Cuba's Energy Minister revealed that the country has no diesel or fuel oil left after the United States blocked energy shipments.
On 14 May 2026, Mr. Vicente de la O Leavy, Cuba's Minister of Energy, stated that his country is in a complete shortage of diesel and fuel oil. Additionally, only a limited amount of gas remains, and the energy system is in a "crisis" due to the U.S. blockade on energy deliveries to Cuba.
"If we combine all types of fuel—including crude oil and fuel oil, of which we have none left at all, and diesel, which we also lack—I want to emphasize once again that the only thing we currently have is gas from our own drilling wells, and its production is increasing," said Mr. de la O Leavy.
He added that under the U.S. blockade, some areas of Havana have suffered power outages lasting 20 to 22 hours. He acknowledged that the domestic situation is "extremely tense."
Normally, Cuba depends on oil shipments from Venezuela and Mexico to supply its refineries. However, both countries have almost entirely stopped shipments after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on any country sending fuel to Cuba.
Last week, the U.S. reiterated its offer to provide $100 million in aid to Cuba in exchange for the country undertaking "significant communist system reforms."
Reuters reported that on Wednesday, protests broke out in multiple locations around Havana against ongoing power outages, which have disrupted hospital operations. Schools and government offices were forced to close, and the tourism sector, a key part of Cuba's economy, was also affected.
Hundreds of Cubans took to the streets citywide, blocking roads by burning trash and chanting anti-government slogans. Reuters described this as the largest protest night since Cuba's energy crisis began in January.
On Wednesday, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel posted on social media blaming the United States for the energy shortages and admitted that the situation across the island is "particularly tense."
"This sudden worsening has only one cause: the harsh energy blockade imposed by the U.S. on our country, threatening to impose unreasonable tariffs on any nation that supplies fuel to us," he stated.
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Source:bbc