Cuban state media reported over the weekend that 90,000 metric tons of Russian oil have reached the financially strained country, aiming to address power outages and gasoline scarcities. This delivery marks a resumption of Russian oil shipments to the Communist-run island, which had halted following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Despite reports of an agreement between the two governments in June last year to supply 1.64 million metric tons of oil and derivatives annually, no Russian oil was recorded leaving for Cuba in 2023, as per shipping data. Energy expert Jorge Piñón estimated the shipment’s value at $46 million, noting that it remains uncertain whether regular deliveries will resume following this recent arrival.
Cuba’s Energy and Mines Minister highlighted the country’s annual need for 8 million metric tons of oil and equivalents, with only 3 million tons produced domestically. While Venezuela traditionally serves as Cuba’s primary oil supplier, shipments have decreased in recent years. Mexico had also supplied significant amounts of oil to Cuba in the past year, although such exports have not occurred in the current year.
Cuba has been grappling with a deepening crisis marked by a 10% decline in GDP since 2019, leading to severe shortages of essential goods like food and medicine. Amid fuel consumption levels of around 6.5 million metric tons and reduced fuel imports this year, extended blackouts and gasoline shortages have exacerbated the situation, fueling social tensions and unrest reminiscent of the island’s history since the 1959 revolution.