JAAK NILSON: Fuel shortages force Cubans to find alternative solutions

Cuba travel expert Jaak Nilson describes how fuel shortages are transforming everyday life on the island. The streets of Cuba resemble a rolling museum frozen in the late 1950s, where exhaust fumes are not just felt but often visible. Cubans are increasingly turning to alternative solutions to cope with the ongoing energy crisis.

Cuba's streets are like a rolling museum where time has stood still somewhere around the late 1950s, writes Cuba travel expert Jaak Nilson. The air that residents breathe is often visibly polluted — car exhaust fumes are not merely felt, but sometimes seen with the naked eye, painting a vivid picture of an island grappling with decades-old infrastructure.

The fuel shortage gripping Cuba has become one of the most pressing challenges for ordinary citizens in recent years. With limited access to gasoline and diesel, many Cubans have been forced to rethink their daily mobility and find creative alternatives to keep moving.

From horse-drawn carriages making a comeback in smaller towns to electric bicycles gaining popularity in urban centres, the island's residents are demonstrating remarkable resilience. Public transport has also come under enormous strain, with long queues at bus stops and extended waiting times becoming a familiar sight across the country.

Nilson, who has extensively traveled and studied Cuban society, notes that the fuel crisis is not merely an inconvenience — it is reshaping social patterns and economic activity across the nation. Small businesses that depend on transportation have been hit particularly hard, while the agricultural sector struggles to move goods from farms to markets.

Despite the hardships, Cubans continue to adapt with ingenuity and community spirit. Whether through carpooling arrangements, animal-drawn transport, or solar-powered solutions, the people of Cuba are finding ways to navigate an energy landscape that shows little sign of improvement in the near term.