In the midst of Cuba's severe fuel crisis, the regime announced on Thursday the opening of 17 new service stations where fuel will be sold exclusively in dollars. The CIMEX Corporation confirmed on Facebook that starting from June 1st, 17 new service stations will be added to the current network of dollar-based service centers across 10 provinces.
According to the entity, the primary objective of this network expansion is to meet the current demand, particularly from rental cars aimed at tourism. The expansion aims to cover "tourist areas, the national highway, and distant towns with a significant flow of rental vehicles."
The provinces where the new gas stations will be opened include Pinar del Río, Havana, Matanzas, Villa Clara, Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Ávila, Las Tunas, Granma, Holguín, and Santiago de Cuba. The announcement emphasized that the established payment methods in dollars are VISA, MasterCard, Russian MIR cards, pre-paid cards issued by BANDEC, UnionPay, and CABAL cards, as well as AIS, Viajero, and Clásica cards.
In January, the regime informed that starting from February 1st, a total of 29 Cuban gas stations would sell fuel exclusively in dollars, except for one that would also offer services in CUP pesos. Tania Vives Alfonso, economic vice president of CIMEX Corporation, stated that the Nueva Imagen service station in the Morón municipality of Ciego de Ávila would be the only one providing mixed services due to its location at the entrance of the keys, with no other stations nearby.
However, in the last week, alongside runaway inflation, which has surged by 1,500% over the last six years in Cuba, long lines for fuel in Havana and other provinces have added to the crisis. This is not a new image in the interior of the country. "A friend spent thirty hours to refuel," commented an internet user named Carlos. "That's why the dollar can't lose value," added another named Gustavo. "It's a shame," lamented Ariadna. "In Cuba, nothing works well, only repression and surveillance are effective," emphasized José.
In this context, Cubans are enduring blackouts of up to 20 hours a day, while the regime blames the phenomenon on the fuel shortage and the poor condition of its thermoelectric plants.
FAQs about Cuba's New Dollar-Only Gas Stations
To address common questions regarding the opening of new dollar-only gas stations in Cuba, we've compiled a list of frequently asked questions and their answers.
Why is Cuba opening new gas stations that sell fuel exclusively in dollars?
The primary objective is to meet the current demand, particularly from rental cars aimed at tourism, and to cover tourist areas, the national highway, and distant towns with significant flows of rental vehicles.
Which provinces will have these new gas stations?
The new gas stations will be opened in Pinar del Río, Havana, Matanzas, Villa Clara, Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Ávila, Las Tunas, Granma, Holguín, and Santiago de Cuba.
What payment methods are accepted at these gas stations?
Accepted payment methods include VISA, MasterCard, Russian MIR cards, pre-paid cards issued by BANDEC, UnionPay, and CABAL cards, as well as AIS, Viajero, and Clásica cards.