A liquefied gas sales point in the El Llano neighborhood of the city of Holguín has reopened after being refurbished, but its sale in dollars has sparked criticism due to the prices and access difficulties faced by many families.
The facility remained out of service for a period and in a state of disrepair, highlighted a post this Saturday from the Facebook page Holguín Memories. The original text indicated that a small bullet cost 100 dollars (USD).
However, in the comments, several users corrected that information and confirmed that the first purchase costs 94 USD and includes a new cylinder, without the need to return an empty one.
Subsequent recharge purchases, according to those same responses, are priced at 50 USD. The acquisition is made through the platform gasmercafull.com, with purchases from abroad.
The reactions reflected divided opinions, although many people questioned why a service intended for the population is offered at prices that are unaffordable for a large part of the families.
Some comments pointed out that with that money they could barely cover other basic expenses or that they would have to continue cooking with charcoal.
Other users felt that the reopening represents an option for those who can afford it, especially in light of the prices in the informal market, where tanks are sold for as much as 150 USD, according to one of the commenters. There were also positive remarks about the renovated aspect of the establishment and inquiries regarding the purchasing process.
One of the most repeated criticisms was related to the Clásica and Tropical cards, which the State previously marketed in dollars with the expectation of enabling gas purchases through a digital platform.
According to a user, the sales took place only two or three times at a price of 24 USD per cylinder, and then they were halted without, as she reported, the authorities providing any explanations. The same person questioned what happened to the money raised through those cards.
Other comments expressed distrust regarding the emergence of a new sales model, this time with an initial price of 94 USD, significantly higher than those previous transactions.
"It's a New Type of Capitalism; that system can no longer be called socialist. They should take off the mask already!" concluded a user, summarizing the sentiments of those who see this dollarized model as the government's definitive abandonment of the majority of the population.
The reopening of the El Llano station comes amid difficulties accessing liquefied gas in Cuba. In January, the state-owned Cupet suspended state distribution in eastern provinces, including Holguín, due to a lack of supply.
In July, Resolution 155/2026 set a price of 350 Cuban pesos for the 10-kilogram cylinder, but state distribution has been virtually non-existent. Recently, it was reported that, on the Isle of Youth, the price of small gas canisters rose from 50 to 89 USD.
In August, a Cuban reported having paid 99 USD for a cylinder weighing only eight kilograms, while in Santiago de Cuba, private offers of up to 75,000 pesos were reported, container included.
The gap between prices in foreign currency and the income of the population also highlights access difficulties. With a monthly minimum wage of 3,210 pesos and an informal exchange rate of nearly 900 pesos per dollar, the 94 USD for the initial purchase is equivalent to roughly 26 minimum monthly salaries.
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