Cuba has exhausted all diesel and fuel oil, plunging the island into blackouts and sparking sporadic protests in Havana. Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy confirmed the grid can now supply only about a third of demand, while the 730,000‑barrel Russian tanker that docked in March has already run out.

The U.S. has blocked nearly all fuel imports since January, allowing only a single Russian shipment. President Miguel Díaz‑Canel blames the crisis on a “genocidal energy blockade,” while Washington cites Cuba’s mismanagement as the root cause. The island’s private sector now imports small volumes, far short of the grid’s millions‑of‑ton needs.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered $100 million in aid to avert a humanitarian crisis, a proposal Cuba says it will only accept if it comes free of political strings. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez noted the island remains open to “good‑faith” assistance, even from nations that impose economic warfare for the island.

The blackout has exposed the fragility of Cuba’s energy infrastructure and highlighted the broader economic strain of the U.S. embargo. Investors eye the island’s limited private sector as a potential entry point, while policymakers debate the efficacy of continued sanctions versus targeted humanitarian relief for long term economic growth and stability.