The Cuban Fire Department issued a warning on Tuesday regarding the risk of fires associated with the storage and sale of fuel in IBC plastic tanks, containers of approximately 1,000 liters whose use has spread in private businesses amid the energy crisis the country is facing.
Through the official page of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) on Facebook, the Fire Department urged the public to follow several safety measures, including obtaining authorization for the storage, transportation, and sale of fuel and avoiding these activities in homes or establishments that are not authorized for that purpose.
The institution recommends using approved metal containers that are correctly closed, ensuring ventilation and distance from heat sources, prohibiting smoking or performing work that produces sparks near the fuel, and having fire extinguishers available.
He also urged the public to report any violations they detect. "If we prevent unfortunate incidents, we avoid loss of human lives and materials. Let’s be responsible!" he concluded the message.
The warning sparked numerous criticisms among users, who questioned why the authorities were only "recommending" measures in response to an activity they perceive as high-risk.
"You don't have to recommend; you have to demand. Unfortunately, the occurrence of an accident is just around the corner," commented one person.
Others pointed out that the statement comes after months of expansion in private fuel sales. "This time, the urgency to import fuel took precedence over the risks involved without taking the necessary precautions," stated another user.
The private marketing of fuels gained momentum after, in February of this year, the government authorized small and medium-sized enterprises (mipymes) and other entities in the non-state sector to import and market fuel, in an effort to expand the supply amid the prolonged energy crisis.
Since then, citizens have reported makeshift sales points in residential areas and establishments that, according to their testimonies, lack adequate conditions for handling flammable substances.
"Fuel is being sold without any safety precautions (...) it's being drawn from the tanks with a hose and deposited into any container, with people smoking and cars running nearby," reported a user in the Fire Department's post.
Another specifically pointed out the situation in La Güinera, Havana: "Come to the La Güinera fair to see how they sell gasoline in those plastic tanks used by thousands of people every day."
The concern is not new either. In August, Cuban specialists in fire protection had already warned about the storage of fuels in plastic tanks, as well as deficiencies in containment, grounding, and ventilation systems in facilities used by small and medium-sized enterprises.
That same month, in Holguín, the official press acknowledged irregularities in the sale of fuel, while the reported sanctions were limited to four fines of just 60 pesos.
In light of the risks, some users suggested using facilities originally designed for the sale of fuels instead of allowing their storage in residential areas.
"Why don't they open the locations where there has always been a gas station and lease them to those who are in this business? It would be more professional and safer," one person suggested.
The fear of a large-scale accident also emerged in the comments, with references to the fire at the Supertankers Base in Matanzas in August 2022, which resulted in 17 fatalities.
"Do we have to wait for an accident similar to the supertankers for it to become mandatory? Cuba is full of fuel tanks stored without the minimum safety measures, in residential areas," questioned another user.
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