Havana/Cuban private companies are importing oil authorized by the Government, as confirmed this monday Martí News. Anonymous sources consulted by the media, based in Miami, stated that shipments of diesel are already being sent in isotanks from several countries. “Each unit can transport around 24,000 liters and delivery is made in the port of Mariel directly to customers,” said one of the interviewees.
With this method of transportation it is possible to make smaller and more flexible shipments, and it is less conspicuous than traditional shipments on large ships.
The sources added that companies with active licenses from the United States Department of Commerce would be involved in operations related to the supply of fuel. “It is being handled with the utmost discretion. There is fear that the Trump Administration could also restrict this channel, although after recent statements by Marco Rubio there are expectations that no measures will be adopted that directly affect MSMEs,” he told Martí News one of those consulted.
The news came a few hours after the company Sonicarpa SRL. will publish on networks a poster with the requirements for the importation of oil, permitted without further details in recent weeks. The past February 7the Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Óscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, said when announcing the savings plan to face the oil block that the Government was facilitating and authorizing any company that had the possibility of buying fuel to do so. “We have decentralized, you can say, the import of fuel,” he said without specifying further.
Expectations about the viability of this initiative had generated skepticism in public opinion, which this Monday was finally able to see the list of indications, the first of which was to have authorization from the Institute of Physical Planning on the location of the fuel tanks, leased to Cuba Petróleo (Cupet) or another state company.
In addition, it is essential to obtain certification from the Fire Department that guarantees the safety of the storage. The fact that the state facilities already have permits – which must also be insured by the Esicuba company – conditions the situation, while speeding up the contracting of state warehouses.
It is also necessary for private companies to present the agreement of the Board of Partners that demonstrates that the fuel will be used for the activity authorized for the company. Finally, MSMEs must import through a state company such as Quimimport or Maprinter, which will manage the purchase, one of the points that has generated the most discomfort on social networks, where it is claimed that companies can purchase fuel directly.
“It would not be a business for any private person to pay a barrel of oil in the international market at 85 dollars and for the state importer to apply a tax later and to store it you have to pay Cupet for the specialized truck and the tank as well. Much less business to market it in the country. At what price, if after all those expenses a barrel of oil costs you 150 or 200 dollars?”, asked one user.
Another doubt that the information has generated is whether the United States will allow these sales that will go through the State in the midst of an energy blockade decreed at the end of January by Donald Trump. that of an energy blockade decreed at the end of January impose tariffs on any country that supplies fuel to Cuba.
At the VIII Investment Forum of the Havana International Fair (Fihav 2025) held last November, Óscar Pérez-Oliva had promised that in the new package of measures to “correct distortions” and revive the Cuban economy, It was evaluated which foreign companies could import fuel “when necessary.” In the midst of the current energy contingency, no concrete details have yet been given regarding the implementation of this measure.
