A brief 13-second video posted on Saturday by the Facebook page Holguín MiciudadHoy captured a crowd of people gathered at a service station on Avenida de los Libertadores in Holguín. The scene, depicting a long wait for gasoline, ignited outrage on social media.
The video was accompanied by the text, "Years ago, we thought this was the worst... How difficult life is for Cubans," summing up the deep-seated frustration felt in a province where fuel lines have been a persistent issue since February. Drivers have been spending entire nights waiting at service stations.
The clip generated numerous comments that expressed a mix of resignation and anger. One user remarked, "Every day we think we've hit rock bottom and will start to rise. Yet, incredibly, the bottom keeps moving away. It's like a utopia."
Another comment succinctly captured the sentiment: "In communism, things can always get worse."
Some pointed out that the scarcity has surpassed even the ability to wait in line. "The memory of gasoline is all that's left," noted one user, while another bluntly stated, "Now there's neither a line nor fuel."
Fuel Shortages Amid Cuba's Energy Crisis
The video surfaces amid Cuba's worst energy crisis. On Friday, the Unión Eléctrica acknowledged the absence of imported fuel necessary for distributed generation and Havana's floating power plants, leaving over 1,200 MW offline.
Neighboring Guantánamo province has gone days without state fuel supplies, prompting local authorities to consider purchasing diesel and gasoline from private businesses to maintain essential services.
Cuba produces only 40,000 barrels of oil daily, while it requires 110,000. The cessation of Venezuelan shipments, which supplied 32,000 to 35,000 barrels, has worsened the shortfall since January following the detention of former President Nicolás Maduro.
Escalating Costs and Informal Markets
The wait times at Cuban gas stations exceeded 15 hours during the peak of April's crisis, as the government limited official sales to gasoline purchased in dollars, capping at 20 liters per vehicle.
By June, the informal fuel price soared to 6,000 pesos per liter, eight times the January rate, while the government set the official dollar price at $2.60 per liter in May.
Meanwhile, illegal fuel sales surged with minimal oversight in the eastern province. By August, authorities had issued only four fines of 60 pesos each, a figure that even the state-run media deemed laughably small.
Between January and July, Cuba imported $156.8 million in fuel from the United States, with $61.1 million in July alone. However, this supply targets the private sector and fails to alleviate shortages in state channels or for ordinary citizens.
Understanding Cuba's Fuel Crisis
Why is there a gasoline shortage in Cuba?
Cuba faces a gasoline shortage due to insufficient domestic production and the cessation of Venezuelan oil shipments, which have significantly contributed to the island's energy needs.
What impact has the energy crisis had on Holguín?
In Holguín, the energy crisis has led to long lines at service stations, increased frustration among residents, and a sense of hopelessness as the situation worsens.
How has the Cuban government responded to the fuel shortage?
The Cuban government has restricted official gasoline sales to purchases in dollars and has attempted to address the shortfall by importing fuel, yet these measures have not alleviated the crisis for most citizens.