A ship loaded with diesel docked this Thursday at the pier of the Supertanker Base de Matanzas, where the unloading process began, which will mitigate the impact of the shortage of fuel who has been living in Cuba for several weeks.
according to a note of the Cubadebate website, the arrival complies with the contracts established by the Cuba-Petroleum Union (CUPET)) with international suppliers.
“The transfer that we carried out this morning is faster than usual, because the ship does not unload on land, but transfers the product to another ship docked at the Juan A. Morales Bayona dock. When it is finished, the quality protocol is fulfilled, it is dispatched and leaves for the destinations of Havana, Camagüey and Santiago de Cuba,” Ower Luis Grau, head of the dock area of the Matanzas Fuel Marketing Territorial Division, told the outlet.
The manager added that it is a challenge to carry out the maneuver in the shortest possible time. “The Bay of Matanzas has specific conditions after eleven in the morning. At that time the air rises and the transfer of ships is difficult“.
Lázaro Quintero, head of the commercial area of the same division, explained that the arrival of this shipment will not translate into an increase in delivery, so distribution will continue with reduced figures by territory in the midst of the energy contingency.
“Although it is not a significant improvement, it does guarantee stability in vital services in each of the country’s provinces,” he said.
According to Cubadebate, during the afternoon-night of today the transfer operations in the bay of Matanzas must conclude.
The media announced that in the coming days the arrival of other ships loaded with fuel already contracted with suppliers is expected.
Not hitting bottom in the fuel crisis
For his part, Vicente de la O, head of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (Minem), assured that the country will not run out of fuel in the midst of the acute supply crisis it is facing.
The minister said on his Twitter account: “we are not going to touch zero with fuel” and confirmed that the conditions exist to continue guaranteeing vital services, as well as for a reduced sale to the population.
The sale of LPG has already begun in the eastern provinces and this will be done gradually in the other provinces.
We are not going to touch 0 with fuels. Vital services and an adjusted percentage for sale to the population will continue to be guaranteed ?? pic.twitter.com/wqzWEWkebS— Vicente de la O Levy (@VicentedelaO2) April 27, 2023
In addition, he referred to the start of the sale of liquefied gas in the eastern provinces from this Wednesday, a situation that will later be extended to all the territories of the country.
A ship with liquefied gas arrived last Tuesday night at the port of Santiago de Cuba, as confirmed by Lidia Rodríguez, Commercial Director of the Fuel Marketing Company of the Cuba Petróleo Union.
Rodriguez had announced on Monday that the marked deficit in the production and distribution of gas liquid in Cuba could have a possible solution next week with the arrival of that ship.
After long days of visible shortages, the Cuban government reported at the beginning of last week that fuel distribution and marketing problems will continue, at least until May, and attributed the situation mainly to the “non-compliance” of the suppliers.
The fuel crisis in Cuba will last until May, reports the Government
Faced with this scenario, the authorities announced a group of measures to avoid total shortages, such as restrictions on the quantities for the sale of gasoline and diesel to owners of private vehicles and non-prioritized state vehicles.
The long lines at gas stations have been maintained throughout the country, and the shortage has resulted in a notable decrease in public transport, price increases for private transporters, and the forced adaptation of part of life’s activities social and economic.
