The Cuban dictatorship announced this Monday (8) a 528% increase in the prices of regular gasoline and diesel from February 1st, rising from the current 25 Cuban pesos to 132 pesos (R$5.36 at the official exchange rate). ), as part of the major macroeconomic adjustment plan announced in December.
The increase was confirmed by the Minister of Finance and Prices, Vladimir Reguero, during an interview with the state television network in which he also assured that the program aims to “revive” the Cuban economy, which is mired in a deep crisis.
Likewise, the price of special gasoline (94 octane) will rise from 30 pesos per liter to 156 pesos (R$6.33), while that of special diesel will increase from the current 27.5 pesos to 150 (R$6.09 ). The increases would be 520 and 546%, respectively.
The Cuban regime said that around 28 gas stations in the country will begin accepting payments in dollars from tourists. “Now, if at the same time we have a chain of stations that sell in national currency at 30 pesos, no one will go to those that sell in foreign currency. We have to align prices with the official exchange rate that we have today in the country, (of) 120 pesos to one (dollar) (…) Therefore, prices in national currency will rise”, stated the minister.
Reguero also said that charging gasoline and diesel in dollars would aim to obtain currency for the “supply” of fuel on the island, which is highly dependent on imports from allied countries, such as Russia, Venezuela and Mexico.
MORE EXPENSIVE ELECTRICITY BILL
As the government had also announced in mid-December, the electricity tariff will increase this year, only for domestic consumers, who consume the most.
The Minister of Energy and Mines stated that there will be a 25% increase for each extra kilowatt (kW) that exceeds the proportion of 500 kilowatts per hour (kWh). This increase, as he clarified, would only affect between 2% and 5% of consumers, according to government calculations.
In Cuba, homes are responsible for around 60% of electricity costs.
In 2024, Cuba will implement one of its biggest macroeconomic adjustment plans in decades, with increases in services such as energy, water and gas and the end of universal food subsidies.
The government emphasized the urgency of these measures and highlighted that they will not affect the most vulnerable sectors.
The island, governed by Miguel Díaz-Canel, ended 2023 with a contraction in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of up to 2%, according to the government, and a fiscal deficit equivalent to 19% of GDP. Official inflation will exceed 30%, according to official calculations. (With EFE Agency)
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