Cuban Firefighters Warn of Fuel Handling Violations: Penalties May Apply

The Guantánamo firefighting corps and the Fire Protection Agency (APCI) have issued a stern warning regarding improper fuel handling by private businesses, emphasizing the need to adhere to safety standards. Failure to comply may result in fines, confiscations, and legal action.

This warning comes amid increased private sector activity following a significant policy change in June 2026. The National Assembly of People's Power granted non-state entities the ability to import and sell fuel, effectively ending the state monopoly that previously controlled the entire supply chain.

Lieutenant Colonel Wilmer Ramírez, head of the provincial firefighting department, highlighted a major issue: vendors are requesting certification for their premises after acquiring fuel. The proper procedure requires certification before fuel acquisition.

"Permits are being requested only after the fuel is already on site," Ramírez stated. He warned that those who do not adhere to regulations "could face fines under the established Decree Law, potential court proceedings depending on the violation's severity, and repeat offenders may have their products confiscated."

Currently, approximately 15 individuals in Guantánamo are undergoing certification processes for fuel storage, with only one having been approved in the main municipality. Others are seeking permits in areas such as Baracoa, Yateras, and El Salvador.

APCI specialist Pastor Walton Martínez explained that the process requires an application to the National Institute of Territorial Planning and Urbanism for micro-location, which must be approved and signed by the firefighting corps, followed by the certification of storage facilities by a specialized entity.

One of the most concerning infractions identified is the use of plastic tanks for storing large volumes of fuel.

"Many are attempting to store fuel in plastic tanks in large quantities, such as 30,000 liters," Walton Martínez noted. "For such volumes, complying with regulations like containment walls is very challenging, risking total fuel loss in case of a fire."

Engineer Ismael Vargas Delgado, an APCI specialist with 35 years of experience, listed other common violations: lack of grounding systems, absence of containment walls, insufficient ventilation, and mixing different types of fuel in the same space.

"We've seen diesel and gasoline stored together, which is unacceptable within a single containment wall," he pointed out.

Irregularities were also found in transportation: fuel is not always transported in specialized vehicles, and sometimes it is unloaded into homes using hoses laid out on public streets.

The dangers of careless fuel handling are well-remembered from the August 2022 fire at the Matanzas Super Tanker Base, the country's largest industrial disaster of its kind. This incident resulted in 17 deaths and over 100 injuries after four tanks were compromised.

"We're talking about safety, protecting the client's assets, the lives of workers handling the fuel, and those living nearby," Vargas Delgado concluded, stressing that certification will not be granted until all requirements are met.