Cuba Unveils Fuel Rationing Plan to Safeguard Essential Services Amid U.S. Pressure

The government of Cuba has announced a comprehensive fuel rationing strategy aimed at protecting critical sectors as it faces mounting pressure from the United States over oil supplies to the island. The measures come after U.S. President Donald Trump warned of potential tariffs on countries exporting fuel to Cuba, signaling tougher economic conditions for a nation already grappling with shortages of food, fuel, and medicine. Cuban officials said the new plan is designed to shield essential public services and stabilize the economy during the supply squeeze.

Commerce Minister Oscar Perez-Oliva said fuel distribution would be prioritized for agriculture, healthcare, water supply, education, and national defense, while also ensuring support for tourism and export-oriented industries such as cigar production, which generate vital foreign exchange. He emphasized that air travel would not be immediately disrupted, but motorists should expect tighter fuel availability at service stations. Authorities also pledged to maintain operations at ports and protect domestic transportation to safeguard imports and exports, underscoring the government’s determination to prevent economic collapse.

The plan includes a major push to expand domestic food production, with an initiative to plant 200,000 hectares of rice to reduce reliance on imports. Officials acknowledged that fuel shortages would require greater dependence on renewable energy for irrigation and increased use of animal labor in farming. In the education sector, infant-care centers and primary schools will continue in-person learning, while secondary and higher education institutions will adopt hybrid systems. Healthcare services, particularly emergency care, maternity wards, and cancer treatment programs, will remain a top priority under the rationing framework.

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