Cuba declares complete exhaustion of diesel and oil reserves due to US blockade
Kyiv • UNN
Cuba has run out of diesel and fuel oil reserves due to the US blockade. Schools are closed due to the energy crisis, and electricity in Havana is cut off for 22 hours a day.
Cuba has completely exhausted its reserves of diesel fuel and fuel oil, stated the country's Minister of Energy, Vicente de la O Levy. This was reported by the BBC, according to UNN.
Details
In an interview with state media, de la O Levy reported that limited gas reserves remain in the country, but Cuba's energy system is in a "critical" state due to the US-led oil supply blockade, which has restricted fuel deliveries.
According to Reuters, isolated protests broke out in the capital, Havana, on Wednesday over power outages.
This week, the US reiterated its offer to provide Cuba with $100 million (£74 million) in aid in exchange for "substantial reforms to Cuba's communist system."
The total amount of all types of fuel — crude oil, fuel oil, which we absolutely do not have; diesel, which we absolutely do not have — I repeat — the only thing we have is gas from our wells, the production of which has increased
According to him, due to the American blockade, some areas of Havana remain without electricity for 20–22 hours a day.
He also admitted that the situation in the country has become "extremely tense."
The publication notes that hospitals cannot operate normally, and schools and government offices have been forced to close. In addition, tourism — one of the key sectors of Cuba's economy — has been affected.
Cuba typically relies on oil supplies from Venezuela and Mexico for its refineries. However, both countries largely halted deliveries after US President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on nations supplying fuel to Cuba.
Last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Havana had rejected the American offer of $100 million (£74 million) in humanitarian aid, but Cuba denied this.
On Wednesday, the US State Department reiterated its offer, stating that humanitarian aid would be distributed in coordination with the Catholic Church and "reliable" humanitarian organizations.
The decision rests with the Cuban regime — to accept our offer of assistance or to refuse critical, life-saving aid and ultimately answer to the Cuban people for obstructing such assistance
The US blockade of Cuba intensified in early May when Washington introduced a new package of sanctions against high-ranking Cuban officials, accusing them of "human rights violations."
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez called the sanctions "illegal and abusive."