Chevron Tankers Bring Venezuelan Crude to U.S. Under New Treasury License

Two Chevron-chartered tankers carrying Venezuelan Boscan and Hamaca crude entered U.S. waters on Thursday, the first such shipments since Washington tightened sanctions in April and Caracas halted deliveries. Vessel-tracking data show the Mediterranean Voyager bound for Port Arthur, Texas, and the Canopus Voyager headed to New Orleans, Louisiana. The cargoes follow a restricted license granted last month by the U.S. Treasury that permits Chevron to resume operations with state oil company PDVSA and export limited volumes of Venezuelan oil. Chevron chief executive Mike Wirth had said flows would restart in August after a three-month pause caused by payment disputes under the sanctions regime. Chevron previously shipped about 252,000 barrels a day of Venezuelan crude to the United States, processing part at its own refineries and selling the remainder to independent refiners such as Valero Energy and PBF Energy. Additional Chevron cargoes loaded this month are en route, signaling a gradual revival of Venezuelan supplies despite broader U.S. sanctions that Caracas continues to denounce.