The United States has taken action against the Cuban energy sector by adding COREYDAN S.A. and ENETEC S.A. to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List. This move, executed by the U.S. Department of State and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the Treasury Department, targets two state-owned companies that, despite flying under the radar, play a significant role in the Cuban regime's fuel trade.
Both companies were sanctioned under section 2(a)(i)(A) of Executive Order 14404 for their involvement in Cuba's energy industry, according to the State Department. This announcement coincided with the fifth anniversary of the July 11, 2021 protests, a pivotal moment that reshaped U.S. policy toward Havana.
Low-Profile Yet Influential: COREYDAN and ENETEC
What sets COREYDAN and ENETEC apart from other sanctioned state enterprises is their low public profile. Established between late 2019 and early 2020, these firms have operated with minimal public exposure despite their strategic importance in ensuring fuel supplies to the island.
COREYDAN S.A., founded on February 19, 2020, is located at Amistad 552 in Centro Habana, sharing a building with Unión Cuba-Petróleo (CUPET), the state entity overseeing Cuba's oil industry. Investigative reports in 2025 revealed that even residents of the building were unaware of COREYDAN's existence until journalists confirmed its address.
Behind this facade of anonymity, COREYDAN has been pivotal in facilitating one of the largest fuel shipments to Cuba in recent years. An investigation by Mexicanos Contra la Corrupción y la Impunidad (MCCI) identified the company as the importer for most of the 58 hydrocarbon shipments sent by Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) through its subsidiary, Gasolinas del Bienestar, between May and August 2025. These operations exceeded a value of $3 billion.
ENETEC's Role in Cuba's Fuel Trade
Founded on December 9, 2019, ENETEC S.A. engages in wholesale trade of fuels and lubricants. The State Department described it as a state-run enterprise responsible for importing and exporting these products. It appears both ENETEC and COREYDAN were established as specialized structures to manage the regime's energy operations with minimal public visibility.
This round of designations is part of Washington's broader strategy to intensify pressure on the economic apparatus sustaining the Cuban regime. Since President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14404 on May 1, 2026, the U.S. has sanctioned entities like GAESA (May 7), CUPET (June 11), and five others linked to the military conglomerate, including RAFIN S.A. and Almacenes Universales (June 23).
The new sanctions also include the Rapid Response Brigades, Territorial Troops Militia, Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution (ACRC), Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR), ANTEX S.A., GECOMEX, CAUDAL, and GEMAR, as confirmed by OFAC.
As a consequence of these measures, all assets and interests of the sanctioned entities within the U.S. or under the control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, foreign individuals and companies conducting certain transactions with these entities could face secondary sanctions.
With this latest offensive, the Trump administration has implemented over 240 restrictive measures against the Cuban regime since January 2026, marking the most extensive economic pressure campaign by Washington in decades.
Announcing the new sanctions, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated the U.S. administration's policy towards Havana: "The United States will continue to use all tools at our disposal to address the national security threats posed by the Cuban communist regime and to promote the economic and political reforms that will lead to a better future for Cuba."
Understanding the Impact of U.S. Sanctions on Cuban Energy Firms
What are COREYDAN S.A. and ENETEC S.A.?
COREYDAN S.A. and ENETEC S.A. are state-owned enterprises in Cuba, involved in the strategic trade of fuels and lubricants, operating with minimal public exposure.
Why were COREYDAN S.A. and ENETEC S.A. sanctioned by the U.S.?
They were sanctioned under Executive Order 14404 for their involvement in Cuba's energy sector, as part of the U.S. strategy to pressure the Cuban regime economically.
What is the significance of the U.S. sanctions on Cuban energy firms?
The sanctions block all assets of these firms under U.S. jurisdiction and aim to cut off key economic resources to the Cuban regime, increasing economic pressure to spur political and economic reforms.