Fuel Crisis Worsens as Cuba Oil Refinery Erupts in Flames
A fire at Havana’s Ñico López refinery adds pressure to Cuba’s worsening fuel crisis, even as 800 tonnes of humanitarian aid arrive to help amid energy shortages.
A fire at an oil refinery in Cuba has been quickly brought under control, as the country's fuel shortage deepens.
Plumes of black smoke could be seen rising from the Ñico López refinery in the capital, Havana, on Friday.
Cuba's Energy Ministry said in a post on X that no one was injured and an investigation has been launched into the fire. The fire broke out in Havana Bay near where two oil tankers were docked.
Cuba's fuel shortage has worsened after the US blocked Venezuelan oil shipments to the island.
Venezuela, a longtime ally of Cuba, was previously believed to be sending about 35,000 barrels of oil daily to the island before the US military captured former President Nicolás Maduro in a raid in the capital, Caracas, on January 3.
The US also seized Venezuelan oil tankers, cutting off Cuba's vital fuel supply, and promised to impose new tariffs on countries selling oil to Cuba.
US President Donald Trump has urged Cuban leaders to "make a deal" or face consequences, as the flow of oil and money from Venezuela has been cut off.
Amid the recent supply shortage, power outages have affected hospital emergency wards, dialysis patients, and pumping stations.
Cuba is also facing a shortage of aviation fuel, leading several airlines to suspend service to the island and some countries, including the UK, to warn their citizens against non-essential travel.
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The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office recently warned, "Authorities have introduced fuel rationing, reduced public services, and temporarily altered healthcare, education, transport, and tourism operations to conserve scarce energy supplies."
As the oil embargo continues to complicate life and access to essential goods in Cuba, two Mexican ships carrying 800 tons of humanitarian aid arrived in Havana Bay on Thursday.
United Nations (UN) human rights experts have described Washington's blockade of oil imports to Cuba as "a severe form of unilateral economic pressure."
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said he was "deeply concerned" about the worsening crisis in Cuba.
The US economic and trade embargo on Cuba has been in place since 1960.
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