The Cuba-Petroleum Union (Cupet) announced on Tuesday that the welding and painting work on one of the tanks at the Matanzas supertanker base is progressing well, with completion anticipated by May 2026. This will enhance the storage capacity for crude oil used in electricity generation.
This tank recovery is part of a broader initiative involving the construction of four new tanks in the Matanzas industrial area, along with 14 additional structures, including roads, perimeter fences, and interconnections, all featuring enhanced safety measures.
The tanks under construction, labeled as 49-1, 86, 87, and 88, are designed to hold hundreds of thousands of cubic meters, with the project advancing through a collaboration between Cuba and China. Chinese experts are participating at the request of Cuban authorities.
The initiative aims to restore storage capacity lost following the catastrophic fire on August 5, 2022, which was the most severe industrial disaster in Cuba's history. The blaze destroyed four of the facility's eight tanks, resulting in a loss of 200,000 cubic meters of storage capacity.
The disaster, triggered by a lightning strike during a storm, claimed at least 16 lives, injured 132, and forced the evacuation of over 4,000 residents in the vicinity.
Reconstruction incorporates advanced safety features absent before the disaster, such as increased spacing between structures, modern lightning protection systems, geodesic domes, floating membranes, and retention basins to manage potential incidents.
In September 2025, Chinese workers completed the dome installation for tank 49-1, the first of the four new tanks. Meanwhile, tank 88, managed by Cuban crews, reached 60% completion by July 2025.
The crude oil stored at this base primarily supplies the nation's thermoelectric plants, making its recovery essential amid a severe energy crisis.
This crisis intensified on January 29, 2026, when the United States tightened sanctions against shipping companies, oil producers, and third countries to block fuel supplies to Cuba, reducing refined oil distribution to just 800 tons per day, half the usual consumption.
During a televised appearance on April 22, Energy and Mining Minister Vicente de la O Levy described the energy embargo's impact on national life and the electrical system as "brutal."
Three years after the supertanker base fire, reconstruction progresses with Chinese support as Cuba distributes only half the fuel it requires. The completion of the first tank in May would mark a significant step toward restoring the energy capacity the country has lacked for nearly four years.
Rebuilding Matanzas Supertanker Base: Key Questions Answered
What is the expected completion date for the tank repair at Matanzas?
The tank repair at the Matanzas supertanker base is expected to be completed by May 2026.
How did the fire at Matanzas supertanker base start?
The fire at the Matanzas supertanker base began due to a lightning strike on one of the tanks during a storm on August 5, 2022.
What measures are being taken to improve safety at the rebuilt facility?
Reconstruction includes advanced safety measures such as increased spacing between structures, modern lightning protection systems, geodesic domes, floating membranes, and retention basins.