Lighting Charcoal with Plastic: A Cuban's Ingenious Solution Amid Power Outages

Alex Daniel, a Cuban resident, recently took to TikTok to share a video showcasing his inventive method for lighting charcoal using plastic. This unorthodox approach stems from the dire shortage of both electricity and fuel in Cuba. In his video, Daniel states, "Today, we faced a total blackout here in Cuba," highlighting the frequent power outages experienced by the populace.

Recorded in Los Arabos, Matanzas, the video features Daniel explaining his reliance on plastic due to a lack of gasoline or other fuels. "This is quite a feat in Cuba... it's more of a survival instinct," he comments, illustrating his method. "Many people resort to this technique to cook their meals," he adds, demonstrating his process.

Daniel also candidly shares the personal toll of this method: "I always end up burning my fingers. It's inevitable—every time I light it, I get burnt," he remarks, describing his experience as a "mini-blog." In the comments, Daniel laments the sad reality of the situation, while others express solidarity and share their own experiences. One user from Los Arabos sends blessings, to which Daniel responds, revealing his connection to the same area.

Recurring Challenges for Cubans

Daniel's story is not an isolated case; it echoes numerous accounts shared on social media. Earlier in April, a young woman named Sheyla demonstrated her own method of lighting charcoal using a petroleum and gasoline mix due to the scarcity of liquefied gas. She noted the high costs of petroleum and gasoline, priced at 350 and 400 pesos per liter, respectively, forcing people to improvise with materials like paper and banana leaves.

Shortly thereafter, another Cuban, Yisell, under the handle @una.cubana.de.el, shared her post-blackout routine. With irony, she described waking up with "raccoon-like eye bags," cooking with charcoal, cleaning soot-covered pots, and caring for her child in challenging conditions. "It's pointless," she remarked, "because tomorrow will be the same or worse," all while showing her blackened utensils.

Official Recognition of Hardships

Even state-run media outlets have acknowledged the prevailing hardships. In February, the official newspaper Girón published a photo report titled "Improvised Fire and a Cold Meal," depicting people cooking with wood and charcoal outdoors without access to electricity or gas. While the piece attempted to highlight Cuban "creativity," the images starkly depicted a harsh reality that has sparked criticism on social media.

The report mentioned families waiting for brief electricity windows to cook or improvising brick stoves. It also highlighted cases like a sick woman forced to use firewood due to the lack of liquefied gas. The increased reliance on charcoal and wood has driven up prices, with a sack of charcoal in provinces like Holguín and Las Tunas exceeding 1,400 pesos, making it unaffordable for many.

An Island in Darkness, Cooking by Improvisation

The experiences of Alex Daniel, Sheyla, Yisell, and countless others reflect a widespread daily struggle across Cuba. The persistent power outages and fuel shortages have turned cooking into an act of survival demanding ingenuity, sacrifice, and resilience. While plastic, wood, and other substitutes replace gas and electricity, they pose health, safety, and environmental risks. In the meantime, most Cubans continue to adapt to a collapsed energy system as best they can.