{"id":20920,"date":"2026-02-16T18:32:29","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T23:32:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/cuba-forces-drivers-to-use-app-for-gas-creating-months-long-wait-times\/"},"modified":"2026-02-16T18:32:29","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T23:32:29","slug":"cuba-forces-drivers-to-use-app-for-gas-creating-months-long-wait-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/cuba-forces-drivers-to-use-app-for-gas-creating-months-long-wait-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Cuba Forces Drivers to Use App for Gas, Creating Months-Long Wait Times"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

HAVANA, Cuba – Motorists across Cuba are discovering they may need to wait months before they can fill up their vehicles, as the island nation grapples with severe fuel shortages attributed to U.S. economic sanctions targeting oil imports.<\/p>

Cuban authorities implemented a mandatory smartphone application called Ticket last week, requiring all drivers to schedule refueling appointments through the digital platform to prevent disorder at service stations.<\/p>

However, Havana residents who spoke with reporters on Monday revealed the app is scheduling appointments weeks or even months in advance due to overwhelming demand.<\/p>

Jorge Reyes, a 65-year-old resident who registered for the app Monday, expressed frustration with his assigned queue position. “I have (appointment) number seven thousand and something,” Reyes explained.<\/p>

The gas station where Reyes registered only processes 50 appointments daily, leaving him wondering, “When will I be able to buy gas again?”<\/p>

The application restricts users to booking appointments at a single station at once, prompting drivers to share intelligence through WhatsApp messaging groups about which locations might have shorter waits or higher daily capacity, with some stations handling up to 90 appointments per day.<\/p>

These efforts provide minimal relief for drivers discovering thousands of appointments ahead of theirs in the digital queue.<\/p>

Cuba’s government has simultaneously eliminated subsidized gasoline sales in local currency at approximately 25 cents per liter, now exclusively offering higher-priced fuel denominated in U.S. dollars.<\/p>

Current gasoline prices reach $1.30 per liter at official stations, while black market rates can climb to $6 per liter. Cuban government employees typically earn under $20 monthly when their peso salaries are converted to dollars at current exchange rates.<\/p>

When drivers finally secure refueling opportunities, they face a 20-liter purchase limit, equivalent to roughly 5.2 gallons.<\/p>

Businessman Ariel Alonso, who managed to refuel Monday at El Riviera station, highlighted the inadequacy of this restriction. “This will not last me long,” Alonso stated.<\/p>

“I have to leave a reserve of five liters in case anyone gets sick at home,” he added, referring to potential emergency hospital trips.<\/p>

The Ticket platform operates under XETID, a government-controlled software company. Commercial director Saumel Tejada informed Cuba Debate news outlet last week that over 90,000 drivers had requested refueling appointments through the application.<\/p>

While Ticket has existed for three years, previously helping Cubans schedule notary visits and access subsidized fuel, it has now become virtually the sole legitimate method for vehicle refueling outside black market channels.<\/p>

Tourism industry vehicles represent the primary exception to these restrictions. Cars bearing special tourism license plates can access 44 designated service stations island-wide, though lengthy queues have formed at these locations. Tourism vehicles face the same 20-liter purchase limits as regular cars.<\/p>

Energy shortages and electrical blackouts have escalated across Cuba this month as the nation struggles to secure oil imports for power generation facilities and refineries.<\/p>

President Donald Trump issued threats in late January targeting any countries selling oil to Cuba with potential tariffs, as Washington intensifies pressure on the island’s communist leadership to implement economic and political changes.<\/p>

Cuban President Miguel D\u00edaz-Canel has indicated willingness to engage in negotiations with the United States “as equals” while maintaining national sovereignty. D\u00edaz-Canel has characterized U.S. actions as an “energy blockade.”<\/p>

Venezuela, historically a major Cuban oil supplier, ceased crude shipments to the island in January following U.S. forces’ capture of former president Nicol\u00e1s Maduro during a pre-dawn operation and his subsequent transport to New York to face drug trafficking charges.<\/p>

Mexico similarly terminated oil deliveries to Cuba in January after Trump announced the tariff threats.<\/p>

Financial institutions throughout Cuba have shortened operating hours to conserve electricity, while the government announced earlier this month it would discontinue aircraft refueling services for planes landing on the island. This decision prompted three Canadian airlines to suspend Cuban routes, though other carriers continue service by making fuel stops in the Dominican Republic.<\/p>

