Cuba Runs Out of Diesel and Fuel Oil as 22-Hour Blackouts Hit Havana
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 14
Cuba Runs Out of Diesel and Fuel Oil as 22-Hour Blackouts Hit Havana
10 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 14
Cuba’s energy minister said the island has no diesel, no fuel oil and no reserves left, leaving the national grid in a “critical” state.
Up to 22 hours of daily blackouts are now hitting parts of Havana as Cuba relies entirely on domestic crude, natural gas and renewables, with grid instability blunting 1,300 megawatts of solar capacity added over two years.
Fuel imports have largely dried up since Trump’s January 2026 order threatened tariffs on countries shipping oil to Cuba; Mexico and Venezuela have stopped supplies, and only one large Russian tanker has arrived since December.
Rising oil and transport costs linked to the US-Israeli war with Iran are further complicating Havana’s search for fuel as the blockade enters its fourth month.
The shortages are deepening a humanitarian crisis across Cuba’s nearly 10 million people, disrupting schools, healthcare and tourism, while the UN last week called the US fuel blockade unlawful.
With vast new solar power, why is Cuba's electric grid still facing total collapse?
As Cuba's crisis deepens, what is the international plan to avert a total societal collapse?
Why did the US permit Russian oil to Cuba while enforcing a crippling 'real blockade' policy?
Blackouts and Blockades: How the 2026 US Oil Embargo Plunged Cuba into Crisis
Overview
In May 2026, Cuba faces its worst energy crisis since the Soviet era, triggered by a US oil blockade that began in January. The US has not only blocked oil shipments but also threatened and intercepted tankers from other countries, leading to widespread blackouts and severe fuel shortages across the island. New US sanctions and threats of tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba have intensified the crisis, crippling essential services and daily life. This combination of external pressure and internal vulnerabilities has left Cuba struggling to secure energy, deepening humanitarian challenges and fueling social unrest.