In less than a month, Cuba has been left without oil shipments from Venezuela following the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, and without crude oil shipments from Mexico following a decision announced by President Claudia Sheinbaum, jeopardizing its electricity generation.
Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that Pemex stopped sending oil to Cuba on Tuesday, January 27, following “a sovereign decision” made “when necessary,” dismissing alleged pressure from President Donald Trump to halt crude oil shipments.
With these measures, Cuba is on the brink of an economic and energy catastrophe, which could leave the island without power in the coming days, in addition to the loss of hundreds of jobs.
Jorge Piñón, a researcher at the University of Texas Energy Institute, explained that Cuba is facing a “perfect storm” without crude oil supplies from Mexico and Venezuela.
Data from the Cuban Energy Union indicates that during the peak nighttime demand on Tuesday, January 27, the country’s energy demand will reach 3,150 megawatts.
However, the National Electrical System currently has 1,345 megawatts available.
The deficit is 805 megawatts, representing a shortfall of 57.3 percent of Cuba’s electricity demand.
According to Piñón, electricity generation depends 97 percent on fossil fuels, of which 45 percent is oil.
The problem Cuba faces is that it only has the capacity to produce about 40,000 barrels of oil per day and consumes between 100,000 and 110,000. Furthermore, most of the heavy crude oil they produce is used to supply thermoelectric power plants.
The Sheinbaum administration supplied approximately 20,000 barrels of good-quality light crude oil from Pemex, and Venezuela provided another 35,000 barrels. Russia also delivered sporadically between 5,000 and 7,000 barrels.
Mexico began sending oil to Cuba in 2023, when Venezuela reduced its supplies due to declining oil production. Now, Cuba is on its own and under pressure from Donald Trump.
Source: elfinanciero
