The energy crisis in Cuba shows no signs of abating. In Havana, residents are seeking alternatives to cope with power outages lasting up to 12 hours a day and the fuel shortage. Some resort to homemade charcoal stoves, others to electric motorcycles, and those who can afford it install solar panels.
On the outskirts, vendors offer charcoal and braziers made from washing machine drums. The price of a bag of charcoal reaches 2,600 pesos ($5.25), about 50% of the average Cuban salary, reflecting the economic impact of the crisis.
An Expanding Market
Traders like Yurisnel Agosto confirm they have never sold so much charcoal. Previously, their customers were restaurants, but now families buy several sacks to cook at home.
The demand for solar panels has also skyrocketed: private installation companies work endless hours to fulfill orders, even in institutions like nursing homes managed by the Catholic Church.
Economic and Political Context
The energy crisis is exacerbated by multiple factors:
- U.S. embargo, in place for over 60 years.
- 5% economic contraction in 2025, according to the Center for Cuban Economic Studies.
- Fall of Nicolás Maduro, which left Cuba without its main oil supplier.
- Reduction of supplies from Venezuela and Mexico, and more severe international pressures.
Cubans recall the “special period” following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, and now face a similar scenario, with a deep deterioration in quality of life.
More Severe Consequences of the Energy Crisis in Cuba
- Blackouts and basic services: failures in thermoelectric plants affect water supply and food preservation.
- Collapse in the health sector: hospitals operate on a limited basis, with risk to emergency equipment.
- Transport and tourism paralyzed: cancellation of fuel sales, hotel closures, and reduction of international flights.
- Social and economic crisis: a historic exodus of 1.5 million inhabitants in five years, equivalent to 13% of the population.
- Educational impact: schools and universities migrate to virtual modalities to reduce electricity consumption.
Responses and Resilience
The population seeks immediate solutions: charcoal for cooking, lithium batteries, electric motorcycles, and solar panels. Private companies and religious organizations have taken a key role in installing solar systems, while the government facilitates imports to alleviate the crisis.
The energy crisis in Cuba reflects a combination of internal and external factors that have paralyzed key sectors and deteriorated daily life. The citizen response shows resilience and creativity, but also highlights the urgency of structural solutions and international cooperation to prevent a major collapse.
