Cuba Exhausts Fuel Supplies as Energy Crisis Hits Critical Threshold

What happened

Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy announced that Cuba's energy system has reached a critical state after completely running out of diesel and fuel oil. In a statement to state media, de la O Levy emphasized that the country has exhausted all fuel types except for limited gas extracted from domestic wells. The shortage has resulted in parts of Havana experiencing blackouts lasting between 20 and 22 hours per day.

What's new in this update

The deepening energy crisis triggered a significant wave of protests across Havana on Wednesday night. Hundreds of residents in neighborhoods such as San Miguel del Padron blocked roads with burning debris and shouted anti-government slogans, marking the largest single night of demonstrations since the crisis began in January. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has attributed the situation to a U.S.-led 'genocidal energy blockade' that targets shipping and fuel suppliers.

Key details

The lack of fuel has forced the closure of schools and government offices, while hospitals have struggled to maintain normal operations. Tourism, a primary economic driver for the island, has also been severely impacted. While Cuba typically relies on Venezuela and Mexico for oil imports, those supplies have been largely cut off following U.S. threats of tariffs against any nation or company that provides fuel to the island.

Background and context

The energy situation in Cuba worsened significantly in early May when Washington implemented a new wave of sanctions against senior Cuban officials for alleged human rights abuses. This followed a history of tightening restrictions under the previous U.S. administration. Tensions have further escalated over a disputed offer of $100 million in U.S. humanitarian aid, which Washington claims Havana rejected and Havana denies ever receiving.

What to watch next

The U.S. State Department maintains its offer of aid, provided it is distributed through the Catholic Church and other independent organizations rather than the central government. Observers are monitoring whether the Cuban regime will accept these terms as public pressure mounts. Meanwhile, the island remains heavily dependent on domestic gas production and the potential arrival of foreign tankers to break the current total blockade of fuel oil.