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Cuba runs short on fuel at pump as energy crisis festers

Cubans still reeling from months of hourslong blackouts now have a brand-new problem on their hands: fuel shortages.

Numerous filling station throughout the island have been shuttered for days as an abnormally serious shortage has actually left the nation almost devoid of gas and diesel, stranding motorists and growing apparently interminable lines at the pump in Havana.

We have actually been waiting on a fuel truck to arrive for 3 days, said Armando Corrales from the driver's seat of his gray Kia SUV at a gasoline station in the capital. Individuals have slept here in line so they do not lose their area.

The most recent crisis comes on the heels of three across the country blackouts in two months that left millions in the dark for days, prompting the communist-run federal government to momentarily close schools and non-essential market.

Cuba has yet to offer a description for the most recent shortfall.

Only a comparative drip of fuel has actually been served in Havana because Wednesday, according to a federal government application that records deliveries to private gasoline station.

Officials have actually previously blamed fuel scarcities on the decades-old U.S. trade embargo, which complicates Cuba's. monetary deals, making it harder for the. federal government to buy fuel on the spot market.

Cuba's veteran allies have minimized fuel deliveries this. year. Venezuela has sent 44% less crude and fuel to the. Caribbean island throughout the January to November period,. according to tanker tracking data and files from. Venezuela's state company PDVSA.

Mexico, which has actually ended up being a routine supplier to the island,. has actually offseted a few of the distinction. But both Venezuela and. Mexico send out mainly unrefined to Cuba, whose obsolete refineries must. utilize it to make gasoline and diesel for cars, trucks and. generators.

Cuba this year began offering fuel in dollars at. non-subsidized rates on par with regional neighbors. The. government stated this was needed, in part, to raise enough. foreign currency to make sure a consistent supply at the pump.

Even those far costlier dollar filling station faltered this. week, said Jorge Figueredo as he waited to pump fuel in the. Havana suburban area of Miramar.

The lines are now miles long even when you go to buy fuel. in dollars, Figueredo stated.

(source: Reuters)