Power Crisis Deepens in Cuba After Government Admits Fuel Supplies Have Run Dry

Cuba is facing a deepening energy crisis as worsening blackouts and fuel shortages triggered protests in and around Havana, while the government acknowledged that the country’s oil reserves have been exhausted.

Large parts of eastern Cuba were hit by another major electricity shutdown, while residents in several Havana neighborhoods took to the streets to protest the prolonged outages. Demonstrators in San Miguel del Padron, on the outskirts of the capital, reportedly banged pots and pans in frustration over the lack of electricity. Similar scenes were reported in other districts, including Playa, where residents shouted, “Turn on the lights!” as anger over the deteriorating conditions spread.

Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy said on state television that fuel reserves supplied by Russia had already been depleted. “We have absolutely no fuel and absolutely no diesel,” he stated, warning that the national power grid was in a “critical” condition. According to the minister, Cuba is currently relying only on domestic crude oil, natural gas, and renewable energy sources to keep the system functioning.

Officials blamed the worsening shortages on the United States sanctions regime. De la O Levy said the impact of what Havana calls the “blockade” has become severe because fuel shipments are no longer arriving. President Miguel Diaz-Canel described the situation as the result of a “genocidal energy blockade” imposed by Washington, arguing that U.S. pressure and threats of tariffs against countries supplying fuel to Cuba had sharply reduced deliveries.

The crisis intensified after the United States tightened oil restrictions on the island in January. Since then, only one Russian tanker has reportedly reached Cuba, offering temporary relief before supplies again ran dry. Authorities said outages in Havana have stretched beyond 19 hours a day, while some provinces are enduring blackouts lasting almost continuously.

Cuba’s fragile electricity system depends heavily on eight aging thermoelectric plants, several of which have been operating for more than four decades and frequently break down or require maintenance. Since 2024, Cubans have experienced seven nationwide blackouts, while fuel prices have climbed sharply amid broader shortages of food, medicine, and basic supplies.

Data cited by AFP showed that as much as 65 percent of Cuban territory was simultaneously without power on Tuesday. Despite a visible police and security presence in Havana, protests remained relatively limited but reflected growing public frustration after months of deteriorating living conditions.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio renewed an offer of $100 million in humanitarian aid, saying the assistance would be distributed through the Catholic Church rather than the Cuban government. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez responded that Havana was prepared to examine the details of the proposal and how it would work in practice.

The worsening crisis comes as President Donald Trump has publicly suggested that Cuba could eventually become another major focus of U.S. policy, even floating the possibility of American control over the island while his administration continues broader geopolitical confrontations involving Venezuela and Iran.