Overview
- Cuba’s energy minister, who spoke Wednesday on state TV, said the island has no diesel or fuel oil left and called the grid “critical,” with parts of Havana losing power for 20 to 22 hours a day.
- Supplies unraveled after U.S. measures cut off oil flows in January and tariff threats deterred third-country sellers, and a single Russian tanker that arrived in late March has already been used up.
- The U.S. State Department says it has a standing offer of $100 million in aid and free satellite internet to be routed through the Catholic Church and other independent groups, which Cuba’s foreign minister publicly dismissed as a lie.
- China has rapidly expanded support for solar, with panel exports rising from about $3 million in 2023 to $117 million in 2025 and a plan for 92 solar parks by 2028, lifting renewables to roughly 10% of electricity after about 1 gigawatt was added in the past year.
- Experts say solar alone cannot replace lost fuel without big batteries, grid upgrades, and financing, estimating about $8 billion to reach roughly 93% renewable power as hospitals scale back services, food spoils, and nighttime pot-banging protests grow.