Residents of Villa Clara are enduring lengthy waits to purchase charcoal, a critical resource in the face of frequent power outages plaguing the nation, according to journalist Mario J Pentón. The demand for charcoal in Santa Clara has surged as Cuba grapples with a severe energy crisis. A video shared on social media this Thursday reveals hundreds lining up at the José Martí fair to buy charcoal, which now costs 1500 pesos per sack—exceeding the income of an average pensioner in Cuba.
"This is the charcoal that has arrived at José Martí in Santa Clara priced at 1500 pesos per sack, more than what a pensioner earns. How is this allowed?" Pentón questioned in his post on X.
Charcoal as a Makeshift Solution
With the energy crisis worsening after the massive blackout reported in October, the Cuban government has turned to charcoal sales as an improvised solution. For weeks, Cuba has been enduring extended power outages, sometimes exceeding 24 hours, due to failures in the electrical grid and damage from cyclones. In this situation, the shortage of liquefied gas has forced many families to rely on charcoal for cooking.
Limited Distribution Points
Initially, local authorities in Santa Clara announced that charcoal would be available across all the city’s Consejos Populares. However, Alexander Reyes Barreto, the vice-intendant in charge of food production and distribution, clarified on a local radio station that sales would currently occur only at a specific location known as "the Coca-Cola" and, weather permitting, also at the José Martí fair.
Nationwide Struggle
The struggle to obtain charcoal is not confined to Santa Clara. Provinces such as Santiago de Cuba, Las Tunas, and Pinar del Río have also seen extensive queues as citizens desperately seek charcoal to survive amidst ongoing electricity shortages.
In Pinar del Río, authorities have requested an increase in charcoal production to meet the rising demand from families affected by power outages lasting up to 15 hours a day. Many families in this province have been without electricity for over ten days.
Social media, especially Facebook, is awash with buy-and-sell ads for charcoal, as people are frantic to secure this resource in a country that transitioned to an energy matrix for cooking but now lacks the resources to ensure its service.