Cuba has run out of oil: energy report

Cuba is facing one of the worst energy crises in its modern history as widespread blackouts and fuel shortages continue to devastate daily life across the island. On May 14, Cuban officials admitted that the country has effectively run out of both its diesel and fuel oil reserves, leaving Cuba's national electrical grid on the brink of collapse. Residents in Havana and several provincial cities have experienced outages lasting more than 20 hours per day. The crisis has caused significant disruption to transportation, healthcare and food distribution systems. Cuban officials have blamed the crisis on American sanctions and reduced foreign oil shipments, specifically from Venezuela and Mexico.

Triggering protests

The continuous blackouts have triggered protests across the country, with many Cubans expressing anger over their deteriorating living conditions. Videos posted online showed residents banging pots and pans from balconies while chanting anti-government slogans during nighttime outages. Demonstrations were reported in Havana, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba, and other cities. The protests have resulted in increased police presence across major cities. The government has attempted to calm public frustration by promising emergency repairs and fuel conservation measures. However, many residents remain skeptical after years of economic decline and repeated infrastructure failures that have already pushed Cuba into a prolonged humanitarian and financial crisis.

American sanctions at fault according to Cuba

The Cuban government maintains that American sanctions are the primary cause of the collapse, accusing the United States of waging what officials called an “economic war” against the island. Earlier this year, Donald Trump imposed new restrictions targeting countries and companies supplying fuel to Cuba. Those measures reportedly discouraged major exporters such as Venezuela and Mexico from continuing shipments. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel argued that Washington's policies are deliberately designed to destabilize the country and increase political unrest. Government officials stressed that Cuba's power plants cannot operate without imported fuel, especially because domestic oil production only covers a fraction of national demand. Donald Trump enacted similar measures before his coup in Venezuela in January.

Aging energy infrastructure is playing a factor

Cuba's aging energy infrastructure has also played a major role in the current crisis, with its decades-old power plants struggling to remain operational, even with fuel. Much of the country's electrical system was constructed during the Soviet era and has suffered from chronic underinvestment and poor maintenance. Engineers have repeatedly warned about the risk of catastrophic failures within the grid. Several thermal power plants have broken down in recent months, causing rolling blackouts across the country even before fuel reserves were depleted. Experts say the country lacks the financial resources necessary to modernize the system. Cuba's weak economy and limited foreign investment opportunities have made major infrastructure projects extremely difficult to complete.

Economic impacts

The economic consequences of the crisis are becoming increasingly severe, with small businesses and the tourism sector taking the biggest hits. Hotels and restaurants have been forced to rely on generators and solar panels in order to continue operating during lengthy outages, and some privately owned businesses have reduced their hours or been forced to temporarily close because of electricity shortages. Food security has also become a major issue, especially for families without refrigeration. The lack of refrigeration is also putting people's health at risk, as many medications require refrigeration. Public transportation systems have also been heavily disrupted by fuel shortages, leading to long delays and overcrowding. The government has urged citizens to conserve electricity wherever possible, though many Cubans argue they already consume very little energy.

Alongside public transportation, other national services have begun struggling. Dozens of schools and universities across Cuba have been forced to suspend classes, and the healthcare industry is almost completely reliant on generators. Water distribution systems have also been affected because many apartment buildings depend on electric pumps to provide running water. The Cuban government has also warned that energy demand in those sectors is expected to increase over the summer.

Despite the growing unrest, Cuban officials insist that the country will eventually stabilize its energy system through new international partnerships and renewable energy investments. The government has explored agreements with Russia and China in hopes of securing emergency fuel shipments and expanding solar infrastructure projects. However, analysts warn that these initiatives could take years to produce meaningful results. For many ordinary Cubans, the immediate concern is simply surviving the daily blackouts and shortages affecting nearly every aspect of life. The current crisis has become one of the clearest signs of Cuba's worsening economic decline, with many residents fearing that conditions may continue deteriorating throughout the remainder of 2026.