of Crystallex's judgment and its exact share of the US$3.853 billion cash waterfall; Venezuela's filing of 1 October 2026 states that Crystallex will take over US$1 billion of the price. The balance of the 2018 settlement, due in instalments through early 2021, is not on record.
- Unclear Unclear: whether Tenor Special Situation Fund I's April 2012 entitlement to 35 per cent of the net proceeds of the arbitration still applies or was amended.
- Unclear Unclear: whether OFAC has decided on a specific licence for the Amber sale; filings up to 8 October 2026 treat it as not yet granted.
- None on record None on record: a ruling on Venezuela's motion of 1 October 2026 to hold the appeal in abeyance, as of 19 October 2026, or the outcome of the oral argument set for 21 October 2026.
- None on record None on record: insurance relating to the permit denial, the award or the sale.
Did the harm stop?
The Ministry of Environment denied the permit on 14 April 2008 and CVG rescinded the contract on 3 February 2011. No measured change in the condition of the Las Cristinas area after either date is on record.
Who paid?
Venezuela was ordered to pay Crystallex US$1,202 million plus interest and paid an initial US$425 million on 23 November 2018, according to Reuters. If the sale closes, the purchase price of US$5.892 billion discharges judgments held by ten creditors. None on record: any payment to the Imataca reserve or for remediation.
Sources
Company or project
- Request for Arbitration v. Venezuela (Siembra Minera)GR Mining (Barbados) Inc. (party pleading, via italaw) · 2025-03-05
Government and regulators
- Letter to Third Circuit, no views (Doc. 303)US Department of Justice (via CourtListener) · 2026-10-13
- FAQ 595 (General License 5 series; GL 5Z)US Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control · 2026-09-16
Courts
- Crystallex International Corporation v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, ICSID Case No. ARB(AF)/11/2, AwardICSID tribunal (via italaw) · 2016-04-04
- Crystallex (Re), 2012 ONCA 404Court of Appeal for Ontario (via italaw) · 2012-06-13
- Crystallex v. Venezuela, Memorandum Opinion confirming awardUS District Court, D.D.C. (via italaw) · 2017-03-25
- Crystallex v. Venezuela, 932 F.3d 126, OpinionUS Court of Appeals, Third Circuit (via italaw) · 2019-07-29
- Opinion adopting Special Master's Updated Final Recommendation (D.I. 2553, Misc. No. 17-151-LPS)US District Court, D. Del. (Judge Stark); copy hosted by Gold Reserve · 2025-11-25
- Order (I) Approving Stock Purchase Agreement, (II) Authorizing Sale of the PDVH Shares (D.I. 2556)US District Court, D. Del. (Judge Stark); copy hosted by Gold Reserve · 2025-11-29
- Docket Nos. 25-3347 et al., Crystallex International Corp. v. Bolivarian Republic of VenezuelaUS Court of Appeals, Third Circuit (via CourtListener) · 2026-10
- Order holding stay motion in abeyance (Doc. 111)US Court of Appeals, Third Circuit (via CourtListener) · 2025-12-15
- Motion to Hold Appeal in Abeyance (Doc. 278-1)Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (filing in the Third Circuit, via CourtListener) · 2026-10-01
- Opposition to Venezuela's Motion to Hold Appeal in Abeyance (Doc. 296)Crystallex et al. (filing in the Third Circuit, via CourtListener) · 2026-10-08
- Petition for Writ of Mandamus, In re Gold Reserve Ltd., 3d Cir. No. 25-3091 (redacted)Gold Reserve Ltd. (filing) · 2025-10-28
Press and investigations
- Venezuela settles $1.2 billion creditor claim to protect CitgoReuters (Tom Hals), via Investing.com · 2018-11-25
- Venezuela cracks down on mining projects to protect resourcesDialogue Earth (China Dialogue), wire item linking Planet Ark · 2008-05-16
Communities and civil society
- Las Claritas ISOS Orinoco · 2020
Connected cases
- Brisas gold-copper project: 2008 revocation of the environmental permit in Imataca and Gold Reserve's ICSID award Venezuela · 2007–2026 Related matter
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Respondent; judgment debtor; there: Respondent
- Ministry of Environment of Venezuela (MinAmb) (Public authority) — here: Denied the permit (Oficio 1427); there: Revoked the permit (MinAmb)
- International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) (International organisation) — here: Arbitral forum; there: Arbitral forum
- Amber Energy (Company) — here: Buyer of the PDVH shares (Elliott affiliate); there: Buyer of the PDVH shares
- Elliott (Company) — here: Sponsor of the Amber bid; there: Sponsor of the Amber bid
- Gold Reserve Ltd. (Company) — here: Judgment creditor; bidder and objector; there: Award holder; claimant; bidder and objector in the CITGO sale
- US District Court for the District of Delaware (Court) — here: Approved the sale; there: Court ordering the CITGO sale
- Rusoro Mining award for the El Callao gold mines: Venezuela's unquantified natural-resource counterclaim and Rusoro's role in the CITGO sale Venezuela · 2008–2026 Related matter
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Respondent; judgment debtor; there: Respondent; counterclaimant
- International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) (International organisation) — here: Arbitral forum; there: Arbitral forum
- Amber Energy (Company) — here: Buyer of the PDVH shares (Elliott affiliate); there: Buyer of the PDVH shares
- Koch (Company) — here: Judgment creditor; non-cash consideration; there: Co-holder in the credit bid
