Railroad Commission of Texas Commissioner Wayne Christian is calling on Texas oil and gas producers, pipeline operators and other energy companies to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses, according to a Sept. 24 statement from the commissioner’s office, following recent cyberattacks on Texas-bound energy tankers and federal warnings that foreign adversaries are targeting industrial control systems.
The warning follows an RRC notice issued earlier this year to regulated operators cautioning that successful cyberattacks could cause operational disruptions and financial losses across U.S. critical infrastructure, the commissioner’s office said.
In August, the U.S. 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, according to the release. One of the vessels, the 1,093-foot VL Prosperity, was a Liberian-flagged crude oil tanker bound for Galveston capable of carrying approximately 2.3 million barrels of oil. Federal officials have not publicly attributed the attacks to a specific country or group, the release said.
The incidents coincide with 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, according to the commissioner’s office.
“Texas is the energy capital of the world, and that makes our energy infrastructure a prime target for foreign adversaries,” Christian said in the release. “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.”
“We are entering a new era of cybersecurity, and we must prepare now,” Christian said. “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.”
The commissioner’s office said it will continue to monitor the threat landscape and coordinate with federal partners as it works to safeguard the state’s energy infrastructure.