CARACAS, Sept. 22(Xinhuanet)-- Venezuelan ambassador to Washington said Thursday the fist shipment of additional fuel supply to aid the hurricane-stricken United States will arrive at the Gulf Coast on Sunday, according to the state-run Bolivarian News Agency.

The 240,000 barrels of gasoline is the first part of the offer made by President Hugo Chavez to ease the energy problems in the United States, said Bernardo Alvarez.

The gasoline will be distributed to US consumers by CITGO Petroleum Corp., Venezuela's national oil company, he said.

The other three shipments of additional oil supply will leave Venezuela soon and arrive in the United States before Oct. 31, he said.

"As a neighbor and trade partner, we are happy to provide assistance to the United States at the time of the disaster," Alvarez said, adding that Venezuela will continue to make all efforts to help relieve the US energy difficulties caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Venezuela is the fourth largest oil supplier to the United States, providing the latter with 1.5 million barrels of crude per day.

Chavez, whose relations with Washington were strained, also offered 5 million US dollars in cash, water purification plants, rescue volunteers and more than 50 tons of canned food and water to the United States. Enditem