Amidst the energy crisis, a new wave of vessels is once again highlighting the opaque management of fuel in Cuba.
The tanker Esperanza, a Cuban-flagged oil vessel, is sailing from Matanzas to Cienfuegos and, according to independent observers, is likely carrying part of the cargo that was recently brought by the tanker Sandino.
The ship Esperanza, built in 2005, has a length of 213 meters, a beam of 32 meters, and a current draft of 9.2 meters.
According to the maritime tracking portal VesselFinder, its last publicly recorded position was in Matanzas on December 30th.
It is currently in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, and its declared destination is the port of Cienfuegos, with an estimated arrival on February 10 at 6:00 AM.
The movement of the Esperanza occurs just a few days after the tanker Sandino arrived at the port of Matanzas coming from Nipe Bay, with an undisclosed oil cargo. Although there is no official confirmation, everything points to the fact that the Esperanza would be transporting part of that cargo to the refinery and the energy system in the central part of the country.
The accustomed silence of the regime
However, as is customary, the Cuban government has not provided any public explanation regarding the true origin of the fuel, its exact type, the distribution plan, or the volumes being transferred between ports.
In a country where millions of people endure blackouts lasting over 15 to 20 hours, face endless lines to obtain gasoline, and experience a virtually paralyzed public transport system, this silence fuels perceptions of improvisation, secrecy, and poor management.
While citizens endure the worst energy crisis in decades, the State continues to operate the fuel system as a military matter: without transparency, without accountability, and without clear information about what enters, what moves, and who is prioritized.
The transfer of the Esperanza from Matanzas to Cienfuegos, likely carrying part of the Sandino's cargo, is another example of how the regime manages a vital resource without explaining anything to the population that directly suffers the consequences.
Why the Esperanza movement matters
The arrival of Sandino in Matanzas generated expectations amidst an energy crisis.
But experts claim that even a shipment close to 400,000 barrels cannot solve the structural problems of the Cuban electrical system.
The country relies almost entirely on imported fuels to sustain its thermal generation, and this dependence is compounded by outdated thermoelectric plants, lack of maintenance, and a grid on the brink of collapse.
The current crisis is not only one of short-term scarcity but also of a lack of stable and predictable supplies. Cuba no longer has allies that can ensure regular shipments, does not have access to international credit, and is operating with minimal reserves.
In that context, each shipment acts as a band-aid, not as a solution.
The situation has worsened this year
During the first weeks of 2026, the situation became even more fragile. Six ships operated by the military conglomerate GAESA concentrated the last available reserves in Matanzas.
It was later revealed that the tanker Mia Grace, which had departed from Togo heading to Cuba, had changed course towards the Dominican Republic, highlighting the regime's difficulties in securing supply agreements.
In that scenario, the arrival of the Sandino and now the Esperanza movement do not represent a recovery of the energy system, but rather a desperate attempt to buy time.
The underlying problem remains unchanged: an economy without foreign currency, without credit, without stable suppliers, and with a crumbling electrical infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the government maintains control of fuel as a state secret, without informing the public about what is being moved, how much is coming in, or how it is distributed.
The result is a crisis that directly impacts the daily lives of millions of Cubans, without a clear, transparent, and sustainable strategy for overcoming it.
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