Cuba has completely run out of diesel and fuel oil, according to the country’s Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O, as severe electricity shortages continue to cripple the island amid an ongoing US fuel blockade.
Speaking on state-run media on Wednesday, Vicente de la O said the national power grid was in a “critical” condition with no fuel reserves remaining.
“We have absolutely no fuel oil and absolutely no diesel. We have no reserves,” he said.
The worsening crisis has triggered some of the longest rolling blackouts seen in decades, particularly in the capital Havana, where certain neighbourhoods are reportedly left without electricity for between 20 and 22 hours daily. The prolonged outages have intensified frustrations among residents already struggling with shortages of food, medicine and transport fuel.
According to the minister, Cuba’s electricity grid is now operating entirely on domestic crude oil, natural gas and renewable energy sources. However, he acknowledged that grid instability has reduced the effectiveness of solar power systems despite the installation of 1,300 megawatts of solar energy capacity over the past two years.
Cuban authorities said they are continuing negotiations to secure imported fuel supplies, although rising global oil and shipping prices linked to the US-Israeli conflict involving Iran have further complicated efforts.
“Cuba is open to anyone that wants to sell us fuel,” Vicente de la O said.
The crisis deepened after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January 2026 threatening tariffs on countries exporting fuel to Cuba. Since then, traditional suppliers such as Mexico and Venezuela have reportedly stopped sending oil shipments to the communist-run island.
Only one Russian oil tanker has reportedly delivered crude oil to Cuba since December, providing temporary relief in April.
The United Nations recently criticised the US fuel blockade, describing it as unlawful and warning that it threatens Cubans’ access to food, healthcare, education, water and sanitation.
