Cuba forges ahead with renewable energy plans amid US oil blockade

A de facto oil blockade means restrictions produce the effects of a blockade without necessarily being described as one formal, complete ban. In Cuba’s case, US measures have sharply limited access to imported fuel, worsening shortages and putting pressure on the economy and public services.

The United States halted oil shipments from Venezuela, Cuba’s ally, and threatened heavy tariffs on countries exporting oil to Cuba. It has also largely barred fuel exports for Cuba’s nationalised industries. US authorities separately announced the seizure of 90 biodiesel shipments destined for Cuba.

Some oil still reaches private Cuban firms, but the supply is very small. Cuba’s energy minister said it covers less than 3 percent of the country’s fuel needs. The result is an ageing grid with long blackouts, scarce cooking and transport fuel, and faster efforts to develop domestic energy sources.

The United States has restricted several fuel channels serving Cuba. It halted oil shipments from Venezuela, later threatened heavy tariffs against countries exporting oil to Cuba, and largely barred fuel exports to nationalised industries on the island. These steps target the state-run part of Cuba’s energy system.

US authorities also announced the seizure of 90 biodiesel shipments valued at more than $2.8 million. ICE said the shipments were being unlawfully exported to Cuba. Cuba’s energy minister denied that any Cuban state-owned company had secured a contract for those shipments, whether large or small.

Some US oil shipments still reach Cuba’s private sector. However, the minister said they do not meet the country’s needs and amount to less than 3 percent of fuel requirements. This leaves state industries, power plants, households, and transport facing severe shortages.

Cuba’s renewable contribution remains limited. In 2023, renewable sources covered 9 percent of the country’s total energy consumption. The article does not give a separate percentage for renewable electricity, so the 9 percent figure should not be treated as an electricity-only measure.

Solar expansion is the clearest recent example. Cuba has installed 144 solar farms with combined capacity of about 1,418 megawatts. China is the island’s largest supplier of solar panels, and shipments have increased since the US blockade began in early January.

These installations show Cuba is building domestic generation while imported fuel becomes harder to obtain. However, the grid still relies heavily on fossil fuels, and only 40 percent of Cuba’s electricity comes from domestic oil production. Renewable growth is therefore significant but not yet enough to replace the existing system.

When imported fuel becomes scarce, Cuban households struggle to cook and endure long periods without electricity. Transportation also suffers because fuel is unavailable. The shortages are part of a wider crisis involving medicine and water, pushing the island toward a humanitarian emergency.

The government-run electrical grid is widely considered antiquated and relies heavily on fossil fuels. Cuba’s domestic crude production remains stable, but it is almost entirely assigned to power plants. Only 40 percent of the country’s electricity comes from domestic oil production, according to the International Energy Agency.

The immediate reality is repeated nationwide blackouts and reduced movement of people and goods. Cuba is trying to add solar power and use domestic oil, gas, wind, tides, and other resources. But the energy minister acknowledged that progress is gradual and below the pace the country wants.

Cuba is seeking domestic alternatives because the US oil restrictions have made foreign fuel imports unreliable. Its energy minister listed sunlight, wind, tides, Cuban crude oil, and gas produced in Cuban wells as resources the country can use. The aim is to reduce dependence on imported fuel.

Solar power is the most clearly measured effort. Cuba has installed 144 solar farms with combined capacity of about 1,418 megawatts. China is the largest supplier of solar panels, and shipments to Cuba have increased since the blockade began in early January. Domestic crude oil remains stable, but is almost entirely directed to power plants.

These options are helping Cuba move forward, but they have not solved the shortage. Renewable sources covered only 9 percent of total energy consumption in 2023. Cuba still faces blackouts and fuel shortages, so its transition will be gradual rather than immediate.

The article states that the United States has maintained an economic embargo against Cuba for more than 60 years, dating back to the Cold War era. That is the historical explanation provided in the source. It does not describe the original events, policies, or disputes that led to the embargo.

The article presents the current policy as part of a renewed “maximum pressure” campaign. Since returning for a second presidential term, Donald Trump has sought to squeeze Cuba’s economy further. His administration has indicated that it wants to topple the Cuban government.

The long-running embargo now affects access to fuel and other essentials. Cuba says the oil restrictions cause shortages of medicine, water, and fuel. The United Nations and human rights watchdogs have criticised the blockade as a violation of international law, while Cuban officials have condemned it as collective punishment.

Solar and wind do not produce the same amount of electricity every hour. A reliable grid therefore combines them with resources that can respond when sunlight or wind changes. This matters because homes and industry need electricity continuously, including during cloudy, calm, or nighttime periods.

Grid operators can use batteries or other storage to save surplus renewable power and release it later. They can also draw on dispatchable plants, such as fuel-powered generators, when renewable output falls. Interconnections with other grids, flexible industrial demand, and accurate forecasts can further balance supply and demand.

This approach lets renewable sources grow without requiring them to provide every moment of electricity alone. Cuba’s article describes an ageing, fossil-fuel-dependent grid and expanding solar capacity, but it does not state which balancing technologies Cuba uses. Its fuel shortages make dependable backup and careful system management especially important.