Cubans in a southwestern suburb of La Habana are cooking meals over charcoal and firewood because the electric stove barely works without power and gas supplies are scarce, a resident told BBC Mundo.
Energy crunch deepens
President Miguel Díaz‑Canel warned on 5 February that “we will live through difficult times” and unveiled an extraordinary energy‑saving plan. The plan calls for rationing fuel for essential economic activities, prioritising telework and shifting universities to semi‑presential classes.
U.S. Measures after the capture of Nicolás Maduro in early January have tightened the island’s access to oil, threatening tariffs on countries that ship petroleum to Cuba and cutting off Venezuelan supplies that sustained Havana for two decades.
Washington also pressed Mexico to reduce crude shipments, compounding long‑standing problems such as outdated thermal plants, production shortfalls and a lack of foreign currency to buy fuel on the world market.
Echoes of the Special Period
Older Cubans recall the 1990s “Special Period” after the Soviet Union collapsed, when the nation relied heavily on charcoal cooking, endured transport bottlenecks and suffered blackouts lasting up to 18 hours.
Elizabeth Contreras, 68, says the current situation feels even worse, noting repeated long outages in recent weeks. The government has revived the “opción cero” concept – a zero‑oil survival strategy first used in the 1990s.
Economist Michael Bustamante notes that although today’s GDP decline (about 11 % since the pandemic) is smaller than the one‑third drop of the early 1990s, the crisis feels harsher because the economy never fully recovered from that era, and recent inequalities have emerged with private stores supplying those who can afford them.
Everyday ingenuity
People share videos on TikTok showing how they cook with wood, wash clothes in rivers and stock rechargeable lamps, fans and portable chargers. Jennifer Pedraza, a 34‑year‑old worker and student, also stores water as supplies falter.
Traffic on main avenues such as the Malecón has thinned, and many residents, especially those without remittances, survive on a median salary of 6 830 CUP (about US$14), while a bottle of oil costs roughly US$2.5 and a carton of 30 eggs about US$6.
Uncertain political fallout
U.S. Pressure, combined with the energy emergency, could push Cuba toward a humanitarian crisis that might spark social unrest, or it could force the government to negotiate concessions with Washington.
Analysts suggest that Washington might seek to leverage the crisis to encourage political change, while the Cuban leadership may try to endure until the next mid‑term elections, hoping that President Trump’s political capital wanes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the current energy crisis in Cuba?
The crisis stems from chronic production deficits, outdated power plants, a shortage of foreign currency for fuel imports, and recent U.S. Actions that have limited oil shipments from Venezuela and pressured Mexico to cut crude supplies.
How are Cubans coping with frequent power outages?
Many have returned to cooking with charcoal and firewood, using improvised outdoor kitchens, stock rechargeable lighting and chargers, and share tips on social media for managing daily tasks without electricity.
What measures has the Cuban government announced to address the shortage?
The government announced an extraordinary energy‑saving plan that includes rationing fuel for essential activities, promoting telework, and moving universities to semi‑presential classes, while invoking the “opción cero” strategy.
How do you think these hardships will shape everyday life in Cuba in the months ahead?
