Cuba Reports No Fuel Oil or Diesel Supplies Available

Cuba's Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy stated on May 14 that the country has no fuel oil or diesel remaining. Blackouts in Havana now last between 20 and 22 hours daily, with electricity available for as little as 90 minutes at a time. Power plants are idle and reserves are exhausted.

For decades Cuba received underpriced or free Venezuelan crude oil. That supply ended after the Trump administration removed Nicolas Maduro from power in Venezuela in January 2026 and redirected Venezuelan oil resources. The Trump administration then issued an executive order imposing tariffs on any country supplying oil to Cuba.

Additional sanctions targeting the Cuban regime followed on May 1. Cuba's domestic oil production has remained minimal and could not offset the loss of imported supplies.

Not-so-secret negotiations between Havana and Washington have been underway for weeks. The Cuban government announced that CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Havana this week. Cuba seeks to lift the tariffs and restore oil imports. U.S. seeks economic and political reforms from the Cuban government.

Hospitals are operating on generators, food is spoiling, and water systems are failing as the energy shortage continues.