Cuba Runs Out of Diesel as Power Grid Nears Collapse

Cuba is facing one of its worst energy crises in decades. Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy has said the country has completely run out of diesel and fuel oil, leaving the electricity grid in a “critical” condition. In Havana, many neighborhoods are now without power for up to 20 or 22 hours a day.

Cuban authorities say the collapse is mainly the result of the US fuel blockade, which the Donald Trump administration tightened at the start of the year. Washington has threatened tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba. Since then, the island has largely lost shipments from Venezuela and Mexico. Only one large Russian oil tanker has arrived in Cuba since December.

The country is trying to keep the system running on domestic crude, natural gas and renewables. Although Cuba has expanded solar power significantly over the past two years, the unstable grid and fuel shortages have limited its impact.

The blackouts are disrupting water supplies, hospital operations and transport. UN human rights experts last week described the US fuel blockade as unlawful and warned that it was undermining Cubans’ rights to food, healthcare and education.

The Cuban government says it is ready to buy fuel from any country willing to sell it.

(reuters, max)