Cuba delayed a planned five-fold rise in gasoline prices on Feb. 1, citing a cyberattack, according to Economy Vice Minister Mildrey Granadillo.
Cuba delayed a planned five-fold rise in gasoline prices on Feb. 1, citing a cyberattack, according to Economy Vice Minister Mildrey Granadillo. The decision, made just hours before the scheduled increase, marks a sudden reversal.
"This decision is influenced by the occurrence of a cybersecurity incident in the computer systems for the marketing of fuels, the origin of which has been identified as a virus from abroad,” Granadillo said in the final minutes of the midday newscast on state-run TV.
In late December, Cuba unveiled a set of measures aimed at addressing a significant deficit, which included increases in fuel and public transport costs. Detractors have characterized these measures as inflationary, poorly timed, and lacking encouragement for domestic production.
Granadillo restated the government's reasoning, labeling the price increases as an "essential" step to address and overcome a lingering economic crisis.
Fuel will remain at current prices, he noted. “There will not be a stoppage in the services we provide for the sale of fuel to our population.”
Recent fuel shortages have resulted in widespread, hours-long power outages on the island. However, Cuban state-run media reported on Wednesday that the cyber-attack was not responsible and would not impact the fuel supply for power generation.
Earlier today, Banco Metropolitano of Cuba reported encountering challenges with electronic payments and services. However, the bank later confirmed that these issues had been successfully resolved.
It was not immediately apparent if the two issues were interconnected.
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