Havana – Cuba’s government announced a series of austerity measures on Friday, including a four-day work week for state employees and restrictions on fuel sales, in response to a deepening energy crisis. The measures are intended to conserve resources amid escalating tensions with the United States and a critical shortage of supplies.
Vice Premier Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, speaking on state television, stated that the pressures from the U.S. “push us to apply a set of decisions, first to ensure the life of our country, basic services, without giving up development.” He added that fuel would be prioritized for “the protection of essential services for the population and indispensable economic activities.”
The announced measures include reducing the work week in state-owned enterprises to four days, from Monday to Thursday, restricting fuel sales, reducing bus and train services between provinces, and closing some tourist establishments. Educational institutions will also shorten school days and universities will operate on a semi-presential basis. These steps, officials say, are designed to save fuel and prioritize “food production and electricity generation” as well as “safeguarding fundamental activities that generate foreign exchange.”
The crisis comes as Cuba, already grappling with a severe economic downturn for six years and subject to a U.S. Economic embargo since 1962, faces increased pressure from Washington. The situation has been exacerbated by disruptions in oil supplies, particularly from Venezuela.
The U.S. Government recently halted oil shipments from Venezuela following the detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in early January. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a decree authorizing tariffs on countries selling oil to Cuba. Washington has also asserted that Mexico, which had been supplying Cuba with oil since 2023, would cease those deliveries.
U.S. Officials justify their policy by citing a “exceptional threat” posed by Cuba, located just 90 miles from the Florida coast, to U.S. National security.
The escalating crisis has led to widespread hardship for Cubans. Public transportation has been severely disrupted, with buses ceasing operations altogether in some areas, leaving commuters stranded and forced to walk long distances or rely on expensive shared taxis. Restaurants are struggling to operate due to fuel shortages for generators. Hospitals are suspending surgeries due to a lack of essential medicines and fuel for critical equipment. An international congress with 1,500 participants was cancelled as a result of the energy shortfall.
The situation is particularly acute in the eastern region of Cuba, which was heavily impacted by Hurricane Melissa late last year. The U.S. Has announced an additional $6 million in aid for the region, to be distributed through the Catholic Church and Caritas, providing supplies such as rice, beans, pasta, canned tuna, and solar lamps. However, U.S. Officials have expressed concerns about ensuring the aid reaches those in need and is not diverted by the Cuban government.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has accused the U.S. Of imposing an “energy blockade” on the island. He stated on Thursday that the government has developed a plan to address the fuel shortage, but provided few concrete details, relying instead on promises and rhetoric about “creative resistance” and blaming the “imperial government” and “the enemy.” He indicated that a group of ministers and deputy ministers would provide further information “within a week,” but restrictions are already being implemented across various sectors.
The fuel crisis is not a new phenomenon for Cuba, but the current situation appears to be particularly severe. The island has historically been reliant on subsidized oil from Venezuela, but that supply has become increasingly unreliable in recent years. The U.S. Actions, combined with internal economic challenges, have created a perfect storm, pushing Cuba to the brink.
The suspension of surgeries in hospitals highlights the dire consequences of the crisis. A Public Health employee, speaking anonymously, told 14ymedio that the situation is unprecedented and that the government has yet to publicly acknowledge the severity of the fuel shortage. The employee described a sense of uncertainty and frustration within the health sector, with officials awaiting concrete measures from the government.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that Cuba is facing a critical shortage of basic medicines. The combination of fuel shortages and a lack of essential supplies is creating a humanitarian crisis, with potentially devastating consequences for the Cuban people. The long-term implications of the crisis remain uncertain, but Cuba is facing one of its most challenging periods in recent history.
As of , the situation remains fluid, with Cubans bracing for further hardship and uncertainty. The U.S. Government maintains its stance on the need to address what it perceives as threats to national security, while Cuba continues to accuse the U.S. Of deliberately undermining its economy and the well-being of its citizens.
