The Council of Ministers of Cuba approved the , a norm that establishes the detailed legal framework for all oil activities on the island, from exploration to the marketing of crude oil, gas, and their derivatives.
Signed by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz on September 29, 2026, the decree was published this Monday in the , where it spans pages 21 to 67.
The regulation complements Decree-Law 135 "On Oil and Gas," approved by the Council of State on September 3, 2026, which established the foundations of the sector's legal framework. According to the text itself, the decree "aims to establish regulations on oil and gas that complement the provisions of Decree-Law 135."
Its scope is broad: it encompasses the exploration, extraction, refining, transportation, storage, and marketing of oil, gas, and derivative products, both in terrestrial areas and on the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone of Cuba.
The decree applies to "natural and legal persons, whether national or foreign, who engage in oil activities under the provisions of the Decree-Law," which includes both state entities and potential foreign investors.
Among the most relevant aspects of the regulation are the following:
- Central Mining and Oil Registry of Permits and Licenses: establishes the registration procedures, with deadlines of 30 business days to resolve applications and seven days to verify requirements. The National Office of Mineral Resources serves as the governing body of this registry and compliance controls.
- Production Sharing Contracts and Oil Concessions: regulates their granting, procedures, and tax treatment, key aspects for attracting foreign investment to the sector.
- Evaluation and accreditation of entities: defines the requirements that companies interested in operating in exploration and exploitation must meet.
- Ventilation and gas flaring: incorporates specific regulations regarding these practices, as well as the temporary or permanent closure of wells and fields.
- Insurance, international relations, and violations: it also covers the insurance regime for oil activities, connections with international organizations and associations, and the applicable sanctions.
The implementation of the decree will be supplemented by manuals and regulations from the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the National Office of Mineral Resources, and the National Office of Standardization, as well as recognized international standards for the industry.
The regulation also repeals previous provisions from the Minister of Energy and Mines and the head of the National Office of Mineral Resources regarding this matter, with the stated goal of unifying and modernizing the regulatory framework of the sector.
The Decree 184 arrives at a time of acute energy crisis. The national production of the Union Cuba-Petróleo (CUPET) amounts to about 40,000 barrels per day, compared to an estimated internal demand of between 90,000 and 110,000 barrels per day, leaving the country covering barely one third of its consumption with its own resources. The interruption of Venezuelan supplies since the end of 2025 and the suspension of Mexican shipments at the beginning of 2026 have exacerbated this external dependence, making the attraction of investment to the sector a priority for the regime.
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