By Roberto Morejón

The beginning of October represents for Cubans a new complex situation with the availability of fuel, particularly diesel, for which the authorities have arranged measures, since the economy will not be paralyzed.
 
In the midst of guarantees of not reaching a total shortage, they appeal to planning, strict control in the use of resources and exhortations to greater savings, without denying the impact of unavoidable austerity steps.
 
In the information provided to the population, it was pointed out that the reinforced U.S. blockade, which seeks total immobilization, is one of the main causes of the difficult scenario.
 
In addition, some suppliers failed to fulfill their commitments and those in charge of acquiring energy had to make purchases almost daily, with forced interruptions in the supply.
 
 In addition, Cuba must import fuel at times when the price of the barrel increases, although it counts on domestic heavy crude to cover part of the requirements.
 
In such a pressing context, since the amount of fuel will not be in the immediate future the same as in previous months, the government set priorities such as the increase of telework and the reduction of non-essential economic activities.
 
For the good of the country, it is reported the continuity of the maintenance and repair periods of the thermoelectric power plants, the main source of this type of energy.
 
The actions in these aging thermal units have had positive effects, according to experts, as demonstrated during the intense summer.
 
In spite of a record increase in consumption, it was then possible to maintain the service with minor affectations.
 
In the future, according to the Cuban Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, the first weeks of October are expected to be complex, with a deficit in electricity generation, this time not due to insufficient power but to diesel.
 
But the Minister affirmed that a certain recovery will be noted as October progresses, with the arrival of shipments and the recovery of generation capacities at the ENERGAS plant, for the use of the gas emanating from the extraction of crude oil.
 
For Cubans it is clear that a useful contribution would be the more rational use of household appliances.
 
In the meantime, Cuba will continue to allocate resources to the recovery of generation units and the promotion of renewable energies, in order to achieve independence from imported fuels.