Cuba is facing an energy crisis exacerbated by oil shortages, with reserves expected to last between 15 and 20 days unless new supplies arrive from Venezuela or Mexico.
According to the consulting firm Kpler, the country currently has around 460 barrels of oil. In January 2026, Cuba received 84.900 barrels from Mexico, about 3 barrels per day, well below the average of 37 barrels per day recorded in 2025.
The lack of supply has had a direct impact on electricity generation and transportation, sectors that are heavily dependent on fossil fuels.
In his speech at the 2025 International Earth Science Convention, Ramses Montes, director of MINEM (Cuba's Ministry of Energy and Mines), highlighted that less than 5% of the country's electricity was generated from renewable sources, while the majority came from thermal power plants fueled by oil and other fossil fuels.
The country, however, seeks to expand the share of clean energy. Plans include reaching 2.000 MW of solar capacity by 2028, with the construction of new photovoltaic parks and other renewable installations.
A 2025 decree established that large consumers must generate at least 50% of their peak electricity from renewable sources by 2028.
Despite these initiatives, clean energy still represents a small fraction of the total capacity, which in 2023 was approximately 15,30 GW, with 95,2% coming from fossil fuels, 0,12 GW from hydroelectric power, and 0,61 GW from other renewable sources.
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