Cuba delays Feb. 1 fuel price hike, cites cyberattack

[El Presidente]

 

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba put off a five-fold increase in gasoline prices planned for Feb. 1 due to a cyberattack, Economy Vice Minister Mildrey Granadillo said on Wednesday, a sudden about-face just hours before the controversial hike was due to take effect.

"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.

[Ford2112]

They should delay price increases for cigars then.

[jazzboypro]

1 hour ago, Ford2112 said:

They should delay price increases for cigars then.

Someone has to hack the cigar computer systems first.

[NSXCIGAR]

Probably not a a virus but they're just still running Windows XP and it can't handle the software. 

[Corylax18]

7 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Probably not a a virus but they're just still running Windows XP and it can't handle the software. 

You're being generous. I would guess Windows 95. 

How many months did it take before LCDHs could sell cigars after the initial price bump in Cuba? 4, 6? Boxes sitting on the shelves that couldn't be sold because they didn't have a thumb drive to pass around to 15 stores with the new prices. How many LCDHs are there on the island? 25, maybe 30? There are probably close to 1000 gas stations on the island. I wouldn't be surprised if this "Virus" lasted late into the year. 

[NSXCIGAR]

6 hours ago, VeguerosMAN said:

How is this going to impact consumers in Cuba?  Everything ( food, medicine, basic needs) should go up 5x from current prices if the price of oil is up 5x.  Scary times

All that already has gone up with the 100%+ inflation rate. Fuel has been kept stable at around 50 CUP per liter (don't quote me on that) so they had been paying the equivalent of <$1 per gallon, which is obviously too low. Gas prices will now be more in line with higher US gas prices in places like CA or about $4-4.50 per gallon. 

Yes, it's a blow to many but unfortunately the only real way to deal with shortages is to raise prices. Gas at $1 is great until you don't have any which has been the situation for well over a year. 

 

4 hours ago, Corylax18 said:

You're being generous. I would guess Windows 95

I would too but I actually saw XP being run at the Cadeca today, so give them some credit!