Venezuela’s Iranian Fuel Relief Spotlights Ailing Refineries
- Iran sent five cargoes of fuel to sanctions-hit country
- Dilapidated refineries can’t meet local gasoline demand
Photographer: Diego Giudice/Bloomberg
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Venezuela’s hour-long gas station lines have disappeared following the arrival of five Iranian tankers last month, carrying a total of 1.5 million barrels of fuel. But the relief may be short-lived.
For now, once-shuttered filling stations are open again, operating 24 hours a day in Caracas and other cities, where drivers can buy up to 120 liters of government-subsidized fuel per month as part of a new dual-price system aimed at rationing scarce supplies. As the Iranian aid is consumed, experts say pressure will increase on state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela SA to fill the gap.