In a rare admission of the dire situation engulfing Cuba, President Miguel Díaz-Canel openly acknowledged on Thursday that the island nation is grappling with an acute fuel shortage. Speaking at an official event in Havana's Vedado neighborhood, Díaz-Canel painted a stark picture of the challenges facing the country, marking one of his most candid public recognitions of the nation's collapse.
The acknowledgment came during a speech commemorating the 65th anniversary of the declaration of the socialist nature of the Cuban Revolution and Militiaman Day, a ceremony filled with slogans that sharply contrasted with the gravity of Díaz-Canel's own admissions.
"Everyday life in Cuba is painful," he stated, highlighting the disruption caused by frequent power outages. "From interrupted sleep due to blackouts to the resumption of electricity after long hours, forcing domestic chores to the early morning, we face the shutdown of industries, transportation, essential services, and production due to a severe shortage of fuel for almost everything."
Instead of taking responsibility, Díaz-Canel blamed the crisis on a "single executive order" labeling Cuba as an "unusual and extraordinary threat," a clear reference to the executive order signed by former President Donald Trump on January 29. This order imposed secondary sanctions on countries and companies exporting fuel to Cuba.
"The main cause of our issues is the genocidal blockade by the United States government against our people," he declared, dismissing the notion of Cuba as a "failed state" and instead describing it as a "besieged state."
The Roots of the Fuel Crisis
The roots of this crisis, which the regime chooses to overlook, lie in the cessation of daily oil shipments from Venezuela, which historically ranged from 25,000 to 30,000 barrels, since November 2025. Additionally, Mexico halted Pemex shipments earlier this year.
According to energy expert Jorge Piñón from the University of Texas, Cuba internally produces only 40,000 of the 110,000 barrels it requires daily. Piñón had previously warned that 2026 would be Cuba's darkest year.
Impact on the Cuban Population
The consequences for the Cuban populace are devastating. In March, the National Electric System (SEN) experienced three total collapses, the longest lasting 29 hours and 29 minutes on the 16th, with power outages exceeding 24 hours affecting more than 60% of the country.
Over 1,700 international flights have been canceled since February, with nine airports reporting fuel shortages, and 96.4% of small and medium-sized enterprises are at risk.
A Nation in Desperation
Cubans endure lines exceeding 15 hours to purchase a mere 20 liters of gasoline, with informal market prices soaring to $10 per liter. A brief reprieve arrived on March 31 when the Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin docked in Matanzas with 730,000 barrels of crude oil, enough for just seven to ten days of consumption.
Rather than offering concrete solutions, Díaz-Canel called for "a national and international solidarity movement" to spread "Cuba's truth," deeming the situation a "genocide due to extreme levels of deprivation" that, according to him, the Cuban people face.
His speech followed a debate on renewable energy with scientists, which he led the previous day. The discussion prompted a torrent of criticism on social media for its disconnect with the reality of the ongoing blackouts.
The Cuban Observatory of Conflicts recorded 953 protests in January alone, a historic record, with March witnessing the largest demonstrations against socialism since July 11th. These protests included banging pots, burning trash, and blocking streets, resulting in at least 20 arrests and one gunshot injury.
"This moment is extremely challenging and calls upon us once again, as on April 16, 1961, to be prepared to face serious threats, including military aggression," Díaz-Canel concluded, invoking revolutionary epic while millions of Cubans remain without light, fuel, or answers.
Understanding Cuba's Fuel Shortage Crisis
What is causing the fuel shortage in Cuba?
The fuel shortage in Cuba is primarily due to the cessation of oil shipments from Venezuela and Mexico, along with international sanctions that restrict fuel imports to the island.
How is the fuel crisis affecting daily life in Cuba?
The crisis has led to frequent power outages, a halt in industrial and transportation services, and long lines for gasoline, significantly impacting the daily lives of Cubans.
What measures are being proposed to address the crisis?
Díaz-Canel has called for a solidarity movement to raise awareness of the situation, but no concrete measures have been proposed to resolve the fuel shortages.