Cuba has completely run out of diesel and fuel oil, leaving the national energy system in a critical state [1].
The total depletion of these fuels threatens the stability of the island's power grid and has already sparked public unrest. Because the country relies on these fuels for electricity generation and transport, the shortage creates a cascading failure across essential services.
Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy said Wednesday, May 14, 2026 [1], that the country's oil reserves have "run out" [3]. He said the current environment is extremely tense [2].
"Our energy system is in a critical state," Levy said [2].
The shortage has led to severe blackouts, primarily affecting the capital city of Havana [1]. These power failures triggered protests on Wednesday [2], with reports of residents banging pots and burning rubbish piles in the streets [1].
Government officials attribute the crisis to a U.S.-led blockade and sanctions [1]. These measures have reportedly cut off oil supplies and depleted the Russian oil reserves that Cuba had previously received [5].
While the government points to external pressures, the immediate result is a lack of fuel to power generators. This has left the grid unable to meet basic demand, exacerbating the social instability in Havana [1].
“"Our energy system is in a critical state."”
The total exhaustion of fuel reserves highlights Cuba's extreme vulnerability to external supply chains and the effectiveness of U.S. sanctions. By depleting Russian reserves, the blockade has pushed the Cuban energy infrastructure to a breaking point, transforming a resource shortage into a volatile political situation characterized by urban protests.
