Q24N — Cuba is experiencing the worst economic and energy crisis in decades, and in light of the worsening fuel shortages, the regime has announced the implementation of what is called “Option Zero,” a plan conceived in the 1990s as a contingency measure in the event of a complete collapse of oil supply.
According to a report by RTVE, the current situation has escalated following the executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump on January 29, which imposes tariffs on countries that sell fuel to the island and designated Cuba as a security threat.
The capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro in early January also halted crude oil shipments from Venezuela, leaving the country virtually paralyzed.
The “Zero Option” was designed during the Special Period by Fidel Castro as a response to a hypothetical scenario without oil.
It involves extreme rationing, local food self-sufficiency, and the use of alternative resources such as animal traction for transportation and coal or biomass for cooking.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel recently announced that the country is entering this phase, ensuring that seven pounds of rice will be guaranteed monthly per person and that priority will be given to the consumption of what is produced in each territory.
However, testimonies collected by RTVE reflect that in several provinces, basic products do not arrive regularly and that the rationing booklet barely covers a minimal part of the needs.
The impact of the crisis is evident in the prolonged blackouts, which have left more than 60% of the country without electricity during peak demand hours, as well as in the suspension of public transportation, university classes, and non-essential surgeries.
The lack of fuel has even forced hotels to close during peak season and has caused airlines to suspend flights due to a shortage of kerosene.
The shortage has also impacted the healthcare system, where, according to testimonies cited by the Spanish media, there is a lack of medications, ambulances, and medical personnel.
This is compounded by accelerated inflation, which has driven the Cuban peso to historic lows in the informal market.
In this context, the regime presents the “Zero Option” as a strategy of resistance against external pressure and as a means to maintain national sovereignty.
However, for many citizens consulted by RTVE, the plan evokes the toughest years of the Special Period and raises uncertainty about the government’s actual ability to sustain the country under conditions of extreme rationing.
While the government focuses on resilience and internal reorganization, the population is facing power outages lasting more than 15 hours, long lines to acquire fuel in dollars, and a worsening quality of life, in a crisis that combines shortages, inflation, and a decline in tourism, one of the island’s main economic drivers.
Translated and adapted from the article “¿Qué es la “Opción Cero” y por qué el régimen cubano la presenta como su tabla de salvación?” Published on CiberCuba.