Cuba Runs Out of Oil as Sanctions and Venezuela Cut Deepen 83% Energy Dependence
Updated
Updated · The Conversation · May 22
Cuba Runs Out of Oil as Sanctions and Venezuela Cut Deepen 83% Energy Dependence
6 articles · Updated · The Conversation · May 22
Cuba’s energy minister said on May 14 the island has run out of oil, pushing an already worsening blackout crisis to a new low.
January 2026 U.S. sanctions tightened pressure just as Venezuelan supply collapsed after U.S. forces captured President Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3, cutting off Cuba’s main external oil source.
Up to $100 million in U.S. humanitarian aid was offered on May 13, but only if Cuba reforms its communist government; at current prices, that would buy roughly 20 days of oil, about 5% of annual imports.
Oil still accounts for 83% of Cuba’s energy production, while solar provides just 0.84%, leaving no near-term substitute for the electrical grid.
The crisis echoes Cuba’s post-Soviet energy shock, underscoring that any long-term fix is likely to keep the island dependent on foreign partners.
As Cuba's hospitals go dark, can the nation survive U.S. sanctions without accepting a politically-conditional aid offer?
Can Chinese solar projects save Cuba, or will new U.S. secondary sanctions ensure the island's complete economic collapse?
Cuba’s 2026 Power Crisis: U.S. Sanctions, Humanitarian Emergency, and Geopolitical Standoff
Overview
In mid-2026, Cuba is facing a severe energy emergency marked by widespread and prolonged power cuts that disrupt daily life and cripple essential public services for nearly 10 million people. This crisis is mainly driven by a US-imposed blockade on fuel imports, which intensified after the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the complete cutoff of Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba. The blockade has sparked public frustration and visible protests in Havana, such as burning rubbish bins, as people struggle with the growing impact of the energy shortage on their lives and the country’s stability.