Fuel crisis in Cuba: the long wait

The fuel crisis in Cuba seems to last forever. After several weeks of visible and growing problems with the supply, the government itself confirmed that the situation would last at least until May and attributed it mainly to the “non-compliance” of the suppliers.

Faced with this scenario, the authorities announced a group of measures, such as prioritizing “vital sectors,” distributing “reduced capacities” to avoid “reaching ground zero,” and restrict the sale of both gasoline and diesel to private vehicles and to non-prioritized state services, as well as reorganizing the service by establishments and territories.

“That is not the situation we are going to have in the remaining days of April and days of May. We are going to continue supplying fuel partially, in a reduced way so that the supply does not reach zero and vital services can be guaranteed,” explained Minister of Energy and Mines Vicente de la O.

The minister assured that there is a trend towards “improvement based on decisions, on things that have just been negotiated, on suppliers that are already fulfilling their commitments.” But he warned that this “does not mean that we are going to have fuel like in 2017, 2018 or a few months ago.”

Meanwhile, the endless lines around the gas stations have become a common part of the landscape throughout the island. Such scenes are repeated in Havana and the rest of the provinces, along with other images of empty, desolate gas stations, without cars or any fuel to offer.

The huge lines of cars are a reflection of the fuel crisis in Cuba. Photo: Otmaro Rodriguez.

Where there is — or, almost always, it is expected there will be — the lines last several days and the drivers spend the night in their cars, organizing and fraternizing among themselves.

Those aspiring to buy surrender, resigned, to the long wait. They bring their own water and food to save money, they protect themselves as best they can from the inclemency of the sun during the day and some have even improvised chess and dominoes games that have gone viral on the networks.

Man carries a packet of detergent in his hands, in the background people are waiting to buy fuel. Photo: Otmaro Rodriguez.

People rectify places in the gasoline line. Photo: Otmaro Rodriguez.

Many customers keep track of the lines. Photo: Otmaro Rodriguez.

A man drinks water from a thermos while he waits for the fuel to arrive. Photo: Otmaro Rodriguez.

Customers waiting for gas stations to fill up to buy fuel. Photo: Otmaro Rodriguez.

Some people comment that they have been waiting for two days for fuel. Photo: Otmaro Rodriguez.

This is not an unprecedented situation in Cuba, which has already gone through similar “situations.” But no less difficult, and stressful, for those who are involved in the huge lines. And also, for those who, without having cars, suffer the consequences of this crisis in their daily lives and their pockets.

The amount of fuel per person is regulated. Photo: Otmaro Rodriguez.

Our photojournalist Otmaro Rodríguez approached several of these lines this week and he offers us his snapshots as testimony of a harsh reality that hits the daily lives of Cubans today.