The Cuban state-run company Tabacuba has announced a new strategy to deliver fuel directly to tobacco farmers in Pinar del Río, following a study revealing that just 40 percent of allocated fuel reached the fields in past campaigns, according to state media reports. To facilitate this, five tanker trucks—four with an 8,000-liter capacity and one holding 10,000 liters—will distribute fuel to over 6,000 local producers, stated Osvaldo Santana Vera, a representative of Tabacuba, to local newspaper Guerrillero.
Santana Vera explained that these trucks are equipped with a driver-collector, a POS system, and GPS tracking to monitor their routes. Farmers will pay for the allocated fuel based on the hectares they have contracted, a system intended to eliminate unpaid dues. The distribution will occur twice during the campaign across 120 designated agricultural zones within the province. Additionally, the fuel will be stored in a series of tanks, corresponding to the volumes assigned to each farmer.
The initiative aims to reduce the number of intermediaries deciding on fuel allocation, with expectations that between 60 and 70 percent of the fuel will reach the farmers directly. Moreover, the savings from direct transit from storage facilities to producers—calculated at two pesos per liter—will be used to cover the drivers' wages.
Long-standing Fuel Shortages in Cuba
Cuba has been grappling with persistent fuel shortages for years. Despite various measures announced by the government, the public has yet to see significant improvements, with explanations from authorities often falling short. An illustration of the ongoing crisis is the collapse of the national power system, attributed not only to outdated thermoelectric plants but also to insufficient fuel to generate electricity.
In a related development, during the XXIV International Habano Festival held in late February, Habanos S.A. reported a record revenue of $721 million for 2023, surpassing the previous year's results. The 31% increase in revenue from 2022 was attributed by the company to the sustained growth and strength of the brand globally.
In 2022, Habanos S.A., a subsidiary of the Tabacuba Business Group, led by Marino Alberto Murillo Jorge, a former key figure in the regime's economic reforms, reported earnings of approximately $497 million.