Lights out in Havana: Protests erupt as ‘absolutely no fuel’ left in Cuba
Cuba has completely run out of diesel and fuel oil, energy minister Vicente de la O Levy has said, as a US-led blockade chokes supply and plunges parts of Havana into blackouts lasting up to 22 hours a day.“The sum of the different types of fuel: crude oil, fuel oil, of which we have absolutely none; diesel, of which we have absolutely none — the only thing we have is gas from our wells, where production has grown,” de la O Levy said in an interview with state-run media.He acknowledged the situation in the country has been “extremely tense.”Hospitals have been unable to function normally, while schools and government offices have been forced to close. Tourism, an economic engine for Cuba, has also been impacted.Hundreds of Cubans took to the streets across Havana on Wednesday evening, blocking roads with burning rubbish and shouting anti-government slogans. Residents of the San Miguel del Padron neighbourhood could be heard shouting “turn on the lights!”It marked the biggest single night of demonstrations in the city since Cuba’s energy crisis began in January.
US offers aid, Cuba blames blockade
The US State Department on Wednesday repeated its offer of $100 million in aid to Cuba in exchange for “meaningful reforms to Cuba’s communist system.” The assistance would be distributed in coordination with the Catholic Church and “reliable” humanitarian organisations.“The decision rests with the Cuban regime to accept our offer of assistance or deny critical life-saving aid,” the State Department said.Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel blamed the US for the energy shortages as he acknowledged the “particularly tense” situation across the island.“This dramatic worsening has a single cause: the genocidal energy blockade to which the United States subjects our country, threatening irrational tariffs against any nation that supplies us with fuel,” he wrote on social media.
Russia delivers fuel, but relief short-lived
Cuba normally relies on Venezuela and Mexico to supply oil to its refinery system. However, the two countries have largely cut off supplies since US President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on nations that send fuel to Cuba.A Russian oil tanker, the Anatoly Kolodkin, docked in Cuba in late March, providing temporary relief after months of shortages. But de la O Levy warned the relief would be short-lived, saying the fuel would last only days.
