The state-run oil company CUPET has attributed the ongoing fuel shortages in Cuba to the U.S. embargo, while also condemning those who hold the government accountable. On social media, the company shared a segment of a speech by Dayana Beyra Fernández, a regime deputy and the General Director of the Ñico López Oil Refinery, in which she placed the blame for power outages squarely on the embargo.
"We observe fuel shortages and blackouts, and some skeptics blame these issues on internal management, but the embargo is the real culprit," stated the government official, distancing herself from any governmental mismanagement. She continued, "When discussing our electrical system, the embargo is even more severe: refusal to sell spare parts for our thermoelectric plants, foreign technicians being coerced not to assist in starting technology in our country, financial suffocation, closure of external funding, among other issues."
Following the typical propaganda line of the regime, she urged the U.S. to repeal the embargo laws, questioning, "And if it doesn’t harm us as much as they claim, why don’t they lift it? Let's see if its effects truly have a negative impact or not."
Although the Cuban government holds the U.S. responsible for the island's energy crisis, it continues to receive fuel from allies such as Mexico, which has tripled its crude shipments over the past four months. The persistent power outages, combined with shortages of food and drinking water, sparked protests on Thursday night in Baire, located in the Santiago de Cuba province's Contramaestre municipality, highlighting the widespread dissatisfaction among Cubans.
Understanding Cuba's Fuel Crisis and U.S. Embargo
What reasons does CUPET give for the fuel shortages in Cuba?
CUPET attributes the fuel shortages to the U.S. embargo, citing the refusal to sell spare parts, pressure on foreign technicians, financial restrictions, and closure of external funding as contributing factors.
How does the Cuban government respond to accusations of mismanagement?
The Cuban government deflects these accusations by blaming the U.S. embargo for the country's energy issues, suggesting that the embargo's impact is the primary cause of the crisis.