By Zoey
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Monday that her government is working to restart oil shipments to Cuba, signaling a renewed effort to help the Caribbean nation ease its deepening energy crisis as severe fuel shortages continue to disrupt daily life across the island.
Speaking during her regular news conference, Sheinbaum said Mexico intends to use private commercial companies, rather than state-owned enterprises, to transport fuel to Cuba. The proposed approach is designed to revive shipments that have been suspended in recent months amid growing geopolitical tensions and the threat of U.S. economic penalties.
“The mechanism would be through private companies that have permits to transport fuel to Cuba,” Sheinbaum said, adding that she hopes commercial deliveries can resume soon. She did not provide a timeline or further details about the companies that could participate in the plan.
The announcement comes as Cuba faces one of its most severe energy shortages in years. The island has struggled to secure enough imported fuel after international supply chains were disrupted and key sources of petroleum became increasingly difficult to access.
Mexico emerged as one of Cuba’s most important fuel suppliers after U.S. military action against Venezuela in early January interrupted the South American country’s ability to continue supplying large volumes of crude oil to Havana. Venezuela had long been Cuba’s primary energy partner, but the conflict significantly reduced exports, forcing Cuba to seek alternative sources of fuel.
Although Mexico stepped in to provide petroleum shipments, those deliveries gradually declined before coming to a complete halt. The suspension followed warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to impose tariffs on any country that supplies or sells oil to Cuba, creating additional pressure on governments and businesses considering commercial transactions with the island.
Since the disruption of Venezuelan supplies, Cuba has received only one major oil delivery—a Russian tanker carrying approximately 730,000 barrels of crude. However, the shipment provided only temporary relief, with officials indicating that the fuel supply was exhausted within about a month.
The prolonged shortage has intensified Cuba’s already fragile economic situation. The country currently produces only about 40% of the petroleum it needs to meet domestic demand, leaving it heavily dependent on imported fuel to generate electricity, operate public transportation and support industrial production.
As available fuel supplies have dwindled, Cuba has experienced widespread electricity outages that have affected homes, hospitals, schools and businesses. Authorities have also been forced to reduce working hours in government offices, suspend some medical procedures, limit water pumping operations and manage growing food preservation challenges caused by prolonged power cuts.
The energy shortages have added to the economic pressures facing the country, where inflation, supply shortages and declining productivity have placed increasing strain on households and businesses.
Sheinbaum indicated that her administration sees an opportunity to strengthen economic cooperation with Cuba following the island’s recent approval of a package of free-market reforms aimed at encouraging greater private-sector activity and attracting investment.
According to the Mexican president, the new strategy could leverage the presence of Mexican business owners already operating in Cuba, allowing commercial firms with the necessary permits to facilitate fuel transportation while expanding broader economic ties between the two countries.
Mexico has traditionally maintained diplomatic and economic relations with Cuba despite changing political dynamics across the region. Successive Mexican governments have supported bilateral cooperation in areas including trade, healthcare and humanitarian assistance, while often advocating dialogue over sanctions.
If implemented, the new shipping arrangement could provide Cuba with a critical source of fuel at a time when the island continues to grapple with persistent electricity shortages and growing economic hardship. However, questions remain about how quickly commercial shipments can resume and whether private companies will be willing to participate given the potential risk of U.S. sanctions.
For Cuba, restoring regular fuel imports would represent a significant step toward stabilizing its electricity grid and easing the disruptions that have increasingly affected everyday life. For Mexico, the proposal reflects an effort to balance regional cooperation with the complex geopolitical challenges surrounding trade and energy policy in the Americas.