End of the Black Year: Lines to buy fuel stretch for up to six blocks in Havana

A bleak end to the year is what awaits the Cubans, not only due to the blackouts but also because of the fuel shortage that forces people to wait in lines of up to six blocks just to make a purchase.

In Havana, drivers wait in long queues for five to six days in hopes of obtaining gasoline, according to reports from various social media outlets.

User Alejandro Rodríguez Díaz shared on his Facebook wall photos of the CUPET Alameda in Santa Catalina, in the 10 de Octubre municipality, where he has been waiting in line since Sunday, "morning, afternoon, night, and early morning."

"We have also been waiting for some official information from CUPET, the municipal government, or even the Virgin Mary. This lack of information is what irritates us the most. How hard would it be for a government official (just two blocks from CUPET) to come over and talk to us? How difficult is it to provide information about a possible supply schedule from CUPET?" he questioned.

For his part, internet user Armando Caos shared a video of the line for gasoline at the CUPET on 112th and 5th Avenue, in the Playa municipality, "where the laziest people live."

"There are over six blocks of cars on both sides, and many say they've been in that line for two or three days, but it doesn't matter, it keeps moving, and that hurts us," he quipped.

Yudi Ramos, a resident of El Vedado, also criticized the lack of respect and the misinformation.

"The CUPET stations have been experiencing endless lines for a week, and there's no sign of fuel. Neither the NTV, nor the government, nor the Minister of Energy are providing any information," he emphasized.

Johanna Jolá Álvarez, leader of the solidarity initiative Huellas, pointed out that the issues extend beyond having to wait three, four, or five days in line just to refuel.

"Infernal lines for the gas canisters. Even chicken has disappeared following the latest resolution implemented to make the 2024 closure even tougher. What a sad end of the year we are experiencing as a community," he said on Facebook.

A reader from CiberCuba wrote to this editorial expressing his outrage over the situation of thousands of young drivers and others of retirement age who work as taxi drivers or transport patients in need of dialysis.

"It is unfair that men with over 40 years of work experience have to wait 24 hours in line for gasoline at the CUPET in Zapata to fill up a state vehicle that is used to transport patients, because the assigned CUPET is out of fuel. It is a crime that these drivers must spend 24 hours fulfilling their duties—something nearly impossible due to the crisis. Therefore, it is extremely unjust that the responsibility falls on these drivers. That is the responsibility of the company and the government," she noted.

Drivers have dubbed the endless lines at gas stations without fuel "the dry queue" as they wait for a tanker to arrive.

But the problem isn't just the endless lines; it's also the high prices. Last Sunday, December 9, an activist reported on social media that the price of gasoline has risen in the informal market, reaching exorbitant figures of up to 700 CUP per liter. Everything suggests that it will continue to climb, potentially reaching 1,000 pesos per liter, as happened during the massive blackout in October.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Fuel Crisis in Cuba