A short video that recently reached our newsroom highlights the severe energy crisis suffocating Cuba: dozens of cars, including numerous rental vehicles, stalled in an extensive line to purchase gasoline in Guanabo, located east of Havana.
This scene is far from unique. It has become a daily struggle in a nation where refueling has turned into a daunting challenge.
Drivers endure lengthy waits—sometimes overnight—hoping to obtain a few liters of fuel.
The footage confirms reports from many Cubans on the island who have been voicing their concerns for weeks: gasoline arrives sporadically, and its availability triggers a frantic rush.
A few days ago, a Cuban woman took to social media, revealing the magnitude of the issue following over ten days without a fuel supply in that area of Guanabo.
"Today I want to show you something different. I was heading down to Guanabo and stumbled upon the gas line, which hadn't received any fuel for about ten days," she explained while recording a video that she later shared on TikTok.
The video depicted a long queue of vehicles and scores of people waiting to purchase fuel.
She further elaborated that many individuals at the service station own electric generators and depend on fuel to cope with the frequent power outages.
"Cubans find ways to improvise," she noted, adding that some people siphon gas from their tanks only to return to the line and buy more.
Dollar Fuel and Endless Queues
The crisis isn't confined to Guanabo. In early February, another TikTok video showcased a massive line of cars along the Vía Blanca, on the route from Havana to Matanzas, waiting to refuel in exchange for dollars.
The footage revealed numerous vehicles parked along the highway, with some drivers either chatting or lingering outside their cars.
The accompanying message expressed growing frustration: "The dictatorship is hitting rock bottom; look at the lines for dollar refueling."
Purchasing fuel in foreign currency has become one of the few relatively stable options.
However, most Cubans lack access to U.S. dollars, exacerbating inequality and social discontent.
As the regime prioritizes gas stations accepting freely convertible currency (MLC) or foreign currency, those limited to Cuban pesos find themselves with virtually no alternatives.
The Economic Burden of Fuel Scarcity
The fuel shortage has an immediate impact on transportation costs and daily living expenses. Recently, the cost of traveling within Havana and to other provinces has skyrocketed.
A trip from Boyeros to the city center can cost 600 CUP, while a journey from the Parque de la Fraternidad to Guanabo reaches 1,000 CUP.
Interprovincial routes are even more prohibitive: traveling from Ciego de Ávila to Las Tunas costs around 7,000 CUP, and a route from Havana to Ciego de Ávila can be as high as 25,000 CUP.
In some cases, private cars charge between 250 and 300 dollars, or even up to 400 dollars, for certain long trips.
At the root of this surge is the price of fuel in the informal market. Last week, a liter of gasoline was priced at 2,500 CUP, now it has soared to 4,000 CUP—a figure unattainable for most state salaries.
Independent reports indicate that no fuel has entered Cuba since January.
The recent imposition of new tariffs announced by former President Donald Trump against countries selling or gifting oil to the Cuban regime adds pressure to the already fragile crude supply, which has traditionally been supported by allies like Venezuela.
Understanding Cuba's Fuel Crisis
Why are there long lines for gasoline in Cuba?
The long lines for gasoline in Cuba are due to sporadic fuel supplies, forcing drivers to wait for hours, sometimes overnight, to obtain a few liters.
How does the fuel shortage affect daily life in Cuba?
The fuel shortage greatly impacts transportation costs and daily expenses, with skyrocketing prices for local and interprovincial travel, significantly straining people's finances.
What role do foreign currencies play in Cuba's fuel crisis?
Foreign currencies are crucial as they provide one of the few stable means to purchase fuel, but most Cubans lack access to such currencies, deepening social inequality.