A video uploaded last Monday on TikTok by content creator ElyCubita_Vlog has gone viral, showcasing a group of Cubans who devised a homemade solution to operate their motorcycle with only half a liter of gasoline. This inventive approach arises from the severe fuel shortage plaguing the island. Originally, the clip was shared on March 23, 2026, via TikTok.
With a mix of humor and resignation, ElyCubita_Vlog narrates the scene: "I'm not sure if you'll laugh at this invention, but I assure you it's like shouting and going crazy. Here we have half a liter of gasoline, and we had no choice but to make do because we needed to get out." The video’s description captures the essence in four words: "BARELY MANAGED TO SOLVE..."
The video quickly resonated, amassing over 25,500 views, 440 likes, and 57 shares in just a few days, striking a chord with a population enduring the most severe fuel crisis in decades.
The Dire Fuel Situation in Cuba
The backdrop of this ingenuity is grim. Since January 2026, Cuba has ceased receiving Venezuelan oil, historically its primary supply source. On February 7, the regime entirely halted gasoline sales in Cuban pesos and stopped civilian diesel sales, leaving gasoline available only in dollars through the state-run Ticket app, with a strict limit of 20 liters per appointment.
This presents a significant hurdle since Cubans are paid in pesos. As ElyCubita_Vlog explains, "The State only sells you gasoline if you book through a gas app, which, by the way, sells in dollars. You know we are paid in national currency, and currently, 1 dollar surpasses 500 Cuban pesos."
On the black market, a liter of gasoline ranges from 4,000 to 6,000 Cuban pesos, equivalent to 6 to 8 dollars. With a minimum wage of just 2,100 pesos per month — unchanged since January 2021 — a single liter of fuel costs the equivalent of over a month's salary.
One Cuban reportedly paid 50,000 pesos for merely 10 liters on the black market, amounting to around 100 dollars.
The Strain of the Ticket App System
The Ticket app, operated alongside Cimex, has waiting lists of 7,000 to 15,000 requests per gas station, servicing only 50 to 90 vehicles daily. Comedian Otto Ortiz disclosed on Wednesday that his turn was number 15,551, estimating a wait time of up to 10 months.
The creativity displayed in ElyCubita_Vlog's video is part of a long-standing Cuban tradition of "resolving" amidst systemic shortages: expanded tanks on motorcycles, motorized bicycles known as riquimbilis, adaptations for liquefied gas, and vehicles powered by cane ethanol. As ElyCubita_Vlog puts it, "The good thing about us Cubans is that we always find a solution to everything." In this context, however, the phrase feels more like a cry for survival than a celebratory remark.
FAQs on Cuba's Fuel Crisis Solutions
How are Cubans coping with the fuel shortage?
Cubans are using creative solutions like homemade adaptations for vehicles, such as expanded tanks and motorized bicycles, to cope with the lack of gasoline.
Why has the fuel crisis worsened in Cuba?
The crisis intensified after Cuba stopped receiving oil from Venezuela, its main supplier, and the government restricted gasoline sales to dollars via the Ticket app.
What is the impact of the Ticket app on fuel distribution?
The Ticket app has resulted in long waiting lists, with thousands of requests per station and only a limited number of vehicles being served daily, causing significant delays.