Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Monday that Mexico intends to restart oil shipments to Cuba in the near future. The move aims to provide critical relief to the island nation, which is experiencing a deepening crisis due to a severe lack of petroleum.
Sheinbaum indicated that her administration would utilize commercial and privately owned firms for these shipments, a departure from previous reliance on state-owned companies. Mexico had previously become a significant fuel supplier to Cuba following disruptions to Venezuelan oil shipments in January. However, these supplies, which were already reduced, were completely halted after former U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on countries providing oil to Cuba.
Since those U.S. actions, only a single shipment of oil from a Russian tanker, carrying 730,000 barrels, has reached Cuba. This supply was depleted within a month.
The ongoing fuel deficit has exacerbated an energy crisis on the island, which only produces 40% of the petroleum it consumes. The scarcity has led to widespread power outages, reduced work hours, water shortages, postponed surgeries, and food spoilage.
President Sheinbaum expressed a desire to capitalize on recent free-market reforms approved by the Cuban government. The plan involves leveraging Mexican business owners who currently operate on the island. "The mechanism would be through private companies that have permits to transport fuel to Cuba," she stated, without offering specific timelines or further details on the arrangements. "We hope that commercial transport can resume soon," she added.
Mexico will also continue to provide humanitarian aid to Cuba, according to Sheinbaum.