Fuel Shortages Plague Cuba Amid Ongoing Energy Crisis

Cuba, still grappling with prolonged power outages in recent months, now faces a new crisis: a severe fuel shortage. Across the island, gas stations have been forced to close their doors as the country is left with scant supplies of gasoline and diesel. In Havana, motorists are stranded as they wait for fuel deliveries, leading to long lines at the few functioning stations.

"We've been waiting for a fuel truck for three days," said Armando Corrales, who sat in his gray Kia SUV at a gas station in the Cuban capital. "People have been sleeping here just to hold their spot in line."

This latest crisis follows a series of nationwide blackouts, with three separate outages in just two months leaving millions without power for days. The government was forced to temporarily close schools and non-essential industries to cope with the power loss. Yet, the fuel shortage has only added to the strain on daily life.

Cuban authorities have yet to offer a clear explanation for the current shortfall. A government app tracking fuel deliveries shows that only a minimal amount of fuel has been available in Havana since Wednesday.

The government has often pointed to the long-standing U.S. trade embargo, which complicates Cuba's financial transactions and hinders its ability to purchase fuel on the international market. This issue has been exacerbated by a reduction in fuel shipments from Cuba’s traditional allies.

Venezuela, once a major supplier, has slashed its deliveries to Cuba by 44% this year, according to tanker monitoring data and documents from Venezuela’s state-owned PDVSA. While Mexico has stepped in to fill some of the gap, it primarily supplies crude oil, which Cuba’s outdated refineries must process into gasoline and diesel for transportation and power generation.

In response to the shortage, Cuba began selling fuel in U.S. dollars at non-subsidized prices, aligning with regional market rates. The government justified this move as a way to generate much-needed foreign currency to maintain a steady fuel supply. However, even these higher-priced “dollar gas stations” are struggling to meet demand.

"The lines are now miles long, even for those trying to buy fuel in dollars," said Jorge Figueredo, who waited in the Havana suburb of Miramar.

As fuel continues to dwindle, Cubans are left to cope with mounting frustrations and uncertainty, with no clear end to the crisis in sight.