Cuba’s Energy Minister Announces Country Has Depleted Diesel and Fuel Oil Supplies

Cuba reports that supplies of diesel and fuel oil have been depleted, leading to extended blackouts that have ignited protests throughout Havana.

Cuba has announced that it has entirely exhausted its supply of diesel and fuel oil, exacerbating an already severe energy crisis that has led to widespread blackouts and sporadic protests in the capital, Havana.

Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy stated that the nation’s power system was in a “critical” condition due to a US-led blockade that restricted fuel supplies.

“The total of the various fuel types includes crude oil and fuel oil, both of which we have none of; diesel, which we also have none of—I apologize for the repetition—the sole resource we possess is gas from our wells, where production has increased,” he stated in an interview with state-run media.

The minister stated that certain areas of Havana are experiencing blackout durations of 20 to 22 hours each day. Hospitals, schools, and government offices have been impacted by the extended outages.

Scattered protests erupted across Havana on Wednesday, as residents expressed their frustration and called for the restoration of electricity.

Cuba has historically relied on oil imports from Venezuela and Mexico; however, shipments have significantly declined following US President Donald Trump’s threats of tariffs on nations providing fuel to the island.

This week, the US State Department reiterated its offer of $100 million in humanitarian assistance in return for “meaningful reforms to Cuba’s communist system.” Havana refuted allegations that it turned down the proposal.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez characterized the recent US sanctions aimed at senior Cuban officials as “illegal and abusive.”