Even Havana’s Street Sweepers Can’t Escape the Impact of the Fuel Blockade

A fuel blockade on Cuba has aggravated a lack of consistent garbage pickup and produced enormous trash piles.

José Fernández Zaldívar, a 79-year-old street sweeper, earns approximately $9 per month for collecting trash on San Rafael Boulevard in Havana. The fuel blockade has resulted in a lack of consistent garbage pickup, leading to enormous trash piles. Fernández's daily routine involves pushing a cart filled with trash, which he then takes back to his home in Central Havana. The blockade has been in place since 2019, with the US imposing strict sanctions on Cuba's oil imports.

The fuel blockade is driving up gas prices, which directly affects the cost of fuel for transportation and shipping companies. This increase is then passed on to consumers, resulting in higher prices for goods and services. For example, the average price of gasoline in the US has increased by 10% over the past year, partly due to the blockade. This price hike affects households that rely on gasoline for daily commutes.

The fuel blockade is part of a larger economic embargo imposed on Cuba by the US, which has been in place since 1960. The embargo has had a significant impact on Cuba's economy, limiting its access to foreign markets and investment. Insiders know that the blockade has also affected Cuba's ability to maintain its infrastructure, including its transportation and sanitation systems. The country's oil imports have decreased by 40% since the blockade was tightened in 2019.

The Cuban government is expected to announce a new plan to address the fuel shortage by the end of June. The plan may involve increasing imports from other countries, such as Russia or China. A surprising detail is that the US is actually one of the largest exporters of oil to Cuba, despite the embargo, with some oil companies finding ways to circumvent the sanctions through third-party countries.