Avenue distributors chat on the Malecón throughout a blackout in Havana, Monday, March 16, 2026.
Ramon Espinosa/AP
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Ramon Espinosa/AP
HAVANA — Cuba is getting ready to obtain its first cargo of Russian oil this yr, simply days after the federal government introduced it was working on pure gasoline, solar energy and thermoelectric crops as extreme energy outages proceed to hit an island whose energy grid is crumbling.
The Russian-flagged Anatoly Kolodkin is a few 3,000 nautical miles from Cuba within the Atlantic Ocean and is anticipated to achieve the island in 10 days, Jorge Piñón, an skilled on the College of Texas Vitality Institute, instructed The Related Press.
If that’s the case, that will mark the primary time any oil cargo from any nation reaches Cuba prior to now three months given a U.S. power blockade.
The tanker is carrying 730,000 barrels of gasoline and is on the record of vessels of its sort sanctioned by the US, the European Union and the UK following the struggle in Ukraine, Piñón stated.
He added that it is arduous to find out how lengthy that quantity of gasoline might maintain Cuba: “We’re talking about crude oil that has to be refined into liquid fuels. … Each product has its specific demand.”
Piñón stated the anticipated cargo might produce about 180,000 barrels of diesel — sufficient to feed Cuba’s every day demand for 9 or 10 days.
Monitoring a second vessel
One other vessel, the Hong Kong-flagged Sea Horse, can also be reportedly carrying Russian oil to Cuba, transporting roughly 200,000 barrels of diesel, Piñón stated.
He famous that Cuba consumes roughly 20,000 barrels of diesel per day, and that the Sea Horse’s cargo doesn’t essentially cowl total demand for diesel given the island’s low storage inventories.
Piñón believes the gasoline will probably be used for “critical sectors of the economy,” like transportation and agriculture.
He stated it could probably take 4 days for the Sea Horse to achieve Cuba if that’s certainly its vacation spot.
Piñón famous that the ship lingered for 20 days in the course of the Atlantic Ocean earlier than deciding to proceed its west-southwestward journey. It’s some 958 nautical miles from Matanzas, Cuba.
The problem in tracing the ship’s vacation spot lies in the truth that a few of these vessels — amid tensions brought on by worldwide sanctions or threats of seize by the US — flip off their satellite tv for pc monitoring units, stopping efficient monitoring, specialists say.
If the arrival of any of the 2 ships is confirmed, it could be the primary cargo of Russian oil this yr. The earlier cargo detected was transported by the Ocean Mariner with 85,000 barrels from the port of Pajaritos, Mexico, on Jan. 9.
On Thursday, Gen. Francis Donovan, head of the U.S. Southern Command, stated in Senate testimony that his officers are monitoring a Russian destroyer supported by an oil “replenishment ship” that’s scheduled to make a port name to Cuba. He stated the oiler, even when it does unload its cargo, is unlikely to have any vital influence on Cuba’s oil provides.
In response to senators’ questioning, Donovan stated his command is just not presently rehearsing for any army intervention in Cuba and its sole planning focus is on defending the U.S. Embassy and army base in Guantanamo Bay, though if wanted it could possibly additionally reply to any migration or humanitarian disaster within the Caribbean.
Deepening crises
Cuba produces barely 40% of its petroleum; the remainder is obtained from Russia, Mexico and Venezuela.
However crucial shipments from Venezuela have been halted after the U.S. attacked the South American nation in early January and arrested its then-leader, President Nicolás Maduro — a key business and ideological accomplice for Cuba.
In late January, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on any nation that sells or provides oil to Cuba. That month, Mexico halted its oil shipments to Cuba.
The scenario has deepened the island’s power and financial crises, resulting in 10-hour blackouts, forcing a discount in working hours, limiting transportation and resulting in a drop in tourism — beforehand one in all its fundamental sources of earnings.
The worsening scenario additionally has sparked small protests.
Cuba has been experiencing a extreme financial disaster because the starting of this decade because of tightened U.S. sanctions, the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic and an inner monetary reform that triggered inflation.
Meals and drugs shortages have develop into a actuality for Cubans. In the meantime, the crises have unleashed a surge in emigration, significantly of younger individuals and expert staff, to the U.S., Mexico and Europe.
This week, as a part of an ongoing worldwide convoy to assist Cuba, European activists delivered greater than 4 tons of medical provides to the island. Brazil additionally introduced it could ship 20,000 tons of meals, primarily rice, beans and powdered milk, whereas a gaggle of parliamentarians from Chile arrived with extra assist on Thursday.
Extra assist is anticipated to reach Friday by way of aircraft and Saturday by way of a big flotilla, together with photo voltaic panels, medical provides and nonperishable meals collected by activists in Mexico. Amongst these anticipated to journey to Cuba are British Parliamentarian Jeremy Corbyn and Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap.
The flotilla will encompass three ships, 30 tons of humanitarian assist and 40 individuals. Thiago Ávila, one of many organizers, stated that though the scenario in Cuba is completely different from that in Gaza, the group has performed a danger evaluation in case of any sudden determination by the Trump administration and is ready for any eventuality.
Trump has stated he’s ready to take Cuba by any means essential; and the Cuban authorities, whereas acknowledging talks with the US, has defended its sovereignty.
