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A bag of charcoal costs over 4,000 Cuban pesos in Sancti Spíritus, a figure that, just a few months ago, seemed unthinkable and represents more than half of the official average monthly salary of 6,930 pesos, according to a report this Monday by the state media Radio Sancti Spíritus.
The combination of prolonged blackouts and a critical shortage of liquefied gas has forced thousands of families in Sancti Spíritus to rely on coal as the only available fuel for cooking, driving up its price due to demand pressures, heavy rains, and the implementation of new regulations.
The predominant coal in the province is marabou, an invasive plant of African origin that covers millions of hectares in Cuba and produces pieces valued for their aroma and slow combustion.
The paradox is striking: Sancti Spíritus has a long-standing tradition of exporting this product, with companies like Forestal Integral, Flora y Fauna, and Agroindustrial de Granos Sur del Jíbaro that have historically supplied European markets such as Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal, while its own neighbors cannot afford it.
At the national level, the price of a bag of charcoal has more than doubled in six months: from between 900 and 1,400 pesos in December 2024 to between 3,200 and 5,000 pesos in June 2026, depending on the province.
The provincial government acknowledged the difficulties in reversing this situation. José Martínez Hernández, coordinator of Programs and Objectives of the Provincial People's Power Government, publicly admitted that production is facing all kinds of shortages: "The production of coal relies on a group of resources that are currently deficient: human resources, the workforce. They need chainsaws, oil, gasoline. We need to change the method, reconnect with these producers, and create a payment system that encourages production."
The goal set by the regime is for each municipality to achieve self-sufficiency by involving all state entities in production through a financing scheme in foreign currency, not just traditional exporting companies.
Martínez also addressed rumors that circulated on social media weeks ago regarding an alleged ban on the sale of charcoal in the province.
"We will need to organize, based on the productions from the business system, a legal commercialization in markets, small shops, and sales points, with individuals who do not speculate on prices," he stated.
In contrast, the government of Camagüey attempted to set an official price of 1,400 pesos for a 20-kilogram bag starting June 21, compared to the 3,500 and 4,000 pesos that are found in the informal market of that province.
The energy crisis that forces Cubans to resort to coal is the most severe in the country's history. In May 2026, a historic record of 2,174 MW of electrical deficit was recorded, with 70% of the territory affected simultaneously.
On Sunday, the deficit reached 2,140 MW. Cuba stopped receiving Venezuelan crude oil in November 2025, and Mexico suspended its shipments in February 2026, while the thermoelectric infrastructure continues to suffer from constant breakdowns.
LPG, the other alternative, reaches between 10,000 and 50,000 pesos in the informal market, or up to 29 dollars for a 10-kilo cylinder on digital platforms, making it equally unaffordable for most people.
Health authorities warn that while coal is convenient, it carries serious risks: its combustion produces carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas that can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, confusion, and weakness in enclosed spaces.
The most vulnerable groups are children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases.
Cuba exported charcoal worth 61.8 million dollars in 2023, making it the ninth largest exporter in the world, while its citizens face prohibitive prices to access the same product in their own territory.
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