The Cuban government has announced that it will postpone the planned increase in fuel prices, which was scheduled to take effect on February 1st, due to a major cybersecurity incident that affected the country’s oil and gas sector.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the cyberattack targeted the servers of the state-owned oil company CUPET, as well as several refineries and distribution centers across the island. The hackers demanded a ransom of 100 million US dollars in Bitcoin to restore the systems and stop leaking sensitive data.
The ministry said that the attack was “part of a systematic campaign of aggression and sabotage” against Cuba, orchestrated by “external enemies” who seek to destabilize the country and undermine its socialist model. The ministry also assured that the authorities are working to contain the damage and restore normal operations as soon as possible.
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The fuel price hike, which was announced last week, would have raised the cost of gasoline by 500%, from 1.20 Cuban pesos per liter to 6 Cuban pesos per liter, and diesel by 300%, from 0.90 Cuban pesos per liter to 3.60 Cuban pesos per liter. The government said that the measure was necessary to cope with the rising international oil prices and the impact of the US economic blockade, which has severely restricted Cuba’s access to foreign markets and credit.
The decision sparked widespread discontent and protests among the Cuban population, who already face shortages of basic goods and services, low wages, and high inflation. Many Cubans rely on private transportation or informal taxis to move around the island, as public transportation is scarce and unreliable. The fuel price hike would have made their daily lives even more difficult and expensive.
The cyberattack has also raised concerns about the security and reliability of Cuba’s energy sector, which is heavily dependent on oil imports from Venezuela and other allies. CUPET is the main distributor of oil and gas in Cuba, and supplies fuel to various sectors of the economy, including transportation, agriculture, industry, and electricity generation.
The attack has affected the availability and delivery of fuel in some parts of the country, creating long lines at gas stations and affecting public services.
The cyberattack has also exposed the vulnerability of Cuba’s internet infrastructure, which is largely controlled by the state-owned telecommunications company ETECSA. The internet access in Cuba is limited, censored, and expensive, and most Cubans rely on public Wi-Fi hotspots or mobile data to connect online. The attack has disrupted the internet service in some areas, making it harder for Cubans to communicate and access information.
The cyberattack has been widely covered by the international media but has received little attention from the official Cuban media, which has downplayed its impact and focused on the government’s response. Some independent journalists and bloggers in Cuba have reported on the attack and its consequences, but they have faced harassment and intimidation from the security forces.
The attack has also sparked a debate among Cubans on social media, with some expressing support for the hackers and their motives, and others criticizing them for harming the country and its people.
The government said that it will announce a new date for the implementation of the fuel price hike once the cybersecurity incident is resolved and the situation stabilizes. The government also urged the Cuban people to remain calm and united in the face of this “new provocation” and to trust in the “capacity and resilience” of the Cuban revolution.