Spanish
These statements are made in a context of energy and economic crisis aggravated for Cuba since the capture and deposition of the Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in early January, a situation that led to the cessation of oil shipments from Venezuela, deepening the shortageof fuel on the island. Trump himself signed an executive order last week sanctioning all countries that supply crude oil to Cuba, a measure that has been interpreted by Díaz-Canel as “complete asphyxiation” and which, according to the Cuban president, will affect essential sectors such as public transport, food production, the functioning of hospitals and the education system.
We recommend reading:Cuba revives its survival plan from the 90s in the face of a "zero fuel" scenario
The Cuban dictator acknowledged in an unusual television appearance that the country is going through an "complex" energy situation and anticipated "very difficult" times. He estimated that Venezuelan oil will cover 30% of the island's energy needs in 2025, and admitted that two-thirds of the fuel Cuba needs must be imported. Since December, the island has not received fuel from abroad and has halted all its energy production based on diesel and fuel oil, which represents 40% of the Cuban energy mix. Faced with this scenario, the Cuban regime has begun to implement the so-called "zero option", a concept of "zero fuel" imported that implies activating survival plans inspired by Fidel Castro's directives during the "Special Period". This approach involves extreme rationing, food self-sufficiency, the use of animal traction in the countryside, the use of charcoal for cooking, and the promotion of non-motorized transport. Díaz-Canel stated that some of these measures have been "updated" to respond to current conditions, but made it clear that the priority is to secure any means of access to external fuel. Cuba has been experiencing a chronic energy crisis since mid-2024, aggravated by the obsolescence of its thermoelectric plants and the lack of foreign currency to import fuels. Of the 110,000 barrels per day the country needs, Venezuela provided around 30,000 in 2025. Expert Jorge Piñón, from the Energy Institute at the University of Texas, estimated that, if it does not receive new oil shipments, the situation in Cuba could become a “serious crisis” by March. So far this year, the island has only received one tanker from Mexico with 86,000 barrels. The Cuban regime announced that it is seeking external cooperation and developing plans to meet energy demand, such as the increase of solar parks (49 installed last year) and the installation of some 5,000 photovoltaic kits in health centers and another 10,000 for employees in priority sectors. In addition, the fuel storage capacity is being expanded to cope with possible crude oil imports.You can also read:Former Cuban Justice Minister Oscar Silvera assumes as President of the Supreme Court
US measures have been rejected by Mexico, Russia, and China, although it is not yet known whether these countries will maintain energy agreements with the island. Díaz-Canel assured that "Cuba is not alone" and that it has felt international support, although he avoided offering details so as not to hinder efforts in the face of US pressure.Meanwhile, the blackouts on the island have intensified, with cuts of up to 10 hours a day, affecting the water supply and food cooking. On Thursday, a breakdown in a high-voltage line left the eastern provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo without power, as well as part of Holguín. The supply was restored hours later, but the state-owned Unión Eléctrica recognized the vulnerability of the system, which faces frequent breakdowns and depends on a schedule of blackouts that often exceeds due to fuel shortages and the age of the infrastructure.
