Following the United States' seizure of a Venezuelan oil shipment en route to Cuba, two vessels from Mexico are set to arrive on the island, delivering a total of 80,000 barrels of fuel in a bid to ease its severe energy crisis.
Information from the Energy Institute at the University of Texas, shared with the EFE agency, reveals that the ships, Ocean Mariner and Eugenia Gas, both flying the Liberian flag, departed from the Pajaritos complex of Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) in southern Mexico.
The report indicates that the Eugenia Gas is currently navigating around the island's northern coast, heading for the port of Moa in eastern Cuba, while the Ocean Mariner remains at the loading facilities, according to maritime tracking by the American entity.
The 80,000 barrels being transported will only suffice for a single day's energy consumption on the island, which requires approximately 110,000 barrels daily to meet its electricity demands.
Out of this total, merely 40,000 barrels originate from domestic production, based on figures from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI).
Sixty percent of the fuel consumed in the country is imported, with 65 percent allocated to power the thermoelectric plants, many of which are in critical condition or out of service.
Efforts to Mitigate the Fuel Shortage
Authorities have acknowledged the insufficiency of fuel to sustain continuous generation, while the regime attempts to mitigate the crisis through irregular imports from its political allies.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has tripled the oil and derivatives shipments to Cuba over the past six months, according to an investigation by the portal Mexicanos contra la Corrupción y la Impunidad (MCCI).
Between May and August 2025, Pemex dispatched 58 hydrocarbon shipments to the island, valued at a total of $3.002 billion, threefold the amount sent during the final two years of Andrés Manuel López Obrador's administration.
Sheinbaum's government has framed these shipments as "humanitarian aid," but analysts and the Mexican opposition argue they are political subsidies to the Cuban regime, which exchanges oil for medical services and security consultancy.
Last Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump declared a full oil blockade against Venezuela and intercepted a cargo ship headed for Cuba.
Understanding Cuba's Fuel Crisis
Why is Cuba facing an energy crisis?
Cuba is experiencing an energy crisis due to insufficient domestic fuel production and a heavy reliance on imports. The situation is exacerbated by aging infrastructure and geopolitical tensions that restrict access to foreign oil.
What role does Mexico play in Cuba's fuel supply?
Mexico has become a crucial supplier of oil to Cuba, especially under President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has increased shipments significantly. These shipments are part of what Mexico describes as humanitarian aid, although some consider them political support for the Cuban regime.