In a significant development affecting the flow of Venezuelan crude oil, at least two vessels chartered by Chevron are currently stalled in Venezuelan waters. This situation follows the state oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), cancelling their export authorizations in response to newly imposed secondary tariffs by the United States on buyers of Venezuelan oil, sources familiar with the matter revealed on Friday.

The cancellation of loading permissions for the vessels, identified as the **Dubai Attraction** and **Carina Voyager**, occurred on Thursday, complicating Chevron's ongoing operations in the country. Currently, these vessels remain fully loaded but immobilized, awaiting customs documentation to facilitate their return to port. A third vessel, the **Pegasus Star**, also faces disruptions as its loading permit was suspended this week due to the same regulatory issues, according to the sources and LSEG shipping data.

Chevron operates under a specific license granted by the U.S. Treasury Department, which permits the company to export Venezuelan crude to the United States until the end of May. However, in light of PDVSA's recent cancellations, this timeline could potentially be truncated, creating further complications for the U.S. oil giant.

The Carina Voyager was originally en route to Chevron's Pascagoula refinery in Mississippi, while the **Dubai Attraction** was meant to transfer its oil cargo to a vessel chartered by Valero Energy near Aruba. With PDVSA's new directives in place, Chevron must now seek reauthorization to comply with Venezuelan customs regulations for the return of its cargoes.

Attempts to reach Chevron and PDVSA for comments regarding the current situation have gone unanswered, and Valero has also not provided a statement in response to inquiries about the stalling shipments. As stakeholders look ahead, uncertainty looms over whether PDVSA will reschedule the cargoes that have now been affected.

Chevron's ventures with PDVSA are responsible for producing approximately 25% of Venezuela's oil output. In the first quarter of this year, the company managed to export around **250,000 barrels per day (bpd)** of Venezuelan crude under its operating license, which was initially granted in 2022.

However, geopolitical tensions have escalated significantly, as the recent sanctions imposed by the U.S. government—previously enacted during the Trump administration—aim to compel Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to enhance efforts toward restraining illegal migration and progressing toward democratic reforms. Maduro's administration, in turn, has vehemently criticized these sanctions, characterizing them as an "economic war" designed to undermine Venezuela's stability.

As the situation develops, industry watchers and analysts will be keenly observing how Chevron navigates these obstacles, as the implications for both U.S. energy supply and Venezuela's economy hang in the balance.