- Rusoro Mining Ltd. (Company) — here: Judgment creditor; credit bidder; there: Award holder; claimant; judgment creditor
- US District Court for the District of Delaware (Court) — here: Approved the sale; there: Approved the sale
- Siembra Minera: the merged Brisas–Cristinas area in the Orinoco Mining Arc, the 2022 revocation and Gold Reserve's new arbitration Venezuela · 2016–2026 Related matter
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Respondent; judgment debtor; there: Respondent
- International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) (International organisation) — here: Arbitral forum; there: Arbitral forum
- Gold Reserve Ltd. (Company) — here: Judgment creditor; bidder and objector; there: 45% shareholder; claimant
- US Department of the Treasury (Government) — here: OFAC licensing of the sale; there: OFAC licences (negotiation licence; General License 55)
- Venezuelan gold exports to Turkey and the UAE and US sanctions on Minerven and the Central Bank Venezuela · 2018–2026 Related matter
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Respondent; judgment debtor; there: Exporting state
- US Department of the Treasury (Government) — here: OFAC licensing of the sale; there: Sanctioning authority (OFAC)
- US Department of Justice (Government) — here: Stated no views on 13 October 2026; there: Prosecuted Alex Saab
- Gold mining in Yapacana National Park and the 2023 military evictions Venezuela · 2021–2025 Related matter
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Respondent; judgment debtor; there: Ministry of Defence statements; National Guard post at the park entrance
- SOS Orinoco (NGO) — here: Environmental organisation; reports on Las Claritas; there: Imagery partner
- Gold mining inside Canaima National Park Venezuela · 2016–2026 Related matter
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Respondent; judgment debtor; there: Park authority and responsible state
- SOS Orinoco (NGO) — here: Environmental organisation; reports on Las Claritas; there: NGO reporting the extent of mining
- Orinoco Mining Arc: decree, state gold business and measured harm Venezuela · 2011–2026 Related matter
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Respondent; judgment debtor; there: Issued Decree 2.248; mining ministry and state companies
- SOS Orinoco (NGO) — here: Environmental organisation; reports on Las Claritas; there: NGO monitoring mining in the south
- Tumeremo killings and armed control of gold mines in Bolívar Venezuela · 2015–2026 Related matter
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Respondent; judgment debtor; there: Responsible state; Public Prosecutor, security forces
- Canaima National Park: fire suppression for the Guri catchment, mining pressure and the UNESCO decisions Venezuela · 1981–2026
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Respondent; judgment debtor; there: State Party to the World Heritage Convention
- US Department of the Treasury (Government) — here: OFAC licensing of the sale; there: Issued the March 2026 gold licence
- SOS Orinoco (NGO) — here: Environmental organisation; reports on Las Claritas; there: NGO measuring mining inside the park
- Lake Maracaibo chronic oil leaks Venezuela · 2010–2026
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Respondent; judgment debtor; there: Announced the July 2023 clean-up plan and pipeline replacement
- PDVSA (Company) — here: Owner of the attached PDVH shares; there: State oil company; operator of the lake's installations and pipelines
- Nissos Amorgos tanker spill, Gulf of Venezuela, 1997, and the US$60 million environmental-damage judgment Venezuela · 1997–2014
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Respondent; judgment debtor; there: Claimant State; awarded US$60 million
- PDVSA (Company) — here: Owner of the attached PDVH shares; there: Settled claimant for clean-up and preventive measures
- BP Deepwater Horizon: the spill, the court cases and the recovery claims United States · 2010–2031
- US Department of Justice (Government) — here: Stated no views on 13 October 2026; there: Prosecutor and civil claimant
- Danone, Unilever and BP scaled back sustainability goals between 2021 and 2025 Global · 2021–2025
- Elliott (Company) — here: Sponsor of the Amber bid; there: Activist investor pressing BP
- Dark Basin hacking of climate groups (#ExxonKnew) United States · 2023
- US Department of Justice (Government) — here: Stated no views on 13 October 2026; there: Prosecuting authority (Southern District of New York)
- El Palito refinery spill into Golfo Triste and Morrocoy National Park, 2020 Venezuela · 2020–2024
- PDVSA (Company) — here: Owner of the attached PDVH shares; there: State oil company; operator of the El Palito refinery
- EU narrows supply-chain law and delays deforestation rule twice European Union · 2024–2026
- Koch (Company) — here: Judgment creditor; non-cash consideration; there: Named in leaked documents on the supply-chain law
- Exxon Valdez: the spill, insurance and court cases United States · 1989–2015
- US Department of Justice (Government) — here: Stated no views on 13 October 2026; there: Prosecutor and civil claimant
- Georgia-Pacific, Bestwall and the Texas two-step United States · 2017
- Koch (Company) — here: Judgment creditor; non-cash consideration; there: Owner of Georgia-Pacific
