Absolutely no fuel': Cuba hit by blackouts, protests amid power outages

"We have absolutely no fuel, oil, and absolutely no diesel, Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy said during a late Wednesday news conference. The only thing we have is gas from our own wells, whose production has increased, and domestic crude oil, whose production is also rising, he said, adding that Cuba was struggling to secure fuel imports. The situation is very tense. The impact of the blockade is causing us significant harm, and we are still not receiving fuel, he added."

"Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel blamed the worsening crisis on US sanctions. The situation of the National Electric System has become particularly tense in recent days, Diaz-Canel said in a statement on Wednesday, saying that the country was expected to face a deficit of more than 2,000 megawatts during the evening's peak demand hours. Diaz-Canel also said about 1,100 megawatts of power generation had already been lost on Wednesday due to fuel shortages, which he described as the result of a genocidal energy blockade imposed by the US and threats of tariffs against countries supplying fuel to Cuba."

"Large parts of eastern Cuba were plunged into darkness on Thursday in the latest round of nationwide electricity shutdowns, while demonstrations over the blackouts broke out in western areas near Havana. Cuba has been hit by worsening power outages after the island's communist government said fuel reserves had run out, as rare protests erupted in neighbourhoods around the capital, Havana."

Large parts of eastern Cuba experienced nationwide electricity shutdowns, with additional demonstrations occurring in western areas near Havana. The government said fuel reserves had run out, leaving only gas from domestic wells and rising domestic crude oil production. Cuba reported difficulty securing fuel imports, and the power system has become increasingly fragile. The president warned of a deficit of more than 2,000 megawatts during evening peak demand and said about 1,100 megawatts of generation were already lost due to fuel shortages. The crisis was attributed to US sanctions, including a “genocidal energy blockade” and threats of tariffs affecting countries that supply fuel to Cuba. Residents protested blackouts by banging pots and pans.

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