Puerto Cabello, Venezuela - Dec 25, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 1. Facility, waves 2. Various of ship at dock; ships sailing 3. Various of visitors on beach; smoke rising from chimney of coastal refinery 4. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Carlos Vidal, local resident: "I know some people who work at companies producing oil derivatives, including PVC. The current restrictions have made it harder for these companies to obtain some raw materials, but their operations remain stable as they are actively seeking alternative supply channels." 5. Ship docked at port 6. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Rosa Olga, local resident: "Though the impacts are growing, people here do not feel like they are under huge pressure or fear. Everything is normal, so far everything is normal.” 7. Facility; car moving 8. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) William Rodriguez, local resident: "Blockade has made the situation more difficult, but we will not back down and will continue working." 9. Facility; smoke rising Venezuela - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 10. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) David Paravisini, former consultant, Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA): "Venezuela’s greatest strengths lie in its oil workers and its production capacity. We have already proven capable of overcoming all kinds of extreme difficulties, including technological challenges." Caracas, Venezuela - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 11. Various of cityscape, traffic Storyline A major port and refinery are operating normally in northern Venezuela as the United States tightens its oil blockade by intercepting a third tanker in international waters near the country in less than two weeks. A China Media Group (CMG) reporter on Thursday visited Puerto Cabello, the country's largest commercial port, where oil tankers were seen anchored offshore and refinery operations were continuing as normal. Located along Venezuela's Caribbean coast, Puerto Cabello accounts for more than 60 percent of the country's public port cargo throughput. It is also a key hub for Venezuela's oil storage, transport, and export. During the visit, the reporter observed several oil tankers dispersed in nearby waters awaiting port entry or departure, including one vessel positioned close to the shoreline. Smoke was seen rising from a chimney at a coastal refinery, indicating ongoing operations. Operated by Venezuela's state-run oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), the El Palito refinery can process up to 140,000 barrels of crude oil per day at peak capacity, supplying fuel and refined products to central and western parts of the country via pipeline. Local residents said refinery operations have not been halted despite the challenges posed by U.S. restrictions. "I know some people who work at companies producing oil derivatives, including PVC. The current restrictions have made it harder for these companies to obtain some raw materials, but their operations remain stable as they are actively seeking alternative supply channels," said Carlos Vidal, a resident. "Though the impacts are growing, people here do not feel like they are under huge pressure or fear. Everything is normal, so far everything is normal, " said Rosa Olga, another resident. "Blockade has made the situation more difficult, but we will not back down and will continue working," said William Rodriguez, another resident. Compared with some of Venezuela's other refineries, El Palito is smaller in scale. It currently processes between 20,000 and 30,000 barrels of crude oil per day, according to data released by PDVSA. "Venezuela's greatest strengths lie in its oil workers and its production capacity. We have already proven capable of overcoming all kinds of extreme difficulties, including technological challenges," said David Paravisini, a former consultant to PDVSA.