Chevron Faces Backlash Over Venezuelan Oil Ties

Protest at Richmond refinery spotlights company's long history in South America

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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After the Trump administration called on American oil companies to invest in extracting 'dirty' Venezuelan oil, Chevron was the only major company to pledge its support. This has drawn the ire of local environmental groups in California, who staged a protest at Chevron's Richmond refinery on January 10th. The protest highlighted Chevron's long history of operating in the Amazon region and accused the company of profiting from illegal activities and attacking those who confront it.

Why it matters

Chevron's ties to the Venezuelan oil industry and its support for the Trump administration's military incursion into the country have raised concerns among environmental and human rights activists. The protest in Richmond is part of a broader campaign to hold Chevron accountable for its environmental and social impacts in South America and beyond.

The details

The protest in Richmond was organized by a coalition of groups including Amazon Watch, Oil & Gas Action Network, and Asian Pacific Environmental Network. They accused Chevron, through its Texaco subsidiary, of decades of unchecked pollution, flouting of local laws, and attacks on those who challenge the company's practices in the Amazon region. The groups also noted that Chevron CEO's close relationship with former President Trump likely played a role in the company's willingness to invest in Venezuelan oil extraction.

  • On January 15, 2026, it was reported that Chevron board member John Hess and his wife Susan Hess each contributed $1 million to MAGA Inc. just weeks before the U.S. took military action in Venezuela.
  • On January 10, 2026, the protest at Chevron's Richmond refinery took place.
  • In August 2025, the California legislature passed SR51, which calls for a full investigation into the state's ties to crude oil extracted from the Amazon rainforest and urges an end to these imports.

The players

Chevron

An American oil company that has operated in Venezuela for over 100 years and was the only major U.S. oil company to pledge support for the Trump administration's efforts to extract 'dirty' Venezuelan oil.

Paul Paz y Miño

The deputy director of Oakland-based Amazon Watch, an organization that has highlighted Chevron's environmental and social impacts in the Amazon region.

Ilonka Zlatar

The California organizer at Oil & Gas Action Network, one of the groups that organized the protest at Chevron's Richmond refinery.

John Hess

A member of Chevron's board of directors who, along with his wife Susan Hess, contributed $1 million to MAGA Inc. just weeks before the U.S. took military action in Venezuela.

Richmond Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that, for the first time in the history of these protests, closed off the street where the entrance to Chevron's Richmond refinery is located, likely deterring some potential attendees.

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What they’re saying

“With its Texaco subsidiary, Chevron has been established in the Amazon since the 1960s. But, he emphasized, not only the Amazon is being affected. The company's unchecked pollution, flouting of local laws, history of profiting from illegal activities and concurrent history of attacking those who confront it, has been widely reported.”

— Paul Paz y Miño, Deputy Director, Amazon Watch (eastbayexpress.com)

“Refineries in California are shutting down. But there is no consistent plan for a just transition away from fossil fuels. If people live in the East Bay, they need to learn how the local refineries are impacting their health.”

— Ilonka Zlatar, California Organizer, Oil & Gas Action Network (eastbayexpress.com)

What’s next

The organizers of the January 10th protest have contacted the Richmond City Council to address the police department's actions in closing off the street near the refinery entrance. Additionally, environmental groups plan to attend the March 28th 'No Kings' national event and the upcoming International Conference on Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels in April, which will focus on drilling in South America.

The takeaway

Chevron's ties to the Venezuelan oil industry and its support for the Trump administration's military incursion have drawn intense scrutiny from environmental and human rights activists. This case highlights the need for greater accountability and transparency around the oil industry's global operations and their impact on local communities and the environment.