Cubas Oil Refinery Catches Fire Amid Fuel Shortage Crisis

A fire broke out at a key fuel processing plant in Havana, Cuba’s capital city. The Nico Lopez refinery, located near the harbor, experienced a warehouse fire that sent a large plume of smoke into the air on Friday. Firefighters responded to the incident and extinguished the flames, with no injuries reported.

According to the Cuban Ministry of Energy and Mines, the cause of the fire is currently under investigation. The ministry stated that the fire did not spread to nearby areas and that operations at the refinery resumed normally after the incident.

The location of the fire was near where two oil tankers were docked in Havana’s harbor. Cuba has been experiencing a severe energy crisis due to US-imposed restrictions, including an oil blockade imposed by the United States. The country relies heavily on oil imports from Venezuela, which have been reduced since the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The US government has also passed an executive order allowing for trade tariffs on any country that supplies oil to Cuba. This move has exacerbated the energy crisis, leading to widespread power outages, disruptions in transportation and education services, and restrictions on hospital staffing.

In response to the crisis, two Mexican navy vessels carrying humanitarian aid arrived in Havana earlier this week. The UN Secretary-General warned of a potential humanitarian “collapse” in Cuba if its energy needs are not met. Experts have noted that no foreign fuel or oil tankers have arrived in Cuba in recent weeks, highlighting the country’s reliance on imports.

Cuba’s Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos de Cossio accused the US of carrying out “massive punishment” against the Cuban people. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has expressed her government’s desire to facilitate dialogue between Cuba and the US, criticizing Washington’s oil restrictions as “unfair”.

Source: Al Jazeera