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The Cuban government announced new restrictions on the sale of special gasoline, limiting its purchase exclusively to payments in United States dollars (USD).
The measure, announced by the Unión Cuba-Petróleo (CUPET), addresses the shortage of this type of fuel on the island and deepens the dollarization of the energy sector.
Starting this Wednesday, the service stations that still have special gasoline will only sell it using USD cards, excluding drivers who do not have access to this currency.
As part of the adjustment, after midnight this Wednesday, the cards from the state sector enabled for this type of fuel will be automatically converted for the purchase of regular gasoline, as reported by journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso on social media.
Dollarization of fuel in Cuba
This restriction adds to the trend of the Cuban regime of tying access to essential goods to payment in foreign currency. In recent months, authorities have increased the number of gas stations that operate exclusively in dollars.
In January 2024, almost 30 service stations began selling fuel exclusively in USD, a figure that continued to rise with the opening of another 17 gas stations under the same scheme in May 2024.
The regime argued that selling in dollars would ensure a stable fuel supply and reduce the long lines at gas stations that accepted payments in Cuban pesos. However, the measure has been harshly criticized for excluding the majority of the population, whose income is in national currency and who do not have direct access to foreign currency.
Fuel crisis and economic difficulties
The fuel crisis in Cuba has intensified in recent months, with ongoing reports of shortages, long lines at gas stations, and restrictions on sales.
The limitation on the marketing of premium gasoline reinforces the perception that the State prioritizes currency collection over equitable access to resources.
The growing use of the dollar in official transactions is part of a broader economic policy of partial dollarization, which has extended to sectors such as food, the sale of appliances, and now, fuel.
In December 2024, the Cuban regime approved a document that officially regulates the use of the dollar in the country, consolidating its role as the reference currency for many economic activities, while the Cuban peso continues to lose value.
The CUPET measure has no expiration date, and the government has not announced alternatives for those who do not handle foreign currency, leaving a large part of the population without access to special gasoline.
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