- Guri dam, drought and the 2010, 2016 and 2019 power crises: catchment, emergency contracts and prosecutions Venezuela · 2003–2023
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Respondent; judgment debtor; there: Decreed the electric emergency; attributed the 2019 blackout to sabotage
- Hanford contractors settle false-claims suits as cleanup estimates rise United States · 1943–2086
- US Department of Justice (Government) — here: Stated no views on 13 October 2026; there: Counterparty to the 2016 settlement
- Kerr-McGee / Anadarko fraudulent transfer settlement United States · 2014–2015
- US Department of Justice (Government) — here: Stated no views on 13 October 2026; there: Announced the settlement
- Lake Valencia: rising level, sewage and compensation for flooded homes Venezuela · 1976–2023
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Respondent; judgment debtor; there: Funded the clean-up programmes and the Pao-Cachinche transfer
- Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex: Barrick–Mali dispute, provisional administration and settlement Mali · 2023–2026
- International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) (International organisation) — here: Arbitral forum; there: Arbitration filed by Somilo and Gounkoto against Mali
- Lumber Liquidators Lacey Act guilty plea over Russian Far East oak flooring Russia · 2010–2024
- US Department of Justice (Government) — here: Stated no views on 13 October 2026; there: Prosecutor
- Monsanto charged in US over bribe to Indonesian official on environmental review Indonesia · 2005
- US Department of Justice (Government) — here: Stated no views on 13 October 2026; there: prosecuting authority; issued the press release
- Montrose DDT insurance case United States · 1947–2020
- US Department of Justice (Government) — here: Stated no views on 13 October 2026; there: Announced the December 2000 DDT settlement
- Mosaic settles US hazardous-waste case over phosphogypsum handling United States · 2015
- US Department of Justice (Government) — here: Stated no views on 13 October 2026; there: Co-signatory of the settlement
- NextEra unit ESI Energy admits at least 150 eagle deaths at US wind farms United States · 2012–2022
- US Department of Justice (Government) — here: Stated no views on 13 October 2026; there: prosecutor that described the permit policy
- Ohio HB6 bribery case United States · 2017–2026
- US Department of Justice (Government) — here: Stated no views on 13 October 2026; there: Prosecuted; recorded a $230m payment by the company
- Rockhopper v. Italy (Ombrina Mare): the ICSID award and who financed it Italy · 2015–2026
- International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) (International organisation) — here: Arbitral forum; there: Arbitration institution; annulment committee
- Roundup litigation, settlements and legal shield (Bayer/Monsanto) United States · 2009–2026
- US Department of Justice (Government) — here: Stated no views on 13 October 2026; there: Supported Monsanto in Durnell
- Sellafield decommissioning and Hanford cleanup budgets United States · 1943–2086
- US Department of Justice (Government) — here: Stated no views on 13 October 2026; there: Government party in the settled cases
- Somaïr nationalisation, Orano's ICSID arbitration and the Niger uranium stock Niger · 2023–2026
- International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) (International organisation) — here: Arbitral forum; there: Tribunal in ARB/25/8; order of 23 September 2025
- Sudan gold: mercury and cyanide in mining, and the wartime gold trade Sudan · 2008–2026
- US Department of the Treasury (Government) — here: OFAC licensing of the sale; there: Designating authority
- Unpaid Venezuelan contributions to the IOPC Funds, 2019–2026 Venezuela · 2019–2026
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Respondent; judgment debtor; there: Member State of the 1992 Fund; Ambassador in London approached by the Director
- US bird flu indemnity and egg prices United States · 2022–2026
- US Department of Justice (Government) — here: Stated no views on 13 October 2026; there: Egg-price inquiry
- US budget law cuts fossil fuel royalties and sets 4 million coal acres for leasing United States · 2025
- ConocoPhillips (Company) — here: Judgment creditor; paid through the waterfall; there: Named inauguration-fund donor
- US indictment alleges Adani solar bribery; three charges later dismissed India · 2024–2026
- US Department of Justice (Government) — here: Stated no views on 13 October 2026; there: Prosecution; requested dismissal of three charges
- US National Flood Insurance Program debt and FEMA reinsurance United States · 2017–2026
- US Department of the Treasury (Government) — here: OFAC licensing of the sale; there: Lender to the NFIP
- US Supreme Court blocks state cancer-warning suits against pesticide makers United States · 2026
- US Department of Justice (Government) — here: Stated no views on 13 October 2026; there: Supported Monsanto in the case
- Venezuela coastal oil spills: Golfete de Coro (2020) and Lechería (2022) Venezuela · 2020–2022
- PDVSA (Company) — here: Owner of the attached PDVH shares; there: State oil company; reported the Ulé–Amuay leak; did not reply on Lechería
- Venezuela gas flaring and methane from oil and gas Venezuela · 2012–2026
- PDVSA (Company) — here: Owner of the attached PDVH shares; there: State oil company; operator of the flaring sites