Officials have postponed both an annual book fair and the traditional cigar industry trade show as part of broader efforts to reduce fuel and electricity consumption.<\/p>

A coalition of United Nations human rights specialists criticized the U.S. oil embargo last week, declaring it “has no basis on collective security and constitutes a unilateral act that is incompatible with international law.”<\/p>\n\n\n

Source: https:\/\/srnnews.com\/cuban-drivers-face-monthslong-wait-for-gasoline-in-a-government-app-designed-to-reduce-lines\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cuban motorists are now required to use a government app called Ticket to schedule fuel purchases, but the system is creating appointment backlogs stretching several months into the future. The mandatory app was implemented to prevent chaos at gas stations amid severe fuel shortages that officials blame on U.S. economic pressure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":20919,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[832],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20920","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771284749158.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-5rq","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":38344,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/cuba-restores-power-grid-across-most-of-island-after-nationwide-blackout\/","url_meta":{"origin":20920,"position":0},"title":"Cuba Restores Power Grid Across Most of Island After Nationwide Blackout","author":"Admin","date":"March 17, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Cuba has restored electrical service to most of the island following a complete grid collapse that left 10 million people without power on Monday. The outage comes amid ongoing fuel shortages caused by U.S. sanctions, with residents enduring daily blackouts of 16 hours or more.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773762659797.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":38371,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/cuba-hit-by-third-major-blackout-as-u-s-cuba-tensions-escalate\/","url_meta":{"origin":20920,"position":1},"title":"Cuba Hit by Third Major Blackout as U.S.-Cuba Tensions Escalate","author":"Admin","date":"March 17, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Cuba experienced its third widespread power outage in four months Tuesday, leaving millions without electricity as the island nation faces mounting energy and economic challenges. The blackout highlights Cuba's deteriorating infrastructure and growing tensions with President Trump, who has threatened tariffs on countries providing oil to Cuba.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773765489629.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773765489629.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773765489629.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773765489629.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":38134,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/cuba-experiences-third-major-power-outage-in-four-months\/","url_meta":{"origin":20920,"position":2},"title":"Cuba Experiences Third Major Power Outage in Four Months","author":"Admin","date":"March 17, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The entire island of Cuba lost electrical power on Monday as the nation's energy infrastructure continues to deteriorate. Cuban officials say the country hasn't received oil shipments in over three months, forcing reliance on solar energy and outdated power plants.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773729405653.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773729405653.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773729405653.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773729405653.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":54387,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/cubas-famous-nightlife-goes-dark-as-energy-crisis-grips-havana\/","url_meta":{"origin":20920,"position":3},"title":"Cuba’s Famous Nightlife Goes Dark as Energy Crisis Grips Havana","author":"Admin","date":"April 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Havana's once-vibrant entertainment scene has virtually disappeared due to severe fuel shortages and economic hardship. The crisis stems from U.S. oil embargos and the loss of Venezuela as Cuba's main energy supplier, forcing widespread business closures and mass emigration.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776580565056.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776580565056.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776580565056.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776580565056.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40790,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/cuba-works-to-restore-power-after-third-grid-collapse-this-month\/","url_meta":{"origin":20920,"position":4},"title":"Cuba Works to Restore Power After Third Grid Collapse This Month","author":"Admin","date":"March 22, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Cuba is working to restore electricity after its power grid failed completely for the third time in March, leaving millions without power. Only 72,000 customers in Havana had electricity restored by Sunday morning. The island nation faces an unprecedented energy crisis worsened by fuel shortages and aging infrastructure.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774193806799.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774193806799.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774193806799.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774193806799.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":55039,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/cuba-acknowledges-recent-diplomatic-talks-with-us-officials-in-havana\/","url_meta":{"origin":20920,"position":5},"title":"Cuba Acknowledges Recent Diplomatic Talks with US Officials in Havana","author":"Admin","date":"April 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Cuban officials have acknowledged that American diplomats visited the island nation in April for the first diplomatic meeting since 2016. Cuba's top priority in the discussions was ending the U.S. energy embargo, which they called unjustified punishment of their population.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776713878410.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776713878410.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776713878410.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776713878410.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20920","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20920"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20920\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20919"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20920"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20920"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}