Cuban influencer Iraisel Pintueles has responded to a storm of criticism on social media after she shared a promotional video for a private gasoline sales company in Cuba. This comes at a time when the island is experiencing its most severe fuel crisis in decades.
The controversy erupted when Iraisel posted on Instagram about @agranel_atumedida, introduced as the first private company dedicated specifically to supplying fuel directly to other businesses and individuals without state intervention. The post sparked a wave of backlash from Cubans both on the island and abroad, who questioned the appropriateness of promoting such a business when a liter of gasoline on the informal market can cost up to 8,000 Cuban pesos, and lines at state-run gas stations can stretch up to 15 hours.
In response to the criticism, the influencer took to Instagram on Monday with a lengthy post that garnered over 3,500 likes and 428 comments, in which she fiercely defended herself.
"We Cubans are dissatisfied people, quick to judge things we neither know nor understand," Iraisel began, before listing the contradictions she believes any Cuban faces when trying to work in the country: "If there's business, it's bad; if there's none, it's worse. If you protest or state your opinion, it's bad… if you don't, it's because no one wants to be the martyr. If you work, it's bad, but if you don't, it's the end of the world."
Regarding her association with the company, she was unequivocal: "The Mipyme I work with IS A PRIVATE ENTITY with foreign capital, unrelated to any government personnel or members, pays taxes, and has its documentation and permits in order to supply fuel to other private entities and Cubans without state mediation."
Iraisel also dismissed accusations of living outside the daily hardships faced by the population: "Please, I am not to blame for any situation in my country. I experience power outages like everyone else, water shortages like everyone else, and endure Cuba's general hardships like everyone else because I live here."
The company @agranel_atumedida, located in Arroyo Arenas, La Lisa, Havana, offers diesel starting at $1.75 per liter according to customs data, targeting primarily private businesses.
This controversy arises in a particularly sensitive context. Since May 15, 2026, the regime eliminated the fixed gasoline price and adopted a floating scheme with exclusive sales in dollars through an official app, excluding most Cubans who earn in pesos.
In February 2026, the regime had officially authorized Mipymes to import fuel, albeit under mandatory state importer mediation such as QUIMIMPORT or MAPRINTER, with an explicit ban on resale.
Despite these restrictions, a secondary market has emerged among private companies operating in a legal gray area, without a clear regulatory framework, where those who manage to import fuel resell it to other Mipymes.
Iraisel concluded her defense by championing the model she represents: "Cuba is surviving thanks to those who choose to invest here with all the risks that entails," adding that what the company does falls within free trade "as a measure to open all business to the private sector."
Understanding the Fuel Crisis and Private Enterprise in Cuba
What sparked the controversy surrounding Iraisel's promotion of a private fuel company?
The controversy began when Iraisel promoted a private company that supplies fuel directly to businesses and individuals. This drew criticism amid Cuba's severe fuel crisis, where gasoline prices on the informal market are exorbitantly high, and state gas stations have lengthy lines.
How did Iraisel respond to the criticisms she faced?
Iraisel defended herself in a detailed Instagram post, asserting that the company she promotes is a private entity with foreign capital, unrelated to the government, and operates legally. She also rejected claims that she is unaffected by Cuba's hardships, stating she experiences the same difficulties as other citizens.
What is the significance of the private fuel company @agranel_atumedida?
@agranel_atumedida is significant as it represents the first private initiative to supply fuel directly, bypassing state control amidst a national fuel crisis. This highlights the ongoing tension between emerging private enterprises and the state-controlled economy in Cuba.