**Venezuela Reports Oil Export Outage after Cyberattack**
In a shocking development, Venezuela's state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA), is struggling to restore its key administrative systems after what it has termed a cyberattack that hit over the weekend.
The attack, which occurred early Saturday morning, has left PDVSA's network, which manages export and import data at the country's main crude terminal of Jose, offline on Monday. This outage has caused significant delays in scheduled loadings and forced contingency measures across the company, according to three individuals familiar with the situation.
According to an internal memo seen by Bloomberg, PDVSA instructed its staff to shut down computers, disconnect external hardware, and cut off WiFi and Starlink connections as a precautionary measure. Security at company facilities has also been reinforced since Sunday. In a statement on Monday, the company said it had neutralized a "sabotage attempt" aimed at disrupting its operations.
"Oil output wasn't affected," the company added. A PDVSA press official did not immediately respond to questions about the incident.
The cyberattack has raised suspicions and tensions in Venezuela, where President Nicolás Maduro has frequently accused the US of orchestrating cyberattacks and other forms of sabotage. In October, President Donald Trump said he authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to undertake covert action in Venezuela to curb drug shipments and illegal migration into the US.
Over the past few weeks, the US has struck nearly two dozen boats in the southern Caribbean, saying they were carrying narcotics bound for the US. The operations have heightened tensions with Maduro and fueled speculation that Washington may be preparing broader military action in Venezuela.
Last week, the US seized a sanctioned oil tanker carrying a load of Venezuelan crude. Years of limited maintenance have further eroded PDVSA's administrative networks, making them more susceptible to breaches, according to sources. The company has also lost key software licenses after US sanctions barred dealings with American tech providers.
While PDVSA has endured website hacks before, none have dragged on as long as the current disruption, one person said. The internal document instructed personnel not to restart or use any devices without guidance, warning that the company hasn't ruled out the possibility that information was compromised.
The incident raises concerns about Venezuela's ability to manage its oil exports and maintain stability in an already volatile region.
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