The head of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Commercial Plant in Pinar del Río was arrested on Friday, accused of involvement in the seizure of a truck carrying 79 illegally transported cylinders. This information was shared on social media by Frank Enrique, who highlighted the connection to the vehicle that was intercepted by police officers on the National Highway last Monday.
When the incident first came to light, it was reported by official digital creator Alberto Roque Ramos and later picked up by the site Cubadebate, which provided no additional details about the circumstances or identities of those involved. In late October, a Majagua Revolico group in Ciego de Ávila revealed that a gas cylinder was being sold for 45,000 pesos, with the price increasing to 60,000 CUP if the buyer wanted contract documents.
After a period of severe scarcity, the distribution of LPG resumed the previous Friday in Cuba with the arrival of a ship carrying 9,377 tons of the product at the "Hermanos Díaz" refinery in Santiago de Cuba. However, authorities conceded that this supply would not meet the pent-up demand across the country.
Irenaldo Pérez Cardoso, deputy director of the state-run Union Cuba-Petroleum (CUPET), told Cubadebate that the current distribution aims to alleviate the "gap in fuel delivery" caused by delays in LPG arrivals. This shortage has impacted a significant portion of the 1.7 million registered clients on the island. In Havana, Artemisa, and Mayabeque, 20 percent of consumers didn't receive service, while the figure soared to 63 percent, affecting over 735,000 customers, in the rest of the country.
As is typical with the regime's excuses, the official blamed the difficulties on international payment complications stemming from U.S. economic sanctions. Pérez Cardoso detailed that Cuba now faces a requirement to pay 100 percent upfront before unloading, raising freight costs and causing further delays due to banking transfer issues.
To address the deficit, distribution will prioritize consumers who missed out on gas during the previous cycle. In provinces like Havana, Mayabeque, and Artemisa, the product will be exclusively available to these clients for the first four days of distribution, following lists published by commercial houses, whereas in other provinces, this process will extend over five days.
Despite these efforts, the current LPG supply is expected to cover only 17 to 20 days. Authorities are also considering reorganizing delivery cycles to ensure a fairer distribution, paying particular attention to vulnerable households. Meanwhile, the island and its millions of families endure a severe energy crisis, with daily blackouts lasting up to 18 hours in some areas and three national grid failures in the last two months.
Addressing Cuba's LPG Shortage Crisis
What led to the arrest of the LPG Plant chief in Pinar del Río?
The LPG Plant chief in Pinar del Río was arrested due to his alleged connection to the illegal transport of a truck carrying 79 gas cylinders.
How is the Cuban government addressing the LPG shortage?
The government is prioritizing the distribution of LPG to consumers who missed previous deliveries, and considering reorganizing delivery cycles to ensure fair distribution.
What challenges does Cuba face in acquiring LPG?
Cuba faces challenges such as international payment issues due to U.S. sanctions, which require full payment upfront, increasing freight costs and causing delays.