Cuba Faces Worsening Energy Crisis as Fuel Reserves Deplete

Havana. Cuba's severe energy crisis is warned to worsen further. Cuban Minister of Energy and Mines Vicente de la O Levy has given such a warning. He said that the oil received as aid from Russia has run out and the stock of diesel and fuel oil in the country is almost finished.  

Addressing the state television, Minister Levy said, 'The situation is extremely tense, the weather is getting hotter.' It is estimated that the crisis will worsen as the demand for electricity increases with the onset of summer in Cuba.

According to government officials, the oil aid received from Russia at the end of March ran out in early May. Since then, long power outages have been occurring daily across the country. Minister Levy said that the capital Havana is currently experiencing blackouts for 20 to 22 hours daily.

Due to the energy crisis, citizens are facing problems even charging devices like mobile phones and electric scooters. Many people are forced to wash clothes and cook only when electricity comes for a short time in the middle of the night.

Cuba now has to rely on limited domestic crude oil, natural gas, and solar energy. Minister Levy stated that although solar panels provided by China have provided some relief, electricity generation is not stable due to lack of batteries and weather conditions.

It is said that oil supply from Venezuela and Mexico has almost stopped after the administration of US President Donald Trump imposed stricter economic and energy sanctions on Cuba from January. Cuba calls this an 'American oil blockade'. 

Meanwhile, the US State Department announced on Wednesday that it is ready to provide $100 million in aid to Cuba if it implements 'political and economic reforms'. The Cuban government, however, has strongly opposed US pressure and stated that it will resist any interference.