AUSTIN, Texas — RRC Commissioner Wayne Christian today called on Texas oil and gas producers, pipeline operators and other energy companies to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses amid recent cyberattacks involving Texas-bound energy tankers and federal warnings that foreign adversaries and other malicious cyber actors are targeting internet-facing operational technology and industrial control systems.
“Texas is the energy capital of the world, and that makes our energy infrastructure a prime target for foreign adversaries,” Christian said. “When the cost of hesitation exceeds the cost of preparation, common sense says we act now to protect vital energy infrastructure from cyber threats. We must invest, test, monitor and strengthen our defenses now, before adversaries like China or Iran exploit a weakness and disrupt America’s energy security.”
In August, the Coast Guard and FBI boarded two foreign-flagged energy vessels bound for the United States after indications that foreign cyber actors had compromised their networks. One, the 1,093-foot VL Prosperity, was a Liberian-flagged crude oil tanker bound for Galveston and capable of carrying roughly 2.3 million barrels of oil. Federal officials have not publicly attributed the attacks to a specific country or group.
The incidents come amid separate federal warnings that China-linked and Iran-affiliated cyber actors are targeting U.S. critical infrastructure, including internet-connected operational technology and industrial control systems, highlighting the growing cybersecurity risks facing America’s energy infrastructure.
Christian’s warning also follows an RRC notice issued earlier this year to regulated operators. The Commission warned that successful cyberattacks could cause operational disruptions and financial losses across U.S. critical infrastructure and urged operators to strengthen their cyber resilience.
“We are entering a new era of cybersecurity, and we must prepare now,” Christian concluded. “America’s enemies are seeking ways to weaponize AI against our critical infrastructure. We must be equally aggressive in using AI as a tool to defend it. The threats to American energy security will keep evolving, and so will we.”
About the Railroad Commission:
Our mission is to serve Texas by our stewardship of natural resources and the environment, our concern for personal and community safety, and our support of enhanced development and economic vitality for the benefit of Texans. The Commission has a long and proud history of service to both Texas and to the nation, including more than 100 years regulating the oil and gas industry. The Commission also has jurisdiction over alternative fuels safety, natural gas utilities, surface mining and intrastate pipelines. Established in 1891, the Railroad Commission of Texas is the oldest regulatory agency in the state. To learn more, please visit https://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/.
