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Cuba has completely exhausted its reserves of diesel and fuel oil, Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy said this week, plunging the island into its worst power outages in decades and sparking rare public protests in the capital, Havana.

In an interview with state-run media, de la O Levy described the national grid's condition as "critical," stating, "We have absolutely no fuel (oil), and absolutely no diesel... We have no reserves." He said the only fuel available is limited natural gas from domestic wells, according to multiple outlets including BBC News and The Hindu.

The minister's remarks came as blackouts intensified across Cuba, with many Havana neighborhoods experiencing 20 to 22 hours of electricity cuts daily, as reported by Deutsche Welle and TASS.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting on the crisis has been consistent across international outlets, though with varying degrees of emphasis. Al Jazeera's coverage framed the situation as a direct consequence of US pressure, noting that Washington's goal is to force the socialist government to open up the economy and implement political reforms.

BBC News and Deutsche Welle provided more detailed accounts, including direct quotes from the minister and reports of protests. Both outlets mentioned the US offer of $100 million in humanitarian aid, a detail also carried by The Hindu. TASS, the Russian state agency, highlighted the role of Russian oil shipments as Cuba's only fuel supply since December 2025.

France 24 and The Hindu both reported on the protests, with France 24 noting they occurred on the outskirts of Havana. All seven sources reviewed attributed the fuel shortage primarily to the US blockade, though the tone ranged from neutral to critical of US policy.

Key Claims

  • Fuel exhaustion: Multiple outlets, including BBC News, Deutsche Welle, and TASS, reported de la O Levy's statement that Cuba has completely run out of diesel and fuel oil.
  • Critical grid state: The minister described the energy system as "critical" and "acute," a characterization carried by all major sources.
  • US blockade impact: All sources attributed the shortage to a US blockade of fuel shipments, with Deutsche Welle specifying that the blockade has been in place for four months. TASS and The Hindu used language such as "strangled" and "negative impact" to describe the blockade's effect.
  • Protests: Scattered protests against power cuts broke out in Havana on Wednesday, according to Reuters reporting cited by BBC News and France 24.
  • US aid offer: The US has offered $100 million in humanitarian aid, with conditions attached, as reported by BBC News and Deutsche Welle. Cuba has denied rejecting the offer, according to BBC News.
  • Supplier cutoffs: Venezuela and Mexico, Cuba's traditional fuel suppliers, have not shipped fuel since January 2026, per Deutsche Welle and The Hindu. Only a single Russian-flagged tanker has delivered crude oil since December 2025.
  • Solar capacity: The Hindu reported that Cuba has installed 1,300 megawatts of solar power over the past two years, but grid instability has limited its effectiveness.
  • UN condemnation: The Hindu and Deutsche Welle reported that the United Nations last week called the US fuel blockade unlawful, saying it obstructs Cubans' rights to food, education, health, and water.

Perspectives

The crisis has drawn reactions from multiple stakeholders. The Cuban government, through its energy minister, has repeatedly blamed the US blockade for the fuel shortage and its consequences. The minister stated, "The impact of the blockade is indeed causing us significant harm... because we are still not receiving fuel," as quoted by France 24 and BBC News.

US officials, meanwhile, have positioned themselves as offering humanitarian assistance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Havana rejected an aid offer, a claim Cuba denied, according to BBC News. The US State Department repeated the offer on Wednesday, saying assistance would be distributed with the Catholic Church and "reliable" humanitarian organizations.

International observers, including the United Nations, have weighed in, with the UN calling the blockade unlawful. Russian state media emphasized Moscow's role as a supplier, reporting that 100,000 tons of Russian oil was the only fuel delivery since December 2025.

As the situation evolves, Cuba's neighbors and global powers will likely remain closely watchful, with the crisis highlighting the intersection of geopolitical tensions and humanitarian needs on the island of nearly 10 million people.