Two days after they began to proliferate in Havana queuing for fuelthe local authorities have prohibited the sale in containers and have attributed the shortage to the thermoelectric failure Antonio Guiteras de Matanzas, the largest in Cuba, which left the National Electric System on Thursday.
In a published note In Canal Habana, the Temporary Work Group of the capital argues that, as a result of the electricity generation deficit, the use of diesel-powered generator sets increased. In addition, specialized transport must also make more trips to keep them going, so measures have been taken to “guarantee basic transport services”.
The note indicates that two service centers (Intermitente, in Guanabo, and El Arbolito, in Playa) will provide services exclusively to rental cars for tourism, although they can also go to any other that has fuel.
The note indicates that two service centers will provide services exclusively to rental cars for tourism, although they can also go to any other that has fuel
So far the explanations end, because the limitations are known only from the information of the official press, which has visited the service centers. This newspaper sounded the alert about the fuel rationing in the capital this Monday, when the only known measure was the official regulation announced for the province of Matanzas. In this case, citizens were warned that only 10 liters of gasoline and 20 liters of diesel will be dispensed in tanks and a maximum of 20 liters of gasoline and 40 liters of diesel in the vehicle tank.
In Havana, on the other hand, the quantities seem to be at discretion, since no limits have been officially established. This Tuesday, in a tour of several service centers, the employees told 14ymedio that there was no diesel while one of them specifically reported the sale of 20 liters of gasoline per vehicle.
The annoyance was so evident in the long lines these days, in which there were the same taxi drivers as ordinary citizens as officials with state cars, as in the reactions to the information on Canal Habana.
The post accumulates dozens of comments from people outraged, among other things, by the decision to stop shipping in containers. “Do you mean that if I am thrown 2 kilometers from the Cupet, I can’t go with a container to look for fuel? Do I have to push the car 2 kilometers to fill fuel?” lamented a user.
Several taxi drivers have criticized the decision that relegates them to rental cars and have claimed the importance of their work in a city where public transport is clearly insufficient for the mobility of more than two million people.
“And the taxis that are linked to the Scientific Centers that work twelve hours, do we have to stand in line for several hours after work? The same happens for those linked to health. Not to mention when the work is in another province, you need an audience with the provincial governor to authorize 10 liters. Yes, only ten liters 800 km away from the capital,” commented a taxi driver.
Many have lamented that the country never has good news to give and some dare to predict a new “July 11”
“And the taxis that are working on important tasks for the country, such as those of us at the Finlay Institute of Vaccines and CiGB, and with the MINSAP in the fight and prevention of covid and other tasks? making endless queues, just like those who provide services to tourism in air terminals?” adds another.
Many have lamented that the country never has good news to give and some dare to predict a new “July 11”, in reference to the social outbreak that led last year to the largest demonstrations against the Government in decades.
There are also users who have requested that the tank cars of the Armed Forces be used, an idea that has generated some ridicule. “No, friend, their reservation is not touched by anything in the world.”
Although several see a medium-term solution. “But the generators don’t work with gasoline or do they or will it be to store fuel to fill up 50,000 cars for May 1st?” one asks. And another adds: “Will the problem be solved by May 1? I know, I know the answer.”
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