Venezuela's PDVSA suffered a cyberattack, which it blamed on the United States. The state-run oil firm said that none of its operations had been affected, despite four sources claiming that the systems were still down and oil cargo deliveries had been suspended.

The tensions between the U.S. government and Venezuelan government are high, as evidenced by a massive U.S. buildup of military forces in the southern Caribbean region, U.S. airstrikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats, and remarks from U.S. president Donald Trump indicating that land operations could begin in Venezuela soon.

Venezuelan officials have said that the U.S. wants to change the regime in order to seize the vast oil reserves of the country. The U.S. Coast Guard seizes a VLCC carrying 1.85 million barrels?Venezuelan Heavy Oil sold by PDVSA.

PDVSA, the oil ministry and other government agencies said that foreign interests were complicit with domestic entities in the cyberattack. They also claimed the attack was perpetrated by those who wanted to undermine the right of the country to develop its own energy.

The U.S. claimed the attack was part their efforts to control Venezuelan oil by "force and piracy."

The U.S. State Department didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment.

PDVSA did not provide any further details but said that it was recovering from the attack. Venezuela's government blames blackouts and other problems on foreign agencies like the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency or opposition conspirators without providing any evidence.

Sources said the effects are still ongoing.

One company source stated: "There is no delivery of cargoes, all systems are down."

Sources said that oil production, refining, and domestic distribution was not affected. However, the company failed to restart its administrative systems on Monday, forcing employees to record their operations in writing.

According to two other sources, PDVSA had ordered its administrative and operational staff to disconnect from company systems and limit the access of their indirect workers to PDVSA facilities.

TANKERS TURN RIGHT AROUND

The VLCC was seized last week, the first time a cargo or tanker from Venezuela has been intercepted. Venezuela is under U.S. sanctions and this is a sign that pressures are increasing on President Nicolas Maduro.

Cuba, in a state of crisis, is also affected by the seizure, as it faces daily power outages.

Since last week, more than 11 million barrels have been stuck aboard other vessels in Venezuelan water. According to shipping data, the only vessels that are setting sail?are those chartered by U.S. Oil firm Chevron. This is one of PDVSA’s main partners.

Data from ship monitoring showed that on Monday, a tanker carrying Russian naphthalene?for PDVSA as well as at least four supertankers scheduled to pick up crude in Venezuela made u-turns.

According to LSEG vessel tracking data, the Benin-flagged Boltaris tanker, which was carrying 300,000 barrels Russian naphtha bound towards Venezuela, did a u turn late last week, and is now 'heading toward Europe without having discharged.

TankerTrackers.com, a monitoring service, said that at least four VLCCs scheduled by PDVSA to load crude oil in Venezuelan ports over the next few weeks also reversed course in recent days.

According to official data, Venezuelan crude oil production averaged 1,17 million barrels a day in the last month, while exports increased to around 952,000 barrels a day, according to shipping information.

(source: Reuters)