Micah Jonah
February 8, 2026
Cuba has announced wide ranging fuel rationing measures aimed at protecting essential services as the United States steps up efforts to restrict oil supplies to the Caribbean nation, deepening pressure on an economy already strained by shortages of food, fuel and medicine.
Government officials said the new measures are designed to guarantee fuel availability for priority sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, education, water supply and national defence, even as overall supply tightens. The announcement follows recent warnings by US authorities that countries exporting fuel to Cuba could face trade penalties, a move expected to worsen conditions on the island.
Commerce Minister, Oscar Perez Oliva said the government was determined to withstand the pressure, describing the situation as both a challenge and an opportunity. He stressed that Cuba would not collapse and would continue to function by carefully allocating scarce resources to sectors critical to national survival.
Fuel supplies will also be maintained for tourism and export oriented industries, including the production of cigars, which remain a key source of foreign exchange. Officials said protecting these income generating sectors was necessary to sustain funding for social services and other basic government programmes.
Domestic and international air travel will not be immediately affected by the rationing, though motorists are expected to face reduced fuel availability at service stations until supplies stabilise. Authorities said ports and domestic transport systems would be prioritised to ensure imports and exports continue to flow.
As part of efforts to reduce dependence on fuel, the government also announced plans to expand rice cultivation, targeting the planting of about 200,000 hectares to meet a significant portion of domestic demand. Officials acknowledged that fuel shortages would require increased reliance on renewable energy for irrigation and traditional methods such as animal power for land preparation.
In the education sector, authorities said infant care centres and primary schools would remain open for in-person learning, while secondary and tertiary institutions would adopt more flexible hybrid arrangements depending on local conditions. Health services will also be prioritised, with particular attention given to emergency care, maternity services and cancer treatment programmes.
The measures underline the government’s resolve to shield core public services from the impact of tightening US sanctions, even as Cubans brace for further economic hardship in the weeks ahead.
