Cuba’s fuel drought sparks deepening blackouts amid US blockade
Cuba says it has run out of diesel and fuel oil, pushing the national grid into a critical state and triggering severe blackouts in Havana as the US blockade hinders fuel imports. The energy minister says the country has no reserves and must rely on domestic crude, natural gas and renewables, with solar capacity limited by grid instability. Cuba is seeking fuel from abroad despite global price pressures; Mexico and Venezuela have not supplied fuel since early 2026, and only one large tanker, the Anatoly Kolodkin, has delivered crude since December. The UN has condemned the blockade as unlawful, citing harm to Cubans’ access to development, health, and basic services.