On Saturday, Miguel Díaz-Canel revealed that the Russian oil shipment, received at the end of March, is nearly depleted, leaving the Cuban government uncertain about when a new fuel delivery might arrive on the island.
"This oil will be exhausted in a matter of days, and we have no idea when more fuel will reach Cuba," stated Díaz-Canel during a speech to international solidarity delegates gathered in Havana on May 2, following the May Day celebrations.
During his address, Díaz-Canel acknowledged that Cuba had gone four consecutive months without receiving any fuel imports.
He elaborated that the shortage began in December 2025, when Venezuela halted oil shipments due to a naval blockade imposed on them. The situation worsened with Executive Order 14380, signed by Donald Trump on January 29, 2026, which enforced secondary sanctions on any nation or company exporting fuel to Cuba.
"We went four months without receiving fuel until a Russian fuel tanker arrived, which allowed us to temporarily improve the country's energy situation over the past 15 days," Díaz-Canel noted.
The only relief came on March 31 with the arrival of the Russian tanker Anatoli Kolodkin in Matanzas, carrying approximately 730,000 barrels of crude oil donated by Moscow.
Díaz-Canel had previously described this shipment as "symbolic," noting that it covered only about a third of Cuba's monthly needs, providing enough for roughly ten days.
On April 22, Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy had warned that the Russian fuel would only last until the end of the month, a prediction confirmed by power outages on April 30 that exceeded 1,500 MW, pushing the island to the brink of an electrical collapse once more.
The situation is further complicated by Cuba's need for eight fuel ships a month to meet its energy demands — between 90,000 and 110,000 barrels daily — a figure that is far from being met. Domestic production only reaches around 40,000 barrels per day.
A second Russian vessel, the Universal, carrying about 200,000 barrels of diesel, diverted its course towards Trinidad and Tobago last Monday and is currently navigating at a slow pace with an unpredictable route in the Atlantic, with no confirmed final destination.
The diversion of the Universal is partly due to the pressure of the United States' General License 134B, which only permits transactions involving Russian oil loaded by May 16, 2026, further narrowing the window for any new shipments.
The scenario worsened on May 1, when Trump signed a new executive order with expanded sectoral sanctions on energy, defense, mining, and financial services, effective immediately and without a grace period, threatening third-country banks that conduct transactions with Cuba.
"How can a country maintain its economy? How can services be sustained when it is denied access to fuel?" Díaz-Canel questioned before the international delegates, delivering one of the starkest admissions about the depth of the energy crisis afflicting the Cuban people.
Understanding the Cuban Energy Crisis
Why is Cuba facing an oil shortage?
Cuba is experiencing an oil shortage due to a combination of halted shipments from Venezuela and sanctions imposed by the United States on nations or companies exporting fuel to Cuba.
What impact do the U.S. sanctions have on Cuba's fuel supplies?
U.S. sanctions, including Executive Order 14380, impose secondary sanctions on any entity exporting fuel to Cuba, significantly limiting Cuba's ability to receive the necessary fuel imports.
How much oil does Cuba need to meet its energy demands?
Cuba requires approximately 90,000 to 110,000 barrels of oil daily, necessitating the arrival of eight fuel ships each month to satisfy its energy needs.