Liquefied Gas in Cuba
The Struggle for Cooking Fuel Amid Declining Production and Rising Prices
Due to the lack of electricity in homes, caused by insufficient energy generation, it has become essential to rely on other fuels for cooking. Manufactured gas remains the most common fuel in Cuban households, although its infrastructure, like other sectors, is outdated. No new gas transmission networks have been built, and production has decreased by 23% since 2013.
The production of liquefied gas, distributed to the population in small canisters, has dropped by 84% since 1989. This production decline has been partially offset by imports, which have even exceeded the production of manufactured gas. However, this year, interruptions in imports have been recorded, leading to the suspension of gas sales to the population. Families in the western provinces, including the capital, face the dual crisis of a lack of electricity and the absence of gas for cooking.
In March 2024, CUPET raised the official price of a 10 kg canister to 225 pesos and a 45 kg canister to 1014 pesos. On the black market, the price has soared to 29,000 pesos.
Approximately 1.7 million customers use liquefied gas for cooking in Cuba. The cooking fuel crisis is compounded by shortages of water and food. The Union Cuba-Petróleo (CUPET) does not provide information on how many people are affected by the combination of all these factors.
It is important to note that not everyone has the right to buy liquefied gas: only pre-registered customers can access this service. People without a contract have no choice but to turn to the black market to obtain gas for cooking. Additionally, there is a shortage of available canisters, and housing contract restrictions further limit access.
Rationing establishes an annual allocation of 83 kg per person in single-person households; 70 kg per person in two-person households; 57 kg for three people; and 43.75 kg per person in families with more than four members. In terms of frequency, a person is entitled to buy a 10 kg gas canister every 44 days or a 45 kg canister every 199 days. For larger households, this interval is reduced, but it does not guarantee fuel availability at the time of purchase.
Under normal circumstances, the diversification of cooking fuels could represent an improvement in quality of life. However, under current conditions in Cuba, it signifies an alarming lack of options. The consumption of other fuels has drastically decreased: alcohol dropped from 1,040 thousand hectoliters in 1991 to only 137 thousand in 2022; coal fell from 21.6 thousand tons to 6.4 thousand; and kerosene dropped from 599 thousand tons to just 59 thousand in the same period.
Sources: ONEI / Cubatramite
Original article: ForesightCuba.com