Vehicles are less numerous every day on the wide avenues of the capital, while queues of cars stretch for hundreds of meters, sometimes kilometers, around gas stations, with direct consequences on the economic and social life of the country.

Five universities, including one in Havana, have suspended face-to-face classes for the week, while the scarcity of public transport forces many employees to work from home.

Recently, the public electricity company asked its customers to send a photo of their meters, as its agents could not travel for lack of gas to take the usual readings.

But Lazaro Diaz, an independent motorcycle courier, has no choice: "I don't have gas, I can't work. The day before yesterday, I didn't work, yesterday I didn't work," he said.

Yet accustomed to fuel shortages, Cubans say the crisis, which has worsened since late March, is the worst in years, with motorists not hesitating to wait in front of empty stations, without knowing when they will be supplied. Not to mention the exploding black market prices.

Concerts, baseball tournaments, the list of cancellations related to the crisis grows daily. On Tuesday, authorities announced the traditional May 1 rally in Havana's Revolution Square, where thousands of participants usually arrive by bus from all corners of the city.

Residents of the center of the capital are called to gather on foot on the Malecon promenade, while others will participate in activities in their neighborhoods.

A closed gas station, out of fuel, on April 24, 2023 in Havana, Cuba © YAMIL LAGE / AFP

"This is (the crisis) the most critical" in years, confirms Edgar Sanchez, a 43-year-old sports coach, posted for seven hours near a station. "We depend on the world," he said, lamenting that Cuba has been "financially blocked" since 1962 by the U.S. embargo.

"Turn off the tap"

In mid-April, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged that he did not know "clearly" how to "get out of this situation".

According to the head of state, the island of 11 million inhabitants, which has 600,000 vehicles, currently consumes every day "less than 400 tons" of fuel, against between 500 and 600 usually.

Cubans queue at a gas station to put gas in their car, on April 24, 2023 in Havana © YAMIL LAGE / AFP

The Cuban president explained, without naming them, that the countries that supply oil to Cuba have not respected their commitments because they themselves are facing a "complex energy situation".

Jorge Piñon, an energy policy specialist at the University of Texas, said the remarks were referring to Venezuela, Cuba's ally and main supplier, whose shipments fell from 100,000 barrels per day in 2021 to about 57,000 in the first quarter of 2023.

"The problem is that Cuba has no money and cannot pay cash for this oil," which he barters with Caracas for teachers and doctors.

A man waits his turn at a gas station to put gas in his motorcycle, on April 24, 2023 in Havana © YAMIL LAGE / AFP

In addition to the 40,000 barrels per day produced locally, Russia has supplied in 2022 "three or four loads of crude oil", and Algeria provides a little "from time to time", according to Jorge Piñon.

Faced with this situation, the government decided to "turn off the tap" by rationing stocks, he added. According to the authorities, the difficulties could continue in May.

In this context, certain sectors are declared priorities, such as tourism, the economic engine of the island before the pandemic and which is trying to recover.

A petrol station in the capital is reserved for rental cars and coaches transporting groups, although this does not prevent a little waiting.

A closed gas station, out of fuel, on April 24, 2023 in Havana, Cuba © YAMIL LAGE / AFP

Already masters in using Whatsapp to solve everyday problems in a country plagued by shortages of all kinds, Cubans have created various groups on messaging to order queues, exchange information and tips.

There is something for everyone: taxi drivers, individuals, companies, even diplomats who organize to queue at the gas station in the capital that is assigned to them.

© 2023 AFP