The Cuban regime admitted this Thursday that it is facing issues with oil supplies from Venezuela and that, although it has just found "a formula" for Maduro to start sending fuel to Cuba again, import levels will not return to previous figures. This was explained by Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy in the podcast 'Desde la Presidencia,' recorded alongside President Miguel Díaz-Canel and the general director of the Electric Union of Cuba, Alfredo López Valdés.

According to De la O Levy, Venezuela is one of the main suppliers of oil to Cuba, but this country halted its fuel shipments to the Island supposedly due to having been "attacked," "boycotted," and facing "internal issues," the minister pointed out in reference to the protests that occurred before, during, and after Maduro proclaimed himself president without showing the electoral documents that, once leaked, indicated victory for the opposition candidate Edmundo González, recognized as the elected president of Venezuela by 15 countries and several international organizations. This situation led to sanctions from the United States against high-ranking Venezuelan officials, and additionally, Trump announced a 25% tariff on countries that purchase oil and gas from Venezuela.

Although the Minister of Energy did not specify the status of oil shipments from Venezuela, he did clarify that they have collectively found "a formula that does not reach the delivery levels" they had "previously due to the decline that they themselves have maintained," but this will be evident in "the investment process." At Díaz-Canel's suggestion, he did not provide details on what this new method of fuel export to the Island entails to avoid further sanctions that could jeopardize the operation.

It is important to remember that the Reuters agency reported in March of this year, based on its own monitoring, that shipments of crude oil and fuel from Venezuela to Cuba saw a significant increase in February 2025. In fact, Cuba received about 42,000 bpd of crude oil and fuel from the South American nation, further solidifying the energy support from its political ally.

In November 2024, Venezuela raised its oil exports to the Island, reaching 38,000 barrels per day (bpd), a significant increase compared to the 28,000 bpd sent a month earlier. According to vessel tracking data reported by the Reuters agency, this increase was understood at the time as an attempt to strengthen the energy alliance between both countries.

12 million tons of oil

De la O Levy pointed out in Díaz-Canel's podcast that in years of prosperity, Cuba imported up to 12 million tons of fuel, although the standard is an average of 8 million tons, of which 5 million are imports and the remaining 3 million come from domestic production. It is precisely these last 3 million tons that are lacking, and as of today, the country is consuming "imported crude."

Díaz-Canel himself has blamed the current energy situation on what he calls a "financial and energy persecution." This justifies why a liquefied gas ship was docked in the port of Santiago de Cuba from February to May, unable to unload because payment could not be made. The minister states that when the money was available, "dozens of days" passed before payment was finally made.

Now, the idea is to convince Cubans that the regime is "working" to "improve the current situation" of constant blackouts. However, the strategy of the Cuban communists has outlined two scenarios: one with fuel (which includes what is on its way from Venezuela) and another without fuel. The mere fact that they are considering that second option casts doubt on Maduro's shipment.

However, it is important to remember that the recent decision by the United States government to suspend the license allowing the oil company Chevron to operate in Venezuela represents an economic setback for Nicolás Maduro's regime, but experts had already warned that this measure could bring indirect benefits to Cuba.

Behind the long blackouts currently experienced by the Cuban population are several reasons, according to the explanation provided by the Minister of Energy. One of them is that in the first five months of this year, Cuba has spent 2.5 months receiving "zero diesel" and zero liquefied gas, and 1.4 months without fuel. Without gas, users who cannot afford 10,000 pesos for a small gas cylinder are cooking with electricity, which, according to the regime, is the reason that electricity demand has skyrocketed in a country that has lost 2 million inhabitants.

They also acknowledge that other factors have influenced the situation, such as the 14 state entities that are not meeting their consumption plans, and especially the province of Havana, which is exceeding its limits. In this case, they attribute the high consumption to the non-state sector in the capital because the other provinces are "making adjustments."