Cuba’s Fuel Priority List: Hospitals First, Hotels Last

When fuel is scarce in Cuba, the government has a clear hierarchy for who gets it first. Alexander Karpetsky, head of the Cuban tour operator Cuba Libre PRO, explained the system in a recent interview. Critical infrastructure tops the list: hospitals, power plants, and water supply receive the first shipments of available gasoline and diesel. Second priority goes to refrigeration chains and food delivery—essential for keeping supplies from spoiling. After that come state institutions, the military, and police. Hotels, despite being a major source of hard currency for the island, get “increased but not priority” attention. Their need is recognized, but they don’t jump the line ahead of essentials. The fuel crunch has deepened since the U.S. under President Donald Trump reimposed sanctions on countries that sell or ship oil to Cuba. Russia’s ambassador to Havana, Viktor Koronelli, noted in early February that the end of Venezuelan oil exports has made the chronic shortage even worse. For travelers, this means that while hotels are still open, the fuel they rely on for air conditioning, hot water, and transport is not guaranteed. Karpetsky’s breakdown offers a stark look at how Cuba balances its limited resources: survival first, then food, then security, and only then tourism.