Cuba to Implement Plan Addressing Fuel Shortage Under US Blockade

Cuba Announces Plan to Address Fuel Shortages Amid US Blockade

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has announced plans to address the country’s fuel shortages, which have led to widespread blackouts across the Caribbean nation. The shortage is attributed to a US blockade on fuel supplies, with the US imposing tariffs on countries that send oil to Cuba.

As part of his plan, Diaz-Canel stated that Cuba will increase its solar generation and utilize renewable resources to ensure electricity for vital services such as hospitals, elderly care centers, and isolated regions. The country currently produces approximately 1,000 megawatts of electricity from solar panels, with support from China over the past two years.

Cuba is also working to boost its crude oil extraction and storage capacity to enhance self-sufficiency. However, Diaz-Canel emphasized that Cuba’s right to receive sea-bound deliveries of fuel should not be compromised. “We will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure that the country can once again receive fuel imports,” he said.

The US blockade has led to increased tensions, with Cubans facing rising food and transportation costs. The situation is described as “complex” by Diaz-Canel, who has called the US stance “aggressive and criminal.” In response, Mexico has pledged to send humanitarian aid, including food, to Cuba.

Cuba’s government has recently engaged in a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, although details of the conversation are not publicly available. The country remains open to dialogue with the US, but with conditions. “Cuba is willing to engage in dialogue, but with the sole demand that the US government not attempt to interfere in Cuba’s internal affairs, nor undermine our sovereignty,” Diaz-Canel stated.

The Cuban government has also faced challenges due to a substation failure, which caused a total blackout on Wednesday night in five provinces in eastern Cuba. The country is working to address these issues and ensure essential services continue to function.

Source: Al Jazeera