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Diesel Shortage Raises Fears for Humanitarian Crisis in Venezuela

Alejandra Arredondo

   WASHINGTON/MARACAIBO, VENEZUELA - Experts are warning of a looming
   humanitarian crisis in Venezuela if President Joe Biden's new U.S.
   administration does not lift restrictions that are preventing the South
   American country from swapping its plentiful crude oil reserves for
   refined diesel fuel from abroad.

   With Venezuela's refinery sector in disarray after years of
   mismanagement, the country has become increasingly dependent on
   imported diesel fuel to generate electricity and transport essential
   goods including food, medicine and humanitarian supplies.

   That international lifeline has been cut off by new U.S. sanctions
   introduced by the administration of former President Donald Trump last
   August. No diesel shipments have arrived in Venezuela since October
   2020 and existing supplies are expected to run out in March.

   It is not yet clear how the new White House team plans to deal with the
   crisis. Press secretary Jean Psaki recently said the administration
   wants to promote a peaceful and democratic transition in Venezuela
   through free and fair elections. She also said Washington will
   "prosecute individual" Venezuelans implicated in corruption and human
   rights violations.

   Why is diesel important?

   The gas shortage in Venezuela, caused by the collapse of the oil
   industry and years of U.S. sanctions, has forced the country to import
   diesel and gas both through bartering with companies like Repsol in
   Spain, Reliance in India and Eni in Italy, also importing diesel from
   Rosneft, the Russian oil company that was banned by the United States.

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