Katapulk has joined forces with Supermarket23 to sell 10 kg liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, commonly referred to as "balitas," priced at $29, with delivery exclusively in Havana, according to a recent Facebook announcement by the platform.
Both platforms require the same procedure: the recipient in Cuba must provide an empty cylinder of the same size and in good condition to receive a filled one. Without an empty cylinder, no delivery is made. The product is delivered sealed and does not include an installation service.
This requirement has sparked a flurry of concerns in the comments section, with the most prevalent question addressing a significant issue: "Must the empty cylinder be registered?" asked user Iosvannis Arias Zamora.
Ownership Complications of Gas Cylinders
This question is crucial since gas cylinders in Cuba are not owned by individuals; they are provided under a free rental agreement with the state, and their corresponding numbers are registered at the state-regulated gas purchase point.
Handing over that registered cylinder to a private platform could potentially leave the holder without access to gas through the state-sanctioned channels.
GinaRosa Riera articulated this concern in the comments: "I'm worried about giving up my registered cylinder and then not being able to acquire gas through the state-regulated point. Plus, the cylinders from the state are in poor condition, all chipped and rusty."
Another user, John Papo, added, "I have a doubt. The balita isn't privately owned; it's under a free rental contract, and its number is recorded at the gas point."
Condition Requirements and Financial Burden
The empty cylinder must also meet minimum condition requirements: no perforations larger than two centimeters, stable base, no significant rust, and the ring must be intact.
Katapulk warns that "failure to meet any of these conditions will result in the rejection of the empty cylinder at the time of delivery," posing yet another challenge for families whose containers have suffered years of neglect without maintenance.
The price of $29 for the cylinder translates to roughly 15,660 Cuban pesos at the current informal exchange rate of around 540 pesos per dollar.
For most Cubans who earn in national currency, this amount is unattainable. The Cuban peso has depreciated by nearly 95% against the dollar since 2020, with the dollar increasing by 47.8% against the peso in the last year alone.
Worsening Gas Supply Crisis
This offer emerges amidst a chronic crisis in the state supply of LPG.
In January 2025, CUPET extended the purchase cycle to one cylinder every two months in Ciego de Ávila, while shortages in Matanzas affected over 109,000 households between October and December 2024.
Similarly, in January 2026, the tanker Emilia returned to Cuba empty due to the state's inability to pay, worsening the scarcity.
As a partial response, the regime expanded the manufactured gas service in Havana with a goal of reaching 25,000 clients, yet this fails to address the underlying structural issue.
Public Outcry and Uncertainty
Public frustration has also been vocal. Sergei Montalvo Aróstegui commented, "Why not charge dollars for electricity, water, ETECSA, and everything else as well, but also pay Cubans in dollars, offer a decent salary. People cook with wood, face hunger and misery, and the solution isn’t to blame the embargo."
Marile Fuente kept her thoughts brief: "It doesn’t matter anymore. They won't give you anything in national currency."
Leticia Marrón Leyva urged Katapulk: "Please make a detailed publication to provide more information so that the public is not left with doubts," a request that encapsulates the uncertainty many Cubans feel about an offer that, for many, raises more questions than it answers.
Common Questions About Dollar-Based Gas Sales in Cuba
Why is the empty cylinder requirement causing concern?
The concern arises because gas cylinders in Cuba are under a state-controlled rental agreement, and turning over a registered cylinder to a private company might mean losing access to state-supplied gas.
What are the condition requirements for the empty cylinder?
The empty cylinder must not have perforations larger than two centimeters, should have a stable base, should not display advanced rust, and the ring must be in good condition.
How does the cost of a cylinder compare to Cuban salaries?
The cost of a cylinder, approximately 15,660 Cuban pesos, is prohibitive for most Cubans earning in national currency, as the peso has depreciated significantly against the dollar.