Cuba is currently grappling with a severe energy crisis, marked by escalating power outages across the island. New data reveals that the nation's imports of crude oil and fuel plummeted by over a third in the first ten months of this year compared to the same period in 2024. This dramatic reduction stems primarily from significant cuts in supplies from its key allies, Mexico and Venezuela, exacerbating the daily struggles faced by its citizens.
A Precarious Energy Reliance
Historically reliant on imported refined products—such as fuel oil and diesel for electricity generation, and jet fuel and gasoline for transport—Cuba's energy security has long been precarious. Years of U.S. sanctions and a profound economic downturn have severely hampered the government's ability to procure sufficient fuel on the international market, pushing it further into dependence on its allies.
Dramatic Drops in Key Supplies
Shipping data and internal documents reviewed by Reuters paint a stark picture. Mexico, which emerged as a crucial supplier of light crude in 2023, drastically reduced its shipments to Cuba. Imports from Mexico fell by a staggering 73%, dropping from approximately 18,800 barrels per day (bpd) in the first ten months of 2024 to just 5,000 bpd during the same period this year.
Venezuela, Cuba's steadfast political ally, also scaled back its oil and fuel deliveries. Imports from Venezuela declined by almost 15% over the identical timeframe, settling at 27,400 bpd. This reduction particularly impacted the supply of fuel oil, vital for power generation. Overall, Cuba's total imports of crude, liquefied petroleum gas, and various motor and residual fuels from all sources tumbled by 35%, from 69,400 bpd last year to approximately 45,400 bpd this year.
Underlying Causes: Output Limits & Sanctions
The reasons behind these cuts are multi-faceted. Both Mexico's state oil company Pemex and Venezuela's PDVSA are contending with their own production limitations and have little surplus capacity to offer. Pemex's overall crude exports have been cut, and its light sweet crude, preferred by Cuban refineries, is increasingly reserved for well-paying international clients. Similarly, shifting U.S. sanctions policies have compelled PDVSA to prioritize supplying its domestic refineries, limiting the types and volumes of products available for export to Cuba, especially the critical residual fuel oil.
Furthermore, Cuba's financial struggles to pay for purchases on the volatile spot market, coupled with a persistent shortage of adequate vessels for transporting oil from its allies, have further compounded the supply bottleneck. Russia, another historical helper during past crises, has maintained its supply at levels similar to last year, sending only a couple of Urals crude cargoes this year.
Havana Hit Hard: The Impact on Daily Life
The consequences for daily life in Cuba are dire. The government attributes the worsening power cuts not only to fuel shortages but also to aging infrastructure and damage from Hurricane Melissa. These outages are now frequently impacting the capital, Havana, the country's economic hub.
On a recent Wednesday, nearly 900 megawatts—almost a third of Cuba's daily electricity demand—was offline due to a lack of fuel and lubricants. In Havana, unplanned blackouts can extend beyond nine hours daily, while residents in outlying provinces often endure a mere two to four hours of electricity each day. This severely hampers productivity, disrupts basic routines, and leaves citizens like 18-year-old university student Daniela Castillo exhausted and struggling to study or even prepare meals. The pervasive power crisis casts a long shadow over the nation's already strained economic and social fabric.