US sanctions trigger mile long waits for gas in oil rich Venezuela

Sanctions also put the squeeze on Venezuela access to diluents needed to thin its tar-like heavy crude so it can be piped over 100 miles (160 kilometres) from the field to be turned into gasoline.

Maracaibo: US sanctions on oil-rich Venezuela appear to be taking hold, resulting in mile-long lines for fuel in the South American nation's second-largest city, Maracaibo.

The Trump administration this year sanctioned Venezuela's state-owned oil and gas company PDVSA in an effort aimed at driving President Nicolas Maduro from office while throwing its support behind opposition leader Juan Guido.

The US sanctions essentially cut off Maduro's government from its Houston-based subsidiary Citgo, depriving officials of an estimated 11 billion dollars in hard currency from exports this year. US officials say this cash flow long bankrolled what they call Maduro's "dictatorship."

Sanctions also put the squeeze on Venezuela access to diluents needed to thin its tar-like heavy crude so it can be piped over 100 miles (160 kilometres) from the field to be turned into gasoline.

In a recent flurry of diplomatic activity aimed at peacefully solving Venezuela's crisis, European officials said they held intensive meetings over two days in Caracas with key players.

At about the same time, Maduro's government and the opposition sent representatives to talks in Norway. Officials engaged in both efforts reported no breakthroughs.

The panic over shortages has crept into the capital, Caracas, leading to moderately long lines for the last three days at many stations.