Cuba’s energy system has entered a “critical” state as the island runs out of oil and diesel amid an ongoing US blockade of fuel shipments, Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy said on state television. The minister warned that reserves had been exhausted and said the blockade was inflicting “significant harm” because new fuel deliveries are not arriving.
“We have absolutely no fuel [oil], and absolutely no diesel,” de la O Levy said, adding that Havana was continuing negotiations to import fuel despite the restrictions. He also noted that rising global oil prices, worsened by the war in Iran, are complicating procurement.
Blockade and disrupted supplies
For roughly four months the US has restricted fuel imports to Cuba as part of a campaign to pressure the Communist-run government. In January 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive order threatening tariffs on countries that supply fuel to Cuba. Since then, Cuba’s main suppliers, Venezuela and Mexico, have not sent fuel. The only delivery reported since December came in April from a single Russian-flagged tanker that carried crude oil to the island.
De la O Levy said Cuba remained open to buyers willing to sell fuel, but that the combination of political restrictions and higher prices has hampered efforts to secure regular shipments.
United Nations response
The United Nations has criticized the blockade, calling it unlawful and saying it obstructs “the Cuban people’s right to development” while undermining rights to food, education, health, water and sanitation. UN officials urged relief measures to limit the humanitarian impact of the restrictions.
Widespread blackouts and public anger
The fuel shortfall has crippled public services and daily life for roughly 10 million people. Rolling blackouts have intensified this week, with many districts in Havana reportedly without power for up to 20 hours a day. Parts of eastern Cuba and several provinces have also experienced outages that can last days.
The shortages have fed public unrest. Reuters, citing witnesses, reported crowds of hundreds protesting in Havana’s outskirts: blocking roads with burning piles of rubbish, banging pots and shouting “Turn on the lights!” Video and eyewitness accounts described people taking to the streets to demand relief as food and medicine shortages compound the crisis.
Political blame and humanitarian offers
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel blamed the situation on what he called a US-imposed “genocidal energy blockade.” In Washington, US officials framed the crisis differently. The State Department offered $100 million in humanitarian aid to the Cuban people, saying it would be distributed in coordination with the Catholic Church and other independent humanitarian organizations. “The decision rests with the Cuban regime to accept our offer of assistance or deny critical, life-saving aid,” a State Department statement said, urging Havana to allow distribution.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American and vocal critic of the Havana government, attributed the island’s problems to systemic corruption and the military’s control of the economy. “It’s a broken, nonfunctional economy,” Rubio told Fox News, saying change would be difficult “as long as these people are in charge in that regime.”
Outlook
Cuba is continuing talks to secure fuel despite the blockade and higher prices, officials said, but the immediate outlook for the power grid remains precarious. With critical services strained and public frustration rising, authorities face pressure to find rapid solutions to prevent further deterioration of living conditions on